Sometimes I think I’m whistling in the wind with this Sew it Again project, demonstrating reuse of wasted natural fibre clothing to create refashion that is more current and wearable.

Regular responses are blank or disdainful looks and comments about no time, no interest, no motivation, no skills and no reason to bother. New clothing is so plentiful and cheap, and it is easy, convenient and more sophisticated to go with the flow.

Then new motivation arrives by looking beyond the now, reflecting on the bigger picture, knowing I am swimming against the tide – and enjoying chance meetings and opportunities. 

While out walking yesterday with my New Farm friend Lou, we ran into Ipswich-based upcycler Rebecca Lewis and her children, delivering her latest work for an exhibition at local cafe Jamie’s Expresso Bar on cnr of James and Robertson street. And I’m reminded that tomorrow night, my upcycled #sewitagain eco-clothing is included in the next Reverse Emporium exhibition Handmade Harvest which is part of Brisbane’s Fringe Festival. 

Sew 234 is one of my friend Carol’s old denim dresses (think shoulder-pads ’80s) which we’ve sliced and diced into a wrap skirt and phone pouch using denim offcuts (from Sew 145), leaving the shirt aside for another day.

Carol has sewed in the past (even made my wedding dress!) and her interesting observation about refashion and upcycling is that it requires you to let go of traditional sewing methods and be creative. We cut a waistband from denim scraps, used seams and a buckle as a tie, leg hem for a bag with more seams as the strap. Carol and I had fun dressing model Mabel in this upcycled denim number with opshop-found leather belt, and continuing the journey of reusing of textile waste otherwise destined to become landfill.