Sewing, a textile practice as old as time, is great for two reasons. First, with a low skill and cost barrier to entry, a quick fix can add years to the life of garments. Secondly, sewing is the perfect way for people to customize their clothes and make them their own! In highschool, I covered an hand me down dress with buttons to go to winter formal. When my childhood horseplay took a tole on the knees on my pants, my mother would sew up the holes. Now, I darn my socks when they get holes in them.
My freshman year at Wesleyan, I got a job working as a Project Coordinator for Sew What, a student run free mending and tailoring program run out of the Sustainability Office. There, I was taught the ins and outs of machine sewing, adjusting, and effective leadership. Last year, during a transition period my only other coworker, quit without any notice. In the chaos, we were able to build 3 employee tailoring program running educational workshops on upcycling and basic sewing skills. In the last few years, I’ve mended some hundred odd garments. This year, in an interview to hire more staff, I was asked what my favorite part of the job was. I realized my favorite moments have been returning a beloved shirt or pair of pants to a student who thought they wouldn’t be able to wear them any more.
In 2023, in collaboration with Wesleyan’s free thrift store, WesThrift, we threw a trashion show in the memorial chapel. It was a one day second hand garment and trash fashion competition. After four months of organizing live music, publicity, and scheduling. The show was a huge success.
