Ethical fashion is very much in vogue at the moment but it does have a very practical side to it too. Very often we have clothes sitting in our wardrobes that are begging for a new lease of life and with a few snips and stitches they could well turn into your new favourite item of clothing. I admired a top of my friends the other day and she told me that she bought it in H&M for €10 then got the badges on the shoulders from Hickeys and ironed them on, so it can be that simple. If you think it’s time you unleashed your creativity and get yourself a whole new wardrobe on a tiny budget, then read on…

Workshops and Courses

I thought to myself I like the idea but I have no clue how to get myself started. So I did some research idea but don’t know where to begin the and found some courses and workshops that you can do to give you the ideas and knowhow.

Re-dress.ie rganises ‘Crafternoon’ sessions that teaches you everything you need to know about revamping and making your own clothes. They also hold separate sessions for the various levels, so you can be sure that the people in your group are as clueless (or as good!) as you. The day long crash courses teaches you everything from hemming, buttons, seams, alterations, pattern drafting and ‘upcycling’. It’s €90 for the day from 10-5pm. For further information and events go to www.re-dress.ie

There are also other options. Your local CDVEC run various evening courses for adults and a number of then have sewing classes. The classes are really cheap (usually around €60 for 8 weeks). Go www.cdvec.ie and find your nearest college and the courses that are available to you.

Other courses: For a list of other colleges that offer sewing classes go to http://www.nightcourses.com/articles/sewing.html Most of these courses are designed for people who are serious about sewing and dressmaking (and cost a lot more too).

www.smartsewing.ie also lists courses and workshops for specialist classes and various levels. One of the courses that caught my eye was the Alterations Workshop from 10-3pm costing only €50.

Other Resources

I found a good website with on-line tips and videos for every level. It has a full library covering most topics and would be a good resource if you can’t get to a class, can’t afford it or just need some extra help. www.esewingworkshop.com

Top Tips For Recycling

(1) You don’t need to be able to sew. “Using techniques such as cutting, ripping and dyeing it’s easy to update clothing even if you’ve never been near a sewing machine,” says Paula Kirkwood, head of design for TRAIDremade.

(2) Look at damaged clothes with fresh eyes. Got a cardigan with holes in the sleeve? The short-sleeved cardie is huge, so cut off the sleeves and edge in contrasting wool.

(3) Slash a dated poloneck into a plunging one.

(4) Transform a maxi skirt into a mini or pencil by raising the hem.

(5) Cut off trousers to make into shorts or hotpants

(6) That boring cream skirt can easily be dyed in the washing machine into this season’s vibrant purples and greens

(7) Embellishment is an easy way to update – try sequinned flowers and stars.

(8) More is more. Add a fur collar or cuffs. Think feathers, buttons and bows.

(9) Add jewels to cheap plain flats.

(10) Update last season’s tunic dress or long-line cardie with a wide belt.

(11) Cheap fashion fixes like coloured tights and bright gloves and scarves will give dated outfits a lift.

The Supplies

The tools can be a little expensive but if you’re a beginner it might be an idea just to get a cheap sewing machine and if you enjoy it, you can always invest at a later date. Dunnes Stores and Heatons sell sewing machines for €29.99, so that might be a good start. Argos also has a good range of sewing machines starting from €34.99 and complete sewing kit for €29.99. The €2 Store has sewing sets that have all the basic and lots of different colour threads. The other options is to get a second hand one; look on www.ebay.ie, www.buyandsell.ie or www.gumtree.ie

Ask the Experts

If you haven’t got the time to revamp your own wardrobe why not get the experts to help. In recent times there has been a boom in this area and with greater competition comes better prices. To find a local dress maker in your area, go to golden pages or ask in Hickeys can they recommend someone. Definitely shop around as prices vary considerably. There is a good (and cheap) alterations on Abbey Street, Dublin called The Zip Yard and for slightly more costly but excellent service there is a place opposite Gotham Cafe above Le Cave wine bar on South Anne Street

Good luck with your new sideline career in fashion design. I’d love to hear if you’re already doing it and have tips or advice to share, so please leave a comment.