The Slow Clothing Project
- Words by Peppermint
Thereβs a palpable feeling of satisfaction that comes from making clothes yourself β the dress you sewed, the jumper you knitted andΒ even thatΒ favourite pair of jeans youβve patched over and over again have a personal significance that no amount of money can buy. Perhaps the dress is made from something your mum used to wear, or the jumper incorporates a particularly tricky knitting technique mastered only after many dropped stitches (and swearΒ words!), and maybe the scraps used to mend your jeans came from your boyfriendβs old shirt. Handmade and hand-mended garments all have stories to them, and The Slow Clothing Project is seeking them out in order to start a national conversation about clothing use, ethics and sustainability.
Led by Textile Beat founder Jane Milburn, the projectβs original aim was to collect 40 handmade garments from 40 makers across Australia to be showcased at various conferences and public spaces this year. The garments reflect Textile Beatβs slow clothing manifesto β manyΒ are made from natural, high quality, locally made or salvaged textiles β and they aim to encourageΒ people to think about the different ways they can reduce theirΒ wardrobe’s negative impact on people and the environment. As with most good ideas, The Slow Clothing Project has taken on a life of its own, with nearly 150 people signed up to contribute and registrations still rolling in. Janeβs revised plan for the project is to have more than 100 makers involved and to showcase their work digitally β the first few makersΒ and the stories behind their garments are already up on the website, so head over for some inspiration. And if youβd like to share your own Slow Clothing masterpiece, itβs not too late to pick upΒ your needle and threadΒ and join in!
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βCrafting is something that has come naturally since I was small and I just havenβt stopped. When I was smaller, I was interested in the end result. As Iβve gotten older, I realise itβs the process that keeps me coming back to craft. Itβs a meditative state for me and I find the repetitive action of the stitching and felting quite therapeutic.ββ
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Craving a world filled with warmth and whimsy? Itβs all in a dayβs work for textile artist @Cat_Rabbit, whose latest book, βTrinketsβ, is bursting with felty food friends to make and cherish. Cat invited us into her universe, filled with cheeky characters, layered storytelling and loads of humour. β
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Plus: try the super sweet pattern for Catβs Lucky Pickle, perfect to make as a stocking stuffer, extracted from Trinkets. β
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Read more from our βJust felt rightβ feature in Issue 64, at newsagents and stockists now!β
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Photos: Tatanja Ross @On_JacksonStreet and Cat Rabbitβ
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Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the Bondi Beach violence, especially the Jewish community. Also to the beachgoers, those who bravely helped and the first responders.β
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While it`s easy β and understandable β to get caught up in the horror of it all and direct anger at certain groups, remember this quote from teacher and author Erin Gruwell: "Don`t let the actions of a few determine the way you feel about an entire group."β
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βYou don`t fight racism with racism. You fight racism with solidarity," said Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers. And solidarity is exactly what we need right now.β
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If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. Remember there is much more kindness in the world than hate. β€οΈβπ©Ήβ
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@LifelineAustralia has created a Bondi Beach Incident: Wellbeing support guide, where youβll find information about common reactions, reassurance that what youβre feeling is valid, and ideas for taking care of your wellbeing.β
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https://lifeline.org.au/bondi-incidentβ
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You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14 or chat at lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat anytime, no matter how this has impacted you.β
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@BeyondBlueOfficial is also available with free 24/7 support by phone on 1300 22 4636 or webchat at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/β
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Register.Find.Reunite. has been activated by @RedCrossAu to help people reconnect with family and friends. Visit redcross.org.au to access the service.β
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@NSWPolice Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIIC) is operating 24/7 on 1800 227 228 for information relating to people impacted.β
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@LifeBloodAu is supporting Sydney hospitals. O- and O+ blood are always in high demand in emergencies. To donate (from anywhere in Australia β all states are welcome and helpful!) call 13 14 95 or use the Lifeblood app.
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