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Summer has always been a happy time for me. Perhaps because I was born in the month of August, I have always felt that I belonged to this season, which I associated with the idea of freedom, carefreeness, play, but most of all, creativity. Summer is my creative time par excellence. As if the sun recharged my batteries and filled me with energy and purposeful ideas, and having discovered my passion for sewing, summertime immediately became my period of maximum sartorial production, which, at first, manifested itself in the recycle clothes used. With two pennies in my pocket, and a lot of good hope, every week I tried (and still try) not to miss the appointment with the city market, a huge source of inspiration and the main supplier for my experiments with needle and thread.
My favorite swags were oversize dresses. Knits, skirts, huge dresses, often in excellent condition and designer, that I could cut and remodel to my liking, salvaging fabric, appliqués, buttons, and zippers. In short, I always loved to recycle old clothes and do upcycling, even before it became a trend. Animo green, since 1993!
As we learn to sew, and as this little art becomes part of us, our eyes become able to glimpse the potential of a fabric, or a garment, where most people see only an oversized or ruined garment. This is a huge resource, not to be underestimated. With the sewing machine, I always feel like I can do anything.
And so I would buy, unstitch, tighten, replace, fix. A good part of my wardrobe a few years ago was made up of salvaged and arranged clothing.
With a little luck and a lot of patience, I was also able to unearth scraps of fabric at bargain prices. I remember the joy of having made one of my first mini-dresses, spending only 2 euros for a floral cotton remnant, and the excitement of being able to leave the house knowing that I was wearing something unique, unobtainable, that reflected and represented me 100%.
The beauty of summer is that we dress in lighter and tends to be less demanding, cool fabrics with a soft hand that is gentle on the skin. Patterns become crisp and jaunty, the amount of fabric needed is reduced, often, to the bare minimum.
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Coupled with the lengthening days, the long break from school commitments, and maybe even vacation from work, it is the perfect time to experiment, cut, and remodel. Last summer I created one of my favorite tops from a size XL lace blouse. One of those ladylike, straight-cut tank tops in a beautiful fabric, but one that I would never buy or wear for personal taste. Such a shame to give it up!
Any big undertaking always starts with small gestures, just like recycling used clothes.
Mend a tear by embellishing the garment with contrasting fabric patches.
Embellish a somewhat anonymous top by applying lace ribbons or fabric ruffles.
Tightening and shortening that skirt our mother wore when she was young, so beautiful but perhaps a little wide, and too long, for our style. Retrieve our favorite jeans, hopelessly worn on the legs, but perfect as shorts. Turning an oversize shirt into a kaftan, perfect for beach events, or reclaiming that jersey dress that is a little too tight, turning it into a cardigan for cooler evenings.
In short, with the right amount of patience and creativity, there is nothing that cannot transform and take shape with our sewing machine.
If you are also approaching the philosophy of the DIY clothes recycling and to the sustainable fashion, continue to follow your passion and, who knows, maybe one day it can become something more, just as it did for me.
