Stitching our Way to a Better World: Birdbrain

Not only are creative endeavors, like sewing, believed to improve an individual’s mental health and well-being but when these activities are directed towards filling a need in someone else’s life, whether it be a friend, family member, or stranger, the positive impact seems limitless.

In my last post I highlighted the efforts of a Massachusetts woman who was using her skills and time to make “muck” shoes for refugee children. I had came across this story while pursuing all things sewing related in the news and since then I have come across a number of other stories about the efforts of individuals and communities to provide support to a wide range of people (cancer patients, adult refugees, victims of intimate partner violence and victims of sexual assaults) through sewing or teaching sewing skills. 

For today's post I wanted to share another story, about Maegan Carberry and her "birdbrained" idea.

Maegan is a 36-year old journalist, media strategist, and digital entrepreneur living in California. Maegan is also a woman who has struggled with PTSD for almost 20 years after being sexually assaulted when she was 16 years old.  In the article where I first discovered Maegan (as well as on her website) she speaks of struggling with PTSD until she worked with her mom in 2014 to sew a dress for a special event. In the process of working on this dress Maegan experienced an improvement in her mental and emotional health. Not letting the fact that she had very little sewing experience stop her, this positive impact motivated Maegan to pledge to make 100 dresses for her friends and family.

A couple years and a few sewing classes later Maegan’s personal project, Birdbrain, has evolved into a non-profit organization working to bring awareness to sexual assault by creating a free online resource titled, the Long-Term Guide to Surviving Sexual Assault (expected to be released in April 2018). Not only is Maegan working to sew each one of these dresses but she also embroiders a bird on every dress.

Maegan’s story caught my interest because not only does she speak to the beneficial impact of sewing and creativity on her mental health but she is also dedicated to using her skills to bring awareness and support to other victims of sexual assault.

To learn more about Maegan, see pictures of the beautiful dresses she has made and to support her with a donation of funds or supplies follow this link to her website: https://www.dressbirdbrain.com.

Original article: http://www.desertsun.com/story/desert-magazine/2017/02/08/birdbrain-founder-sewing-100-dresses-raise-awareness-sexual-assault/97558988/

Sew on,
E. Farley

Stitching our Way to a Better World: "Muck" Shoes

 A recent news article in a local Massachusetts newspaper (Daily Hampshire Gazette*) caught my eye and I thought I would take the opportunity to share it.

It caught my eye for a variety of reasons including the fact that it highlights utilizing sewing skills to address a current global crisis, volunteer work, community support, and repurposing. Below is a brief summary of the article and if you want to read the full article please follow the link at the end of this post.. I hope it inspires you as much as it does me!

 Titled, “A Step Up: Belchertown Business Owner Forgoes a Month off to Make ‘Muck Shoes’ for Syrian Refugees” this January 13^th article highlighted the recent and continuing work of MA resident, Andrea Boyko.

According to Emily Cutts, author of the piece, instead of Andrea taking her regular January vacation from running her business, she decided to utilize her knowledge of making shoes to pledge 50 pairs of homemade shoes for refugee children currently being displaced as a result of the crisis in Syria. 

Muck Shoes are made of repurposed rubber from the inner tubes of bikes, as well as a mixture of new and recycled textiles. Wool serves as the sole liner and t-shirts are utilized for the soft inner lining. A durable fabric from old sweaters, jeans and/or new water-resistant duck cloth are utilized to form the outside. These shoes are easy to clean and they have stretch to them, allowing children to wear them a bit longer than typical shoes. Growing kids can outgrow shoes very fast! 

 Along the way Andrea has received help from volunteers, both old and young, who have donated materials, helped cut materials and make shoe size tags.

Once completed, these shoes will be sent to Turkey and from there they will be disseminated to refugee camps in Syria.

But Andrea’s volunteer work does not end there; she is also planning a family vacation to Greece, a location where there are currently thousands of refugees, and while there she will lead sewing workshops in refugee camps.

Not only do I appreciate this story because it highlights sewing and repurposing but more importantly because it shows how these things can be utilized by an individual (who is supported by a community)  to provide assistance to those in need.

To learn more about Andrea and her shop Bula Jean’s Boutique visit her FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Bula-Jeans-Boutique-183782958307742/

(Note picture of shoes taken from Andrea's FB page)

*Link to Article: http://www.gazettenet.com/Belchertown-woman-makes-shoes-for-Syrian-refugees-7431836

Sew on,

E. Farley 

Spreading the Word: Recommended Reading

I recently came across an article written by Lucy Von Sturmer in the Huffington Post (UK edition) titled "Want to Save the World? Start with Your Wardrobe." This brief but useful article describes six key values someone can rely on when trying to figure out how to begin supporting sustainable fashion. 

The six key values include:  

1) Buy less. Buy better. Recycle. Reuse. 

2) When you buy, choose natural fibers. 

3) Choose organic cotton - important for you, the environment, and workers. 

4) It’s sometimes OK to use the “30 Wear Rule.” 

5) Embrace minimalism. 

6) Support brands that embrace sustainability at their core. 

For a description of these values please read the full article at: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lucy-von-sturmer/want-to-save-the-planet-t_b_14430282.html

Sew on,

E. Farley

Have you heard.... about Piñatex?

Piñatex

It is an innovative, sustainable, and leather-like textile that is produced from the fibers of pineapple leaves. Since these leaves are the byproduct of harvesting pineapples there is no extra water, pesticides, or fertilizers utilized to produce them.

What was once considered waste is now being converted, through a manufacturing process, into a sustainable leather that is being utilized to by designers to create clothing, bags, shoes, and interiors.

This all began when the founder of Piñatex, Dr. Carmen Hijosa who in the 1990s was working in the leather goods industry, traveled to the Philippines with the task to update the leather fashion export market. While there she learned of the negative ecological consequences of the leather manufacturing process and was motivated to research and develop an eco-friendly alternative to leather.

Sounds amazing doesn’t!!! Maybe too good to be true? I don’t think so but check out the links below to make up your own mind!

Website:

http://www.ananas-anam.com/pinatex

FaceBook:

https://www.facebook.com/pinatex/

See Dr. Carmen Hijosa talk about Piñatex:

Cartier Women’s Initiative Award:2015 Nominee (1 minute 36 seconds):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGNVja-wnyg  

TEDx Talk (19 minutes 23 seconds):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUkv4VWIum0

Sew on,

E. Farley

Best Meetup Group Ever: Ready-to-Wear Diet

 I am excited to announce I have recently created a Meetup group called Ready-to-Wear Diet: Sewing and Upcycling.

I was inspired to create this group because of my New Years resolution to buy no new clothes for 365 days. After making this pledge I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great to find like-minded people who want to be more eco-friendly with their clothing choices and bring them together so that we can support and inspire one another?

A person doesn't have to be an experienced sewer or clothing upcycler to join - I my self have only upcycled a few pieces of clothing and have a lot to learn.

The plan is to take monthly trips to area consignment shops and second hand stores, select pieces of clothing good for upcycling, and then grab coffee afterwards to discuss our plans and get advice from one another.

Depending on the interests and needs of the group I would also love to add on meetups for members to sew together. I have a small but very comfortable sewing studio which could be a space for new and experienced sewers to work on their projects and provide advice and support to each other. In my world that sounds like a perfect afternoon!

So I just established this group on the 23rd and I already have 17 members and all 7 spots filled for the first meetup!!! (I'm not sure why I settled on 7 spots for the first meeting...not too big, not to small?).

In hopes of inspiring and informing others, I plan to regularly post about these meetups and the success (and failures) of the groups upcycling projects.

It makes me feel so good to see the interest in this group and I am looking forward to helping it develop and grow.

Link to meetup group: https://www.meetup.com/Ready-to-Wear-Diet-Sewing-and-Upcycling/

Sew on,
E. Farlely

Sustainable Fashion: Rothy's Shoes

Greetings!!  
 
 Today I wanted to talk about flats - specifically a new shoe brand (at least to me) based out of San Francisco, CA. These shoes were recently featured in O Magazine (January) as well as in Vogue (August).  These shoes are made from recycled water bottles (what!??!), recycled rubber, and recyclable foam. Meaning they are both beautiful AND eco-friendly.  On top of that, these shoes are also machine washable.  

Needless to say a quick read on this shoe immediately caught my attention!

With a price range of $125-$145 they may be a bit pricey for people - but think about how fast you run through less-expensive flats (...that you can't wash....I'm really in love with this idea).  My flats (average price I pay is appx. $50) usually last just one season and that's if I'm not caught wearing them in a rain storm.

These shoes sound wonderful. I haven't bought a pair yet so I can't personally testify to their wonderfulness but I plan to save up all my pennies in the next couple of months to buy a pair for spring.   If you want to find out more about these shoes and make up your own mind, check out their website at:  https://rothys.com or their Facebook page by searching for Rothy's.

Have an opinion about these shoes? Let me know!

Sew on,

E. Farley

Podcast Discovery: Don't Keep Your Day Job

I have just discovered a new podcast and find I must share it! It is called Don't Keep Your Day Job and it is about inspiring people to pursue their creative dreams, discussing how to make a living doing what you love, and providing practical advice on how to do it.

Only two episodes have been released and I am hooked...and inspired! If you have found your way to this blog you may also be interested in this podcast, please check it out!  

Here is a link to the podcast FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/dontkeepyourdayjob/

Sew on,

E. Farley