Sew 320 – Greed before need

Jane Milburn wears upcycled at Cottesloe BeachGreed before need is the headline on David Penberthy’s column in Western Australia’s Sunday Times newspaper today about the level of unnecessary consumption in our society.

This unnecessary consumption leads to 70,000 tonnes (70 million kgs) of cast-off clothing being shipped from Australia to developing nations each year and sparked this 365-day Sew it Again project, which is reusing and refashioning pre-loved clothing as an alternative to always buying new.

Penberthy was writing about phone upgrades and said many of us have convinced ourselves that luxuries are necessities.

“We have embraced a big-bang approach to shopping which is a world away from the gradual acquisition which marked more frugal and disciplined past generations … The basics for a young couple starting out are not defined by shelter, transport and utilities but have been extended to include a television which simply must be 40 inches across and web-ready, the latest phone for every member of the family, and three meals out a week because of the rapidly dying art of peeling a carrot or a spud.” 

Just as Penberthy suggests home-cooking is a dying art, so too is home-sewing, with many cast-off clothing just requiring a small mend, alteration (or wash) to remain wearable. Sew 320 is a sarong from my wardrobe which I’ve upcycled into a one-shoulder shift dress. All that required was to fold the sarong in half, sew the bottom half of one side together then knot the other ends together to form an armhole. If the dress is too loose under the other arm, tie a knot to take up the slack. Pre-loved and practical attire to wear to WA’s beautiful Cottesloe Beach.

Jane Milburn wears upcycled sarong at Cottesloe Beach