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Portia Lawrie
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Re:Fashion Wardrobe: Sew Your Own Stylish, Sustainable Clothes Paperback – 31 March 2023

by Portia Lawrie (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 72 ratings
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Sew a sustainable capsule wardrobe that is tailored to you - and with it, help break the cycle of throw-away fashion. The fashion industry is the second biggest environmental polluter on the planet. Every year, over 350,000 tonnes of clothing is sent to landfill in the UK - just under 14 million tonnes in the US - much of it owing to fast fashion. Furthermore, it's estimated that many of us wear only 20% of our wardrobe regularly, with the other 80% languishing in our wardrobes unworn, or worse - contributing to those ever-growing landfill figures. We urgently need to find alternative, more sustainable approaches that allow us to have the stylish wardrobes we crave without hurting our planet. The techniques you learn in The Re:Fashion Wardrobe is one of those alternatives. Learn how to alter or create entirely new garments from pre-loved clothes or forgotten fabrics that are not only chic but don't cost the earth. Beginning with advice on equipment, fabrics and how to source your clothes for refashioning, Portia Lawrie will then take you step-by-step through a collection of 11 garments that she has reworked, showing you just how easy it is to refresh or drastically change any piece of clothing you come across. Every garment in the collection can be used to create a modern capsule wardrobe that you can wear throughout the year, and Portia has included advice on how to adjust the garments in the book to make versions suitable for different times of the year. Useful sewing techniques with clear illustrations are included at the back of the book for you to dip into whenever you need them - from measuring and fitting through to garment deconstruction and construction. This is not the "Becky home eccy" refashioning of old, or simply make-do-and-mend either. This is showing that with some time, basic sewing techniques and a dash of creative vision, a wardrobe you've made entirely from recycled garments and textiles can be as stylish, edgy and aspirational as anything the high street has to offer.
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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Search Press Ltd
  4. Publication date
    31 March 2023
  5. Dimensions
    22.07 x 1.65 x 28.09 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1782218750
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1782218753
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Product description

Review

BOOKLIST (American Library Association) Issue: April 1, 2023

"Lawrie's breezy, can-do attitude is infectious. After all, how hard can it be to repurpose garments (owned or thrifted) to save the planet and pockets? For readers without sewing expertise, Lawrie advises at least getting familiar with the workings of a machine and its terminology. Her idea works: create 11 items of clothing--from boxy tunic shirt to duvet duster coat--that adhere to a color palette for mix-and-matchable potential. Upfront instructions couldn't be more thorough and are well illustrated too: building the wardrobe, sourcing garments, and working with fabrics, haberdashery, and hardware. Directions for constructing each piece are thorough, filled with step-by-step photographs, tips and tricks (e.g., how to remove jean rivets), opportunities for creativity (like reverse the skirt design and put buttons on the back), and more. There's even a bit of a photo runway, showing different combinations of garments. Best yet is Lawrie's information on techniques that go beyond pattern templates and her reminders that fitting (yes, self-measuring) is critical to buttons and holes, necklines and belts. No excuses!"-- Barbara Jacobs

Library Journal Review By Nanette Donohue

"Refashioning--the act of taking discarded clothing or textiles and restyling them into a new piece--is an eco-conscious way to reuse items that may be out of style, slightly worn, or simply unwanted. Lawrie, who created the Refashioners challenge to encourage sewists to use reclaimed textiles for garment sewing, shares her extensive knowledge of sustainable sewing in this thoughtful guide. She encourages sewists to create a "capsule wardrobe," a curated, practical collection of garments that are timeless and of good quality. There are several projects, from a simple sleeveless shift dress created from three T-shirts to a full-scale refitting of a pair of oversized blue jeans. Each activity includes step-by-step instructions with ample photographs, along with tips and tricks for sewing success. The aesthetic is generally minimalist, featuring loose-fitting, boxy garments in neutral colors, but sewists interested in experimenting with more fitted or embellished clothing can consult the techniques chapter for ideas on creating refashioned items that suit their personal style.
VERDICT Many sewists have an interest in sustainability and the environmental impact of fashion. This book provides thoughtful guidance for repurposing a variety of garments and textiles. Recommended for all sewing collections."

From the Publisher

Portia Lawrie is a self-taught dressmaker and clothes designer who has been passionate about recycling for over a decade. She has been writing about sewing since 2010, predominantly at her current online home: www.portialawrie.co.uk Portia is the founder/creator of The Refashioners, an annual sewing event that has been running since 2011. It challenges the global sewing community to look at old clothes in a new light, and provides inspiration and tutorials. She is also the ambassador for PFAFF sewing machines. Portia has been a contributor to Simply Sewing magazine since 2015. She was awarded Dressmaker magazine's Dressmaker of the Year 2017. Her winning entry was a quilted denim coat made from old jeans. In 2016 and 2017 she was nominated for best sewing blog in both The British Craft Awards and The British Sewing Awards. She was nominated for best Instagram of 2018 (British Craft Awards) and Best Sewing Blog 2018 (British Sewing Awards). In 2020, Portia and fellow designer, Samantha Claridge, launched The ChangeMaker Initiative shop; 100 per cent of all profits are given to charities that promote positive social and environmental changes. Portia lives in Essex, UK, with her partner and son. Instagram: @portialawrie.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Search Press Ltd (31 March 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1782218750
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1782218753
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 22.07 x 1.65 x 28.09 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

About the author

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Portia Lawrie

Portia Lawrie

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Portia Lawrie is a predominantly self-taught dressmaker and designer who has been passionate about pre loved clothing and recycling for most of her life. She has been writing about sewing since 2010 via blogs, magazines and social media.

Since its launch in 2015, Portia has been a regular contributor to Simply Sewing magazine, designing and writing reader tutorials for a mix of refashioning, pattern hacks and patternless projects; and was awarded Dressmaker magazine’s Dressmaker of the Year 2017.

She is the founder/creator of The Refashioners; an annual online sewing event launched in 2011. that aims to challenge the global sewing

community to look at old clothes in a new light.

Her first book The Re:Fashion Wardrobe is scheduled for release on 31st March 2023 and is available to pre order now.

Portia lives in rural Essex, UK, with her partner

and teenage son and you can find her on Instragram as @portialawrie

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4.6 out of 5 stars
72 global ratings

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Top reviews from Australia

  • Michelle C-S
    5.0 out of 5 stars An ideas book
    Reviewed in Australia on 6 October 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book gives you ideas you can incorporate in all manner of garment up cycling
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very useful and interesting book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great book - clear and consistent instructions - just what I was looking for
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  • Geneviève
    5.0 out of 5 stars Magnifique connaissances à acquérir
    Reviewed in Canada on 18 June 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent livre, on y apprend plein de trucs afin de surcycler les vêtements.
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  • Dieselle
    5.0 out of 5 stars simple and perfect
    Reviewed in France on 14 July 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Even as a not-beginner seamstress, I found many answers to many questions and very useful little tips in this book - thank you
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  • Elle C
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book that fills a gap in my sewing library
    Reviewed in Canada on 20 March 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Love this book. Unlike most books about recycling/reusing existing garments to make new clothes, this book doesn't have 1 garment that I wouldn't want to wear. Everything is polished and most definitively wearable. I can't wait to get started. I have several shirts in my closet that are going under the knife.
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  • anne-marie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great book for sewing enthusiasts with more modern ideas on altering and repurposing clothing for home sewers with actual patterns of garments to follow.
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