Tag Archives: Philippa Nikulinsky

Sew 76 – Creative reuse

upcycled suit

A jumper-skirt is teamed with an upcycled jacket that has its hemline recast as a collar to become Sew it Again #76 of 365.

Creative resewing of existing clothing is one of several ways eco-conscious consumers can be part of the sustainable fashion movement which has strengthened after the Rana Plaza fire in Bangladesh raised awareness of the deathly high cost of cheap clothing choices.

If you want to rethink the way you dress, there are four options (summarised below) outlined by Dominica Lim in a Verily Magazine article “What kind of eco-fashionista are you?”

THE CREATIVE: Rally girlfriends for a clothing swap party or engage in fun DIY projects to usher in new style statements.

THE INVESTOR: Think quality over quantity and price per wear. Before you buy ask yourself, will I wear this more than 10 times? Will I be able to wear this next season? Why am I buying this? No matter how fast fashion is, a staple piece that makes you feel your best self is absolutely timeless. Continue reading →

Sew 75 – Colour frills

upcycled top and skirt

A plain, serviceable top and skirt can be revived by adding silk frills – five rows to the skirt and one to secure the altered neckline of the top.

I’m excited today to have the opportunity to attend a talk by Western Australia’s most famous botanic artist Philippa Nikulinsky who has dedicated 50 years to her craft as an illustrator of natural history specialising in plants from harsh environments. The colour and attention to detail in her work is superb.

Philippa’s story began back in the Kalgoorlie goldfields where she was born and continued through a wonderful partnership with her husband Alex and their creative children and grandchildren, some of whom I had the pleasure to meet yesterday.

Hearing other people tell their story helps crystallise your own – particularly when there are shared values of integrity, creativity, autonomy and purpose involved.  Continue reading →