Tag Archives: Orsola de Castro

Sew 306 – Jasmyn jumps into refashion

Jasmyn in upcycled t-shirts as Sew 306Social media is a powerful tool that enables us to self-publish, share, connect, engage and conduct business with others around the globe in ways that were barely possible 15 years ago.

I wrote my first story about the internet when I was Queensland correspondent for Australian Campus Review Weekly newspaper back in the mid-1990s. Obviously Campus Review is now itself online – and this reflection of change prompted me to search for a brief history of social media

I’ve been online everyday this year with the Sew it Again project and yet I still marvel at the fact that I can read through social media (Twitter) about the first Refashion Day which is planned for 26th November at Somerset House on The Strand in London on the other side of the world.   Continue reading →

Sew 109 – Playing with pre-loved garb

upcycled jumper skirt and silk topAs we strive for more success, possessions, money, positive experiences or recognition, it is easy to lose sight of what really matters in the world.

Taking time to show care and kindness to others; living simply to nurture our health and wellbeing; valuing quality, integrity and traditions; and respecting the environment which sustains all life.

My material world is being turned on its head this year as I spend each day playing with existing clothing and upcycling it for a second life. And it is wonderful to feel connected with a global and organic movement for change which is the Fashion Revolution.

Eco-fashion pioneer and Fashion Revolution Day co-founder Orsola de Castro says that environmentally and socially, the fashion system isn’t working and needs to change. Be inspired by reading more from Orsola here.

Simple truths are explained in this clever little Fashion Revolution Day video, featuring a six-year-old’s perspective on why clothing is cheap … because people and ecosystems are being exploited.  Continue reading →

Sew 72 – Upending banana drama

banana drama shirts

These black t-shirts are 10-years old and the screen-printing is as good as the day it was created for the Save the Aussie Banana awareness campaign I ran with the Australian industry.

Australia is the only Western country with a commercial banana industry and is relatively free of the world’s worst pests and diseases. It was on these grounds that Tully banana grower Len Collins led the industry campaign against Philippines banana imports.

We used creative ways to raise public awareness via a big banana giveaway at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show and a Cowboys’ rugby league home game in Townsville – see photo below right with a Cowboys’ fan, Benny Banana and Jane Milburn, taken by my friend Chrissy Maguire in 2004.

After an extended import risk analysis by Australian authorities, the quarantine bar was set high to prevent disease incursions (such as black sigatoka, moko, bunchy top, freckle) and imports have not proceeded on this basis.

That was ages ago and now I’ve moved on to an ecological health campaign of my own making, demonstrating upcycling and resewing existing natural fibre clothing for pleasure, reward and sustainability.  Continue reading →