Why to Make Instead of Buy

In a time when the cost of fast fashion is cheap, it’s easy to think that making your own clothing is not worth your time or money, but I’ve got a few points that might change your mind. Is sewing better than buying? Let’s find out.

Sewing Stimulates the Brain

Making clothes offers the sewist the ability to create whatever they want without the pressures of the trendiest stores influencing their purchases. Sewing encourages creativity and a bit of imagination to keep the mind open. Seeing your dreams come to reality instills pride you wouldn’t believe and promotes problem-solving along the way. Sewing also polishes and creates new practical skills that develop through problem-solving and self-awareness.

Sewing Time is “Me” Time

While learning a new craft encourages the brain to grow and expand it’s also great for a little unwinding. Listen to your favorite audiobook, podcast, or playlist and take some time for yourself while at the sewing machine, cutting table, or pressing station.  Those time-intensive tasks don’t always require a lot of brainpower, so optimize your time by getting caught up on the daily news or diving into a new book.

You Can Achieve Designer Status 

There’s a stigma around sewing that making clothes is more expensive and time-consuming than just purchasing them. Yes, the initial cost of buying the tools and learning the craft is costly in terms of time and money. The magic happens when you get some experience and have a handle on things. We are all aware that designer items are costly and often sold at astronomically inflated prices (this is where sewing comes in handy). A designer inspired pieced made by you gets to be whatever you need it to be. You get more control of the price point, the fabrics, and ultimately the final product. 

Your Clothes Your Way

RTW clothes tend to be catered towards one body type, and that doesn’t cut it. The industry is making strides towards more inclusive clothing, but there’s no fit quite like your own. You get to tailor them for your body, and when you look good, you feel better–It’s practically science. Bonus: RTW clothing seems to change from store to store by pattern sizing is generally the same. 

Sewing is Responsible

Buying fabric means you can more easily track where and how the fabric was made. Supporting fast fashion and other retailers fuels their bad habits, which may potentially include unethically sourced materials and poor labor standards. It’s not as tough as it would seem to sew responsibly. Only buy fabric and notions that you need and only sew what you truly want to wear. Find eco-friendly fabrics and repurpose leftover fabric, some pieces like masks and garments don’t take much fabric and are perfect for utilizing those scraps. The tank from the Saffron Ensemble uses minimal fabric and is a perfect layering or loungewear piece. Those are two easy ways to sew with a more thoughtful mindset.

Learn to sew without fear of failing, and the likelihood of a positive outcome is higher just because you tried. You’ll find that it benefits you and the planet if you plan carefully and considerably. Being a sewist is rewarding for more reasons than I can list in a single post. Give it a try to find out for yourself.