Folk Fashion

Self-sewn identity: How female home sewers use garment sewing to control self-presentation

“…The women in the study's reasons for participation were more in line with that proposed by Twigger Holroyd (2017) as they were drawn to sewing as a hobby and as a way to find a creative outlet and not a way to save money. Although recent publications (Hall and Jayne, 2016;Jane, 2016;Twigger Holroyd, 2017) on sewing participation posited that individuals were returning to sewing as a means to mend, upcycle, and become more sustainable clothing consumers, the women did not participate in mending or upcycling practices and did not view their sewing as sustainable. The findings supported a connection between the sample and the do-it-yourself movement as they embraced sewing as a means to take charge of their clothing consumption (Campbell, 2005;Hall and Jayne, 2016).…”

“…The majority of individuals are forced to select their clothing from fashion industry-dictated assortments that are already inscribed with meanings prior to their wearing, with regard to style, fabric, color, and brand name (Guy et al, 2001). Sewing and wearing one's own clothing has been presented as an effective way of constructing identity for knitters and sewers (Twigger Holroyd, 2017). When women sew clothing for themselves, their amount of control over their clothing selection is increased giving them more authority over the way in which their identity is presented.…”

“…Consumers' desire to save money and their increased time availability due to increased unemployment are thought to have encouraged participation (Chansky, 2010;Haider, 2014Haider, , 2015). Yet, this link between frugality and sewing participation has been debated as it often costs more to make an item of clothing than to purchase (Twigger Holroyd, 2017). The role of social engagement which craft participation provides both online and in person within craft communities has been identified as a significant factor that has drawn individuals to desire to make instead of purchase items (Hall and Jayne, 2016;Orton-Johnson, 2014).…”

“…In addition, the resurgence in domestic craft participation has been linked to a movement toward what has been defined as the new domesticity that is resulting from an increase in the number of individuals opting to leave corporate culture to embrace a do-it-yourself home-centered lifestyle (Matchar, 2013). This do-it-yourself shift in consumer ethos has been attributed to a desire to have more control over the consumption process (Campbell, 2005;Hall and Jayne, 2016), increase self-sufficiency (Ritzer et al, 2012), decrease their environmental impact (Luckman, 2013;Matchar, 2013;Twigger Holroyd, 2017), and find a sense of purpose in an impersonal high-tech society (Matchar, 2013).…”