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The Re:Fashion Wardrobe: Sew your own stylish, sustainable clothes
Sew a sustainable capsule wardrobe that is tailored to you – and with it, help break the cycle of throw-away fashion.
The fashion industry is the second biggest environmental polluter on the planet. Every year, over 350,000 tonnes of clothing is sent to landfill in the UK – just under 14 million tonnes in the US – much of it owing to fast fashion. Furthermore, it’s estimated that many of us wear only 20% of our wardrobe regularly, with the other 80% languishing in our wardrobes unworn, or worse – contributing to those ever-growing landfill figures.
We urgently need to find alternative, more sustainable approaches that allow us to have the stylish wardrobes we crave without hurting our planet. The techniques you learn in The Wardrobe is one of those alternatives.
Learn how to alter or create entirely new garments from pre-loved clothes or forgotten fabrics that are not only chic but don't cost the earth. Beginning with advice on equipment, fabrics and how to source your clothes for refashioning, Portia Lawrie will then take you step–by–step through a collection of 11 garments that she has reworked, showing you just how easy it is to refresh or drastically change any piece of clothing you come across.
Every garment in the collection can be used to create a modern capsule wardrobe that you can wear throughout the year, and Portia has included advice on how to adjust the garments in the book to make versions suitable for different times of the year.
Useful sewing techniques with clear illustrations are included at the back of the book for you to dip into whenever you need them – from measuring and fitting through to garment deconstruction and construction.
This is not the “Becky home eccy” refashioning of old, or simply make-do-and-mend either. This is showing that with some time, basic sewing techniques and a dash of creative vision, a wardrobe you’ve made entirely from recycled garments and textiles can be as stylish, edgy and aspirational as anything the high street has to offer.
The fashion industry is the second biggest environmental polluter on the planet. Every year, over 350,000 tonnes of clothing is sent to landfill in the UK – just under 14 million tonnes in the US – much of it owing to fast fashion. Furthermore, it’s estimated that many of us wear only 20% of our wardrobe regularly, with the other 80% languishing in our wardrobes unworn, or worse – contributing to those ever-growing landfill figures.
We urgently need to find alternative, more sustainable approaches that allow us to have the stylish wardrobes we crave without hurting our planet. The techniques you learn in The Wardrobe is one of those alternatives.
Learn how to alter or create entirely new garments from pre-loved clothes or forgotten fabrics that are not only chic but don't cost the earth. Beginning with advice on equipment, fabrics and how to source your clothes for refashioning, Portia Lawrie will then take you step–by–step through a collection of 11 garments that she has reworked, showing you just how easy it is to refresh or drastically change any piece of clothing you come across.
Every garment in the collection can be used to create a modern capsule wardrobe that you can wear throughout the year, and Portia has included advice on how to adjust the garments in the book to make versions suitable for different times of the year.
Useful sewing techniques with clear illustrations are included at the back of the book for you to dip into whenever you need them – from measuring and fitting through to garment deconstruction and construction.
This is not the “Becky home eccy” refashioning of old, or simply make-do-and-mend either. This is showing that with some time, basic sewing techniques and a dash of creative vision, a wardrobe you’ve made entirely from recycled garments and textiles can be as stylish, edgy and aspirational as anything the high street has to offer.
- GenresSewingNonfiction
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2023
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 20, 2023
The book that fills a gap in my sewing library
Love this book. Unlike most books about recycling/reusing existing garments to make new clothes, this book doesn't have 1 garment that I wouldn't want to wear. Everything is polished and most definitively wearable. I can't wait to get started. I have several shirts in my closet that are going under the knife.
Love this book. Unlike most books about recycling/reusing existing garments to make new clothes, this book doesn't have 1 garment that I wouldn't want to wear. Everything is polished and most definitively wearable. I can't wait to get started. I have several shirts in my closet that are going under the knife.
January 15, 2024
I loved this book. Not only does it share the philosophy behind refashioning and advice on how to build your capsule wardrobe, it has a pile of projects to try out (I’m heading to the thrift store this week to do so).
May 1, 2025
I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately it just echoes the same tired, overused trend that every single other "sustainable" up-cycling blog or book has followed for the last 10 years or so. Namely, take an item of clothing that is 2-3 sizes too big for you and essentially use it as scrap fabric to make something new. The fact that the book instructs you to "find" these items in your closet in order to label itself as sustainable makes it even more annoying. How many of us actually have a whole pile of button down shirts that are 3 sizes too big for us? So for most people to follow the instructions in this book they would need to go buy more clothes, which (even if they are buying from a thrift shop) attributes to the overconsumption of clothing that is such a problem in our society.
The worst part is that this method of "refashioning" clothes isn't smart, creative, or unique. Go on YouTube or TikTok and you'll see hundreds of people doing the exact same thing. What would he actually useful and creative would be to show how to take items of clothing that actually FIT you (or maybe even those that are too small, since most people that are getting rid of clothes haven't gone through some recent major weight loss) and upcycle THOSE into something new. There are maybe 2 or 3 patterns in the book that could feasibly be made using clothes that already fit the user, but almost all of the tutorials calls for and "oversized" shirt.
I won't even go into how this trend of using "oversized" clothes is low key fatphobic, but bottom line its just unoriginal and boring.
The worst part is that this method of "refashioning" clothes isn't smart, creative, or unique. Go on YouTube or TikTok and you'll see hundreds of people doing the exact same thing. What would he actually useful and creative would be to show how to take items of clothing that actually FIT you (or maybe even those that are too small, since most people that are getting rid of clothes haven't gone through some recent major weight loss) and upcycle THOSE into something new. There are maybe 2 or 3 patterns in the book that could feasibly be made using clothes that already fit the user, but almost all of the tutorials calls for and "oversized" shirt.
I won't even go into how this trend of using "oversized" clothes is low key fatphobic, but bottom line its just unoriginal and boring.
June 30, 2024
This book definitely achieves the goal of creating stylish clothes from re-used clothing and fabric. I breezed through the introduction of materials and techniques and was most interested in the finished pieces, but suggest you study that chapters if you're new at sewing. The step-by-step photos are clear, but a little dim, and I do wish there were more photos on the finished pieces. (I really wanted to see the side seams on the Pieced Linen Tee!) Also, the author's aesthetic is not my own! How about some more color?
June 8, 2023
The author's goal was to educate about the economical and environmental benefits of reusing unwanted textiles along with inspiring the thought process and creativity of refashioning. The author achieved the goal. This book was very well written and laid out. I learned so much reading this book and wanted to write a review that would encourage others to read this book. The impact of "re:fashion" on both the planet and one's wallet is inspirational and the rewards great. This book covers the topic from soup to nuts. The actual projects are fantastic and could be worn by anyone and everyone of all sizes. Capsule wardrobes are explained and every chapter is so instructive. My only wish would be for future books by Portia to have the models illustrating additional angles of the projects. I am so intrigued by the Refitted Jeans that I would have loved to see what the back of the jeans looks like. Overall fantastic wonderful book. I took this out of the library and now will buy my own copy. Fellow sewists enjoy the book!!!
March 20, 2024
This is very inspiring! Someday when I have more time I'll come back and try these activities.
November 12, 2024
Really love this book.
The sewing ideas are fabulous, and instructions are easy-to-use. These are staple pieces needed in every wardrobe. I hope there are more like this.
The sewing ideas are fabulous, and instructions are easy-to-use. These are staple pieces needed in every wardrobe. I hope there are more like this.
April 18, 2024
This is a wonderful introduction to ideas about upcycling, capsule wardrobes, and basic sewing skills. I'm still reading it and finding enough value that it may be a purchase.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews