A bit of ‘Make Do and Mend’…
To me, just as important, or even integral to, the vegan label, is including humans in that sphere of compassion and avoiding supporting their exploitation too. On a number of things I undoubtedly have my pitfalls, but my intention is to do my best where I can, trying to buy fair-trade and local where possible, supporting independent makers and crafters too. One item I found difficult to find fair-trade or locally made at a price I felt was affordable in my current circumstances.
So along came the simple idea of making my own, I already had a sewing machine full of aspiration yet gathering dust in the corner of my bedroom. My lovely mother sent me a Knicker Making Kit from Flo Jo’s Fabrics, this comes with everything you need: pattern in sizes 8-18, cotton fabric, ribbon and elastic. My first pair went alright, after a little tussle with the elastic I got the hang of it. Fast forward to February this year and I got making some more.
A good number of years ago, an excellent friend gave me a lovely present; a batch of organic, fair-trade cotton fabric with the most amazing, vibrant and bold patterns, they were perfect for this project. It took me just about a couple of evenings to create 5 pair of lovely knickers. I’m not an experienced seamstress by any stretch of the imagination, so I am amazed at how easy and fun I found these to make.
So there, 5 lovely pairs of knickers in organic cotton and pretty unique. They’re fun to do, and the cotton is so much better for your skin than polyamides and other man-made materials that don’t let your skin breathe. Inorganic cotton uses a huge amount of insecticides, inputs and water, taking advantage of workers in less developed countries and putting their health, the health of the environment and the health of creatures within that ecosystem directly and indirectly at risk.
My initial lovely kit was from Flo Jo Fabrics.
Subsequent fabric was organic cotton produced by Rowan.
Additional knicker elastic purchased from Trixie Lixie.
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The Greedy Herbivore 