In recent years, it seems everything has been turned upside down and twisted inside out, giving life an entirely new meaning. I’ve made significant changes to how I live, as I’m sure many others have. Some of those changes include my commitment to three important aspects of the creative process: using sustainable resources, continuing to learn new skills, and having fun. I plan to explore these ideas, along with specific creative projects, in future posts.
One tangible goal I’ve set is to sew or upcycle ninety percent of my own clothing from now on. I’m in the process of creating sewing patterns for my new capsule wardrobe.
Much of the modern production process for textiles and clothing is generally terrible for the Earth. It produces a lot of waste, and many fabrics are made from fossil fuels.
Sometimes my budget limits the kind of fabric I can use for a project. Polyester is usually cheaper than silk, wool, organic cotton, and linen. It just doesn’t feel good to wear, though. It doesn’t breathe well, and it holds onto odors over time.
So, I’ve committed to purchasing fabric made from natural fibers and learning how those fibers were used historically to deal with the challenges of being human.That doesn’t mean all natural fibers are sustainably or humanely produced. I understand cotton to be problematic, especially when it isn’t organic. If I’m going to use wool, I want to make sure the sheep or alpaca that produced the wool haven’t been mistreated. These are things I plan to learn more about so I can make informed choices and share that knowledge effectively.
Preserving resources is serious and necessary, but it’s important to have fun with the process too. There’s something joyful about losing yourself in a creative project.
I’ve found that the best place to start is allowing space to play with new ideas while letting go of attachment to the results.
That means learning to quiet the critical mind at the beginning of the process and getting comfortable with the messiness of half-formed inspirations. Projects don’t turn out perfectly the first time. Even after much practice with a particular medium, often, the result is very different than the initial concept. Sometimes it’s better.
If you’ve found something useful or inspiring here, then let’s take a creative journey together. Thanks for joining me.
