Millennials Are Making Sewing Trendier Than Ever
Are you a millennial who loves DIY projects? Is a homemade gift basket your go-to for birthday presents for others? Did you spend hours designing your home gallery wall?
If yes was your answer to all of the questions above, then the recent sewing craze may be for you, too—if you don't have a sewing machine and worktable set up already. According to a recent piece on Apartment Therapy, a renaissance in sewing is happening amongst American millennials, and there are no signs of the sewing trend slowing down. In fact, Kristen McCoy, the owner of RETHINK Tailoring & Sewing Lounge in Minneapolis, told the outlet that she's seeing more and more twenty- and thirty-somethings looking to get handy with a needle-and-thread and sewing machine. So noticeable is this shift, that she's even decided to start running sewing classes.
With people's increased interest in preserving our environment and boycotting clothing from factories that may mistreat and/or underpay workers, the keen interest in sewing makes sense. “I think that people want to take more agency over their wardrobe. Between questionable labor practices, carbon footprint, contaminated waterways from dyes and fabric treatment, and landfills overflowing with textiles, sewing for yourself feels like a part of a solution,” McCoy told the lifestyle website.
Some readers may remember a time when basic sewing skills were taught at school, but as more and more affordable clothing began to flood the American market, less people relied on being adept with a sewing machine or sewing kit. “People used to have to sew out of necessity, and I would imagine for some that felt like work,” McCoy commented, adding that she "[wished] schools would concentrate on mending or practical sewing skills that would get used often, even if it was without a machine.”
With platforms like YouTube and many blogs on the topic of sewing, it's perhaps easier than ever to learn how. Though, call us nostalgic, but we still think the best way to learn is with Mamaw or Aunt Thelma perched over our shoulder—teaching us, talking with us, and thumbing through spools of rainbow colors with us.
