The Life of Textiles

Most garments get one life.
One shot at it all!

If they get a stain early on in life
they are banished to the back of the closet
for
all
of
eternity!

Not all hope is lost!

Some creative Canadians
(like me!)
Are giving second lives to lost clothes
and making
Eco Fashion World headlines!

Including....

Kendor Textiles

The Canadian source
of all of my technical and Eco-friendly fabrics
 for my athletic wear line!

Check it out
here!

Here's to having a
longer life than
that thing you bought
that kinda fit and you thought would grown on you...
one day...

H.M.K.

No New Clothes!

Through Mother Nature Network on Tumblr

I have found another very interesting blog on up cycling clothes called New Dress a Day

Posted by Mother Nature Network: 

"No new clothes:

When Marisa Lynch lost her job last year, she went looking for a project and found it: 365 days. 365 pieces of clothing. $365. She started her blog, New Dress A Day, and began transforming frightening thrift-store finds into envy-worthy fashions for just a dollar a day.

 

For the entire year Lynch didn’t do any traditional clothes shopping, which means none of her items contributed to the loss of energy or raw materials required to produce new garments. Although her 365-day project is over, Lynch is still giving second life to old muumuus and prom dresses, and this year she’s accepting donations from her readers and making over their worse fashion finds.

 

Lynch recently even appeared on "E!" where stars from the Oscar-winning film “The Fighter” modeled gowns that she had created from old bridesmaid dresses..."

Sounds like an awesome project, and something I might take a spin on once I am done school!

 I try to buy as much used clothing as possible but, 

the garments still started out new. 

Which means the items did contribute to the loss of energy or raw materials required to produce new garments at 

one point in time, 

unless they were hand woven and sewn....

Which is how it all use to be done,

Imagine that!

H.M.K.

From Nothing For Nothing Rule #2

Gratitude

My last From Nothing For Nothing post was about 

Rule#1 Ditching the Pride 

in purchasing new clothes and finding the fun in relieving your friends of their wardrobe clutter.

Rule #2

Gratitude

Show some love, be enthusiastic!

Even if it doesn't fit, isn't your ‘style’ 

or whatever.

Someone you know gave it to you. 

Act like they bought it for you!

Essentially they did,

 a while ago,

got some use out of it,

and now they have given it to you!

The best part is when they see you wearing it,

In it’s original form or modified,

they will be proud and so should you!

If a generous friend gives you a bag of treasure and mentions a certain item that they held dear, 

but has a tear, 

doesn't fit the same or 

has any other reason for parting with it 

(other than weird painful memories)

Try something fun with it and re-gift it back to them! 

Here are a few ideas for that 'vintage' t-shirt collection you may have inherited from a friend:

Re-purpose it! 

Frame it!

Make it into a pillow case, wall art, oat bag! 

Anything somewhat simple and personal without costing more than you would spend at the thrift shop for said item. 

Maybe try a prototype with a similar item if you can, 

but even if you don’t, 

it was free for you, and your friend wasn't expecting anything out of it anyway!

And even if you aren't crafty 

(all it takes is practice) 

Just keep them in mind while mingling with the lost souls of the thrift shop and something will pop up that fits the bill perfectly.

But really....

All you have to do is be ecstatic that you have received so much for so little from someone so generous!

And maybe wear that something you didn't really like

 (but have styled to look good of course),

when you know they'll see it, 

and express your gratitude with a nice big hug!

Gratitude, without it, you've got nothing!

H.M.K.

More on Building Your Wardrobe From Nothing For Nothing to come!