What Is Refashioning & Why You Should Consider It – Eco Fashion Sewing

What Is Refashioning & Why You Should Consider It

Do you love sewing and clothing, and care about the environment? If yes, then you'll like to talk clothing upcycling and hang out with me from the get-go of our podcast, The Art Of Refashioning!

why to refashion

Only 15 to 20% of what you donate in your local charity shop (or op-shop, as we call them Down Under) is purchased back.

The rest is downgraded, shipped to other countries or goes to landfill (and charity organisations pay to dump it!).

Therefore, in this very first episode we are starting with the concepts behind this growing DIY refashioning wave.

Although we talk about the terminology and reasons (more terms explained in this article), at the end we get practical and give you some simple tips what you could do. Because it is all about YOU having fun tackling those oldies and creating something new out of it!

In today’s episode we talk about refashioning: 

  • What is the main terminology related to refashioning. The main difference between recycling and upcycling clothing. Other modern terms are used in the fashion industry and the expanding DIY sewing world.
  • Why you should be considering refashioning since you already know how to sew and care about saving good material from being wasted.
  • I give you my 3 simple tips how you could start refashioning today. They are very down to earth and most of all practical. Because nothing could be more powerful than the simplest actions you could take today!

Listen to episode #1:

What Is Refashioning & Why You Should Consider It

Or listen on the podcast page HERE.

Inside episode #1:

00:10 – Outline what is this first episode about

01:00 – Why I am dealing with ‘old’ clothes on the first place ;)

02:35 – How I followed my passion for sewing clothing and began to upcycle clothing

04:56 – What are the reasons why I’m starting the Art of Refashioning podcast

06:15 – What is refashioning and what other terms are used around it

07:14 – What is the difference between recycling and upcycling

08:29 – What means to recycle clothing and textiles in essence

11:21 – What is sustainable fashion

13:12 – More about the term Zero Waste; what it means and where it applies

14:54 – The topic of taking something old to make new, how it evolves today

15:36 – The reasons why you should consider refashioning. How it could benefit you on different levels, from new unique pieces of clothing to inner feelings on a deeper level

21:17 – 3 Simple tips how you can start refashioning today

24:58 – What if you don’t have ideas how to rework something

25:40 – My example of how much time could take to develop a creative design

28:25 – Wrapping up the first episode, my question to you this time

Links mentioned in this episode:

Books mentioned in this episode:

Your Host

The host of The Art Of Refashioning

As a fashion graduate and sewing professional with several years bridal and alteration experience, Mariana Kirova is passionate about quality one-off upcycles.

She loves sharing her findings, observations and upcycling ideas with like-minded aspiring creatives.

It's time not only to start recycling those castoffs and add unique clothing pieces to your wardrobe. To enjoy it, you need to immerse into the making process. Once you feel the deep satisfaction of creating one-offs of your own, you'll never look back to retail!

At the end, the more people who can sew start upcycling clothing already in circulation - the less valuable textiles will end up in landfill, right?

Mariana Kirova

Mariana is passionate about garment upcycling and helping others making their own upcycled clothing. Graduated with Award in garment construction from WAIFT, Perth WA, Mariana is not a main stream eco fashion designer. She makes unique eco-friendly garments from unwanted clothes and materials and believes that small fashion professionals and DIY sewers can embrace sustainability in garment creation, thus changing the fashion world for good.

  • Thanks for a great podcast Mariana. I particularly valued your explanation of the difference between recycling and upcycling. I have upcycled a couple of items and been happy with the outcome. I’ve posted about both of these projects on my blog. My wedding dress is my next project!

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