I’ve been following Carolina on Instagram for years, I finally manage to meet her in Rome, to record a live episode of the podcast (Pop-up Green).

We are on a June afternoon, during the course she is holding “Create your bikini” at  PuntoPieno shop. With her, there are 3 current and former students: Cinzia, owner of PuntoPieno; Tamara, who took sewing courses with Cinzia; Emma, a very young trainee struggling with her first bikini.

You can listen to our talk here, where we talk about DIY swimwear, tailored underwear, craftsmanship and fast fashion. Do you know, for example, what a “bustaia” (corset-maker) is? Or where can you discover vintage lingerie? Or how feasible is it to make a bikini yourself?

Below we report the text of the episode. Take also a look at the photos of the swimwear created!

To follow Caroline: Website; Instagram.

Carolina, I was immediately struck by your initiative “Create your bikini”. What exactly is it about, what are you doing in this course?

Carolina: “In this course we help people who come to us to design a basic pattern, cut the lycra and build a wearable bikini with the cut lycra, applying the elastic. In addition, in the modeling part I always try to help understand how to modify the bases to have different shapes. For example, Tamara uses very small bikini bottoms. In her case we have created something a little taller, but very high cut. Starting from a base, it is modified to obtain the desired result.”

I just wanted to ask, are there any predefined models or, coming to the course, can you choose a model based on your shapes?

Carolina: “So having the base you can make changes. This is a triangle course as top. Modifications can be made starting from the triangle: a slightly longer band, they can be done differently with the seam, without seam, etc. But basically it is that, because unfortunately the modeling of the bra cup with underwire is a whole other world.”

The bottom instead can be modified, smaller as for Tamara.

Carolina: “Actually, changes can also be made for the top. For example, the triangle cup instead of the gathered seam, with the pence, with the padding inside, is still an alternative.”

How did this bikini course come about?

Carolina: “We’ve known each other for some time, she (Cinzia) was already taking courses. We said we wanted to organize something different together”.

Why bikini?

Carolina: “It’s because of her! (Tamara).

Tamara: “I don’t have the same size top and bottom. The bigger size of the ones on the market doesn’t suit me, I started having girls make custom-made costumes. When I started sewing I said to myself: ‘why can’t I do it myself?’.

Carolina: “She was there that day, and we said: ‘What shall we do?’. For me it is essential to have the opportunity to teach how to do things according to one’s own measurements. In fact, this is not a course on cutting. You use your own measurements. From there we developed the idea, it’s summer, so the bikini.”

How many lessons have you done so far?

Carolina: “Four lessons of two and a half hours. We are in the third lesson. She (Emma) has already finished the top. Since it goes fast, we’ll do a variant with the cup inside.”

Why make your own bikini instead of buying it?

Carolina: “First of all, the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands, which no one does anymore. We are in a world that is now accustomed to buying, using, throwing away. There is no longer the conception of what is behind it, we don’t know how things work. And there is no longer even the habit of manual skills. Here, patience is also lacking, we are no longer used to patience, we are all in this circuit of ‘everything at once’. Instead, manual skill pushes you to understand that everything has its time, its rhythm. It may happen that you unravel, start, but then you have something finished that you can say ‘I did it!

That is priceless! I wonder if you have any advice for anyone who wants to try to do it themselves.

Carolina: “Patience. Do it yourself. I always say give it a try. Today on YouTube, on the Internet you generally find a lot of things. Surely there comes a time when you need to have a guide, if you’ve never done what kind of work. If you do something different that you haven’t done, I say try it, if you see that you like it you have to meet someone who gives you at least some guidelines, at least the basics, and then you go on from there”.

To do things precisely and correctly. Like Emma, who started doing it herself, trying, and then she felt the need for the course.

Carolina: “Of course, for example, also remaining in the swimwear course, knowing how to put the pieces on the lycra… Because it is true that it is an elastic fabric but it has a sort of direction to be preferred.”

Who can take this course?

Carolina: “The course is for someone who already knows how to sew a little. Because you have to learn to sew a fabric that is a bit difficult, let’s say. Because it’s stretchy, most of the time it’s made of polyester and nylon, so it’s also really hard to sew mechanically: machines hate it! It takes at least knowing how the fabric works and therefore already knowing how to sew the fabric. Then it is not important to know the model because I teach modeling here.”

The difficulty is mainly the fabric, right?

Carolina: “Yes, and the elastic band”.

So you should have some dexterity with the type of fabric. A person who even has only basic knowledge but has a lot of dexterity can do well, which is the case for Emma.

Carolina: “It’s her case. She took a basic course with Cinzia which evidently allowed her to become familiar with the fabric. She took us to show things that she already does independently”.

Yes, today we have an excellent student here with us, as we said before, who excelled in the basic course with Cinzia.

Cinzia: “She was great”.

What’s your name?

Emma: “My name is Emma. Actually, I used the sewing machine even before, but it was always things I did on my own, nothing taught by anyone, just a little bit. My grandmother gave me a sewing machine for my 18th birthday and from there I started tinkering a bit. But then after a few years I said: ‘But I continue to do these somewhat basic, ugly things’. So mom gave me this basic course to learn the ABC.”

It’s a nice gift! Then you stood out for your skills and were able to attend the most advanced course. Now we have loaded her with expectations! What a pressure, really! Don’t worry, Emma, as if we weren’t there.

I ask you too. How did you start this sewing adventure?

Cinzia: “I’m Cinzia, I’m the owner of PuntoPieno. I opened this place about two and a half years ago, in December of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. There is someone who says: ‘Eh, courageous!’, I would perhaps say reckless, but in any case I am still here, thanking heaven. I love teaching sewing, I love to sew, I always have. While I did the classic secretarial and managerial assistant jobs, as soon as I had a free moment I would sew at home or even take sewing courses at a rather high level, in a professional tailor’s shop. This allowed me to be a seamstress to all intents and purposes, but above all to specialize in teaching.”

So it was a plan B, a hobbythat eventually became a job.

Cinzia: “In 2017, unfortunately, the company I worked for had a major crisis and I was fired. I asked myself: What do I do? Am I looking for another job as an assistant manager or do I give it a try? I gave it a try, and from 2017 to the end of 2020 I was able to carry out this challenging project. I met Carolina in a women’s business association called Rete al femminile, also at I mercoledì della mansardina. When you have mutual esteem, the desire to work together is easily born. I invited her here to teach a pilot course, where Tamara and I were two students. Tamara is a long-term student of mine, who is practically planted here in a permanent location with my great pleasure.”

Tamara: “In a while I’ll have my residence here, the documents are arriving!”

Cinzia: “We did the first pilot course, we loved it, we revised the timing, the necessary materials so as to be able to offer it in the best possible way to everyone and we have now re-proposed it in June. We hope to be able to do it again in July.”

Yes, because these things must be encouraged!

Cinzia: “Self-production enriches self-esteem, makes us make new connections, enriches creativity. Self produce, anything. Obviously I love to sew, I’m in this area, but self-production is truly something extra”.

What do you do with fabric scraps?

Cinzia: “With the waste of fabrics used during the courses, even simply in my production, there is a certain amount that is discarded. I always try to recover and reuse all the pieces for which I create small objects that can easily be used”.

What did you like the most about the pilot course and what made you say: “This is a course to be repeated”? What is the best thing about the course you did?

Cinzia: “The feeling of having the finished product. I’ve been sewing for several years already, I have experience. I must say that lycra made me a little nervous. It’s not that easy to sew. Obviously with all of Carolina’s tricks and teachings, I’ve already reached the third bikini! And I definitely intend to sew more. The thing I liked the most is having the first bikini in my hands. And immediately wanting to make another one, and then another one. This is one thing that I liked without a doubt the most.”

Carolina: “Let’s say that during the course she wasn’t really that happy! ‘Don’t worry, we’re getting to the end’, I said.”

Tamara: “Lycra is a bad impact. During the course there were moments when I looked at Cinzia and said: ‘But I can continue to buy them! No, why do I have to make them myself??? I do something else by myself, I’m already sewing, I’m doing something else! In reality, what Cinzia says is true. The first bikini, with all the limitations of the case, can’t be perfect, but beyond everything, I also chose the lycra badly. It’s only right that Cinzia chooses it, it wasn’t a ‘nice to sew’ lycra. Even Carolina admitted it. It’s one more difficulty. So, having removed this obstacle of the first bikini, we bought lycra together, we made the second bikini together independently and… I actually went down to the beach wearing this bikini (I have so many, I have a drawer full) in my opinion it was the most beautiful bikini. Then you feel like duplicating them. She had told me: ‘If you want in the future you can add the cup’. In the third bikini I put the cups and it went very well.”

I saw a photo of you wearing it, then I don’t know now if we can publish it to show the final result, nice! You can see that it fits perfectly.

Tamara: “I like that. Beyond the aesthetics of the bikini, my biggest doubt was: ‘Having done the bikini, if I wear it, is the effect similar to what I buy?’. Actually I have to say yes. I particularly like it, because obviously when the fact that you did it yourself intervenes, it has a value. I finished this one yesterday and I can’t wait for tomorrow just to put on my new swimwear.”

You make me think, you know?, about this. Because in my opinion the fact of self-production also gives satisfaction. It also serves as an anti-stress, there are a myriad of reasons, you can choose materials, perhaps even recycled. Having done it ourselves, giving it a different value than the one bought, it touches on an aspect of sustainability that I hold dear. Just to make the things we have last as long as possible, right Carolina?

Carolina: “Of course, when one sews something, she/he does it with the fabrics you prefer. Maybe quality, because it’s clear that if you go and buy things that are already made you’ll find the fabric they use, which isn’t always the best, we know that. Instead, by doing it yourself, you can also find quality fabric. If you have done something well, cut it well, it fits you well, you keep it. You use it and you don’t need much to make it always new. You can also modify it if you increase or decrease it over time or if you want to change something about the style. You can always intervene on the garment that you made yourself. With a garment you buy, which has no seam allowances, which is made with poor quality fabrics, you can’t intervene much.”

This matter of materials, I was also pleased to touch it because probably someone who will then listen to the podcast or read the article knowing me will think: “Are you talking about materials such as polyester, lycra, synthetic materials?”. I talk about it and I like to talk about this project. Apart from finding alternatives, such as recovering old fabrics.

Carolina: “Old swimwear, for example, or other things that can be recovered. Because the elastic bands unfortunately decay over time. If the time comes they crumble, they last a few years, but you can actually reuse the fabric. Now you can also find recycled lycra.”

Perfect! They are also studying new materials. Moreover, I love recovery.

Carolina: “I make a swimsuit that lasts as many years as I want.”

On the other hand, it is one thing to buy a 100% polyester dress from a fast fashion brand that I maybe wear for two months and then I turn it into textile waste.

Emma: “Speaking of Shein and the various fast fashion chains, it’s something that is very close to my heart, because it’s been like 4-5 years since I’ve been in these stores anymore.”

Were they all like you, it’s nice to hear so!

Emma: “Now there are so many alternatives. Markets, small markets, those sites like Vinted and second-hand sales. I’ve realized now, after so many years of buying only used, vintage things from mum’s and grandma’s wardrobes, when I go in (those stores), just touching the fabrics, that it’s a bad quality. And not only. Just doing this course I realized how impossible it is for a pair of trousers to cost €10 on Shein! Because only the fabric, I paid €30 for it, then you have to add the labour”.

Tamara: “Theoretically also the energy you use for the sewing machines. But in fact anyone who does not sew does not realize. For example, last time I made trousers, now I’m making a suit, 2.20 meters of fabric. If the fabric costs around €20 per meter of fabric alone, it’s more than €50”.

Emma: “They are certainly much faster processes than the ones done by hand, because everything is industrialized and so on. But it is clear that it is inevitable that the worker is underpaid, or even she/he is not paid at all, because otherwise it is not really sustainable!”

In my opinion this type of activity really serves to understand the work behind it, which should then actually be done with every product, object that we buy. Because we’ve maybe lost touch with the production side. Not knowing what lies behind it, we tend to underestimate a lot, we are unable to give an economic value.

Cinzia: “In fact, craftsmanship, in addition to tailoring, when one goes to the seamstress to have a made-to-measure suit made, is thought to have absurd prices. Not true, they are the right ones. Because apart from the material, the hours of work needed and not only that, even the skills we have, which we have built up over the years, are in any case added values that we put into the finished product and therefore it would be fair to repay it adequately. But what’s the difference? We see that we are placed on the same level as chains like H&M, like Shein, like Zara. There is no comparison and yet we are compared. Not us in general as craftsmen, but the final product itself is compared, when it is actually on another planet. Unfortunately, a handcrafted product is considered a luxury product. And it shouldn’t be like this.”

Yes, that’s what I often say, that it’s distorted: the right price has become expensive because it has dropped, there is someone who has pulled it down a lot. So we have lost a correct term of comparison, instead this would be the correct price.

Tamara: “The other day I was talking to a friend of mine who said to me: ‘Tami, I bought trousers from Shein. It stinks a lot of oil, what can I do? I told her I wouldn’t wear it in any case. Do you know what she answered me? ‘You know what? I wasn’t convinced, but it cost so little that I thought that even if I put it on twice and throw it away…’.
I also happened to go to flea markets, the first thing I do now is to go around and look at how it is sewn. ‘This is all wrong!’ I practically took the clothes apart, and walked away. I love flea markets, I spend a lot of time there. After the second market I go to her (Cinzia) and I say I will never buy anything again!”

This made me remind of my grandmother, who every time I brought her something and said “Can you make it shorter”, she looked at it, immediately turned it upside down, looked at the stitching and said “It’s all sewn wrong!”. I would like to ask you too, what did you like most about doing the course with Carolina?

Tamara: “That despite everything, lycra can be sewn! First of all, the possibility of wearing a bikini made entirely by me.”

Quanti ne hai fatti? How many did you make?

Tamara: “Three.”

And are you ready for the forth?

Tamara: “I’ve already bought the lycra and next week I’ll start the forth.”

I like it very much, I’m curious to see the fourth too then.

Carolina Gi is not only swimwear, it is also another world and I have accumulated a bit of curiosity. Could you briefly help me sort out the various terms related to your business?

Carolina: “Actually, they are all part of the same discipline. Brassiere is the French word for bra. Here in Italy, however, it indicates a certain type of bra, which is not very structured. Almost like the bralette, but while the bralette, more in lace, is more aesthetically elaborate, the brassiere is a bra without underwire, perhaps of the undershirt type or in any case in cotton, more practical. Corsetière could be the correspondent of ‘bustaia’ but linked to the world of corsets. Lingerie indicates the sector of the bra, the petticoat, the garter belt, the whole world of intimate apparel, but also something more linked to the more aesthetic than functional side.”

So we clarify a bit, we no longer even ask ourselves what is behind it and if they have different names because there is also a different craftsmanship behind it. Earlier you mentioned the ‘bustaia’ (corset maker). I read in your blog that you were talking about it regarding jobs that disappear.

Carolina: “Bras have entered our history, our life, not for a long time. There were no shops where you went to buy bras. There was the seamstress who specialized in the sector, the corset maker, who made the bra, made the body shaper, the girdle. Again, things were made to measure. The ready-to-wear shop wasn’t there. Department stores started appearing, but not everyone went there. Not everything was there either. Many people did things at home. Many went to the seamstress, and if you wanted something special in terms of underwear you had to go to the ‘bustaia’. There is a different preparation, you are dealing with different fabrics, with different shapes and patterns. If you wanted a bra or girdle or corset because maybe you wanted to tighten your waist a little, you went to the corset maker.”

Can we define you as a modern ‘bustaia’?

Carolina: “Yes, I use the word corsetière, first of all it seems to me a somewhat French term. But it is no longer found. If you go looking, you’ll find someone who has kept the name, perhaps they are shops that still have a certain longevity. But when they refer to the ‘bustaia’, they mean a person who, if you go there, buy the bra and have to make the change, does it. They don’t do the “made to measure”. I couldn’t find other people. Not only in Rome, not even around Italy.”

 And abroad? Because you wrote ‘Abroad is another matter, maybe I’ll tell you, this is another story’.

Carolina: “Yes, then I never told it! Abroad, meanwhile, there are people who do the same job as me, but do-it-yourself works much more. There are many people who sell the model in multiple sizes. There are many groups where you enter and ask for help because maybe you are not able, because you take a size, the one that comes closest but you have to do the fitting of the thing you know you have to create for yourself. In that case, if you don’t know how to do it, you have to get help. So there are many who help each other. And then they sell the sets. There are companies that sell the piece of lace, the piece of fabric, the elastics, the closures, the caps. There is a huge world, there are also many online courses.”

Carolina, why did you choose this job?

Carolina: “I come from a fashion academy, I’m a stylist, a model maker. For many years I have dealt with clothing, both in tailors and on my own privately. Then came a moment… Do you know those things that are in front of you, but you don’t see them? One day I was on the verge of desperation, I said: ‘I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to look for bras for myself and I can never find them (I have a large size). But why don’t you do it yourself?” My light bulb went on. I’ve actually always had a great love for lingerie and corsetry. Corsets are already slightly different from lingerie, a parallel, beautiful world that I love madly, but it’s a little different. So, I started experimenting, looking for information, seeing people, talking. In short, slowly I bought the modeling books. In Italy there are no courses. Being already a pattern maker it was easier for me. If you don’t have the basics it’s a little more complicated, above all because, in fact, there are no schools in Italy. I’d like to create a school where one can learn to make lingerie and corsetry. Now some girls have started doing something, but they’re always limited, they never arrive at the real tailored made. They are always tailored made, made to measure, always standardized things. So it’s hard to be able to solve exactly that kind of problem.”

Cinzia: “In the meantime, however, we could do some courses here.”

Let’s think big, we start small, and meanwhile in the long term…

In your opinion, in this society which is dictated by frenetic pace even in consumption, by the rush to own garments based on the brand, by the loss of sight of the importance of quality in favor of quantity instead, according to you, do we underestimate, out of ignorance, the importance of wearing tailored underwear?

Carolina: “Yes, especially in the bra sector. We are led to think that we buy a bra, make it wearable and we have solved. Too bad it’s not like that. A bra must support a certain way, it must not hurt you when you wear them, it must not give you back pain. It has a structure. Going back to the previous discussion, for example, maybe I’d go looking in the shops, find the fifth D bra cup for me, tie it on and I’ve solved it! But after two days it didn’t fit me anymore, because the cup wasn’t the right one, the underbust, the band wasn’t the right one.”

Vintage lingerie, your passion. What do you particularly like about vintage lingerie? Is there any piece that makes you feel this passion?

Carolina: “I grew up with those wonderful Hollywood-style films, including Italian ones, with Sofia Loren, with all the most famous actresses, best known all over the world. They were often represented in films in romantic scenes with a dressing gown, guêpière, garter belt. I have those references that were objectively very beautiful, I’m in love with that aesthetic. I like to search from photos to information. Every now and then I enjoy reproducing, for example, a bra following a model. I had a book of models, there are photos with the design on graph paper, so it could be redone in exactly the same size and so I did, I was able to redo those things. Bringing back the garter belt, bringing back the guêpière, these things here, why not?”

I would ask you if you have a book to recommend for discovering vintage lingerie.

Carolina: “More than a book, I’ll give you two websites, ok? One is a site that you actually enter with a subscription, but has tons of articles that are also accessible for free: Foundation Revealed. You can find everything related above all from corsets to swimwear. It is a large Anglo-Saxon community that loves costumes, loves proposing and recreating them, everything that was worn underneath, that is, they are truly very very particular historical reconstructions. Another wonderful site is Underpinning museum. Someone with this passion did a crowdfunding and set up this museum where there are all the vintage garments, from all eras, and continues to add them. Some are reproductions, some are originals. It is a virtual museum. I don’t remember if they are British or American. It truly is a wonderful archive of photographs, full of spectacular models.”

Let’s talk about some ideas for courses. You can’t find the beautiful bodysuits of the past anymore. I found myself, for at least 2-3 years, with a desire for those very very feminine bodysuits. What about a course to make them?

Cinzia: “We will do everything!”.

Carolina: “Here it’s getting difficult!”.

Slowly, slowly, I’d love to make one of those, perhaps starting with a simpler model. When you come here to sew are there machines available?

Carolina: “She (Emma) brought hers, she set it because so at home it already starts from ‘to make this seam we use this stitches and this thread tension etc.’ But there are also some sewing machines available. In the pilot course we used all the machines we have here in the laboratory to understand which were the best settings based on each machine, the right needle, the size of the stitch, the type of thread to use. We invite you if you want to sew at home too, maybe if you have the opportunity to bring your own machine, because it’s a particular setting, then it’s worth it”.

One leaves the world outside. She/He sits there, thinks about sewing. There is herbal tea, a biscuit. I really like this dimension, that is, it’s not just the course itself. We come here, we chat, which is not just ‘you make your own bikini’, but you create a world, a network of people to be with.

Tamara: “Indeed, a world opens up for you. The first few times I needed Cinzia, I always need Cinzia but now I can understand. I didn’t call Cinzia and tell her: ‘I have to make an electric toothbrush case’. I called Cinzia and said: ‘Among the waterproof fabrics, which one can you give me?’.”

And then she gives the advice on fabrics.

Tamara: “I have to be honest about the suggestions for fabrics: I’ve never seen them quite as beautiful as here at Cinzia’s. The quality, the choice is really something special.”

Cinzia: “When I can, I also try to choose totally or partially recycled fabrics. One thing I always say is that polyester is demonized a lot, and it’s true, absolutely true, but unfortunately cotton doesn’t have a particularly low impact.”

I totally agree, there isn’t the perfect fabric, but many people think: “It’s natural!”, actually natural doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. it doesn’t actually exist. Polyester has pros and cons, the cons of course being that it comes from petroleum. The pro is that it doesn’t use as much water as is used for cotton. One fabric cannot be demonized over another.

Carolina: “Mine, among other things, is a sector where it is difficult to say: ‘We sew sustainably’, because for example natural fabrics that can be used are few. Clearly, according to common feeling, most of the fabrics used in lingerie are polyester. It’s clearly demonized by now, but yes, wait there too. It gives you features that help you wear it in a certain way, it’s long-lasting, because in any case it takes time before it breaks.”

This is why it is important that you like it a lot, to keep it for a long time.

Tamara: “I am in contact with young people in my work, and they don’t have this culture.”

Cynthia: “Except Emma!”

Tamara: “She’s really are a rare case!”

Emma is our gem.

Tamara: “Even my pupils and others, even the generation immediately before (like that of my nephew), grew up with the possibility of buying at low cost and having a thousand alternatives. When I was younger it’s true that maybe I bought anyway, but it was much more expensive regardless, and you didn’t have all this variety that allowed you to have such an affordable price. Even if the sweater for me, the trousers cost me enough, it was a more conscious choice. Now if you go to the shops the shirt costs €10, if you’re not convinced you buy it anyway.”

Carolina: “Let’s say that this fabric costs €2 per meter for the industry. Then there’s the thread, the current, the lining, the buttons, the zipper. We add 5 €.”

It doesn’t add up…

Tamara: “But the fabric is the one that takes the most money from me in the project.”

Plus the working hours.

Tamara: “Work must be quantified”.

Cinzia: “Work in the sense of how long it takes you to do the thing”.

Tamara: “Yesterday a girl said to me: ‘How beautiful this is! Well, how long does it take you to make the pants?’ That’s not how long it takes. You buy the fabric, you buy the thread”.

Emma: “It’s not just ‘you buy the fabric’ here. It’s ‘you go out, get in the car, go get the fabric, choose it”.

Which is the same thing that smaller brands do.

Emma: “I’m lucky because I studied sculpture and installation, so I really know the value of handmade things, plus I also had my grandmother who sewed. Hence also the importance of taking used things. In all the work I do, even sculpture, I always try to have as little waste as possible, use as little plastic as possible, natural elements. Even in that field, which is very difficult.
Grandma wants a hand modifying her swimsuit!”

Cinzia: “Now you give her a hand, instead!”.

(Emma shows the bikini she is sewing). All: “Wow. How beautiful, very beautiful!”

Cynthia: “Can I tell you something? My first bikini didn’t turn out so well! Mine was much wavier.”

Carolina: “In fact I was about to say: ‘Ask them how it was!’ I guarantee you that to be the first bikini it’s coming out great!”

Now a curiosity: I still can not sew straight!

Cinzia: “Ok, come and have a lesson with me! Look, actually you lack the reference point. When you’re in a car, what keeps you going straight is following the lines out of the corner of your eye. On a deserted road it’s the lines that allow you…, in fact when they aren’t there on a country road, it’s only asphalted for example, it’s difficult to stay in one’s lane. When you sew it’s a bit the same thing. When sewing you need to choose a reference point, whether it’s the edge of the foot, the notches on the needle plate, a guideline, a reference point”:

Mi piacerebbe venire a fare il corso! I would like to do the course!

Cinzia: “Great”

Grazie per questo pomeriggio insieme! Mi piace pensare che un mestiere come quello della bustaia non stia scomparendo, che sia qualcuno/a che continuerà ad appassionarsene e a raccontarne la bellezza, magari imparando proprio da Carolina, incuriosito/a dalla sua intervista e dal blog. Ci meritiamo di indossare un intimo comodo e bello!

Thank you for this afternoon together! I like to think that a profession like that of  ‘bustaia’ is not disappearing, that there’s someone who will continue to be passionate about it and tell its beauty, perhaps even learning from Carolina, intrigued by her interview and blog. We deserve to wear comfortable and beautiful underwear!

Carolina Gi website; Instagram

Photos by: cover, Riccardo Scrocca; Carolina Gi, Cinzia, Tamara, Emma.

• Belli capelli con l’upcycling (“Nice hair with the upcycle”)

Workshop for adults to make hair accessories, turbans, headbands and scrunches by recovering waste fabrics.

• Immagina e crea il tuo eco-animaletto (“Imagine and create your little eco-animal”)

Workshop for children (6-10 years) to create animals with recycled fabrics.

Silhouettes, pins, needles, pencils, chalks, spools, scissors, fabrics… the long table set up for the occasion was full of materials, and of hands industriously working to make their own accessory. Many people have tried their hand at recovering a fabric, drawing, cutting and sewing. Even those who did not know how to use needle and thread. There are those who have chosen to create a turban, some a headband, some scrunches. And also those who joined the children in choosing an eco-pet! The idea was to separate the two workshops, but in the end young and less young  joined the table, and in the midst of that creative chaos for a moment I thought: “Will we be able to follow everyone well? But, above all, will they be having fun?”.

While Carlotta coordinated experienced and inexperienced eco-fashion designers of turbans, headbands and scrunches, I let myself be carried away by the enthusiasm of those who created eco-animals. Samu, 3 and a half years old, chose a dinosaur, absolutely green: because that’s how he saw it at the museum! When you choose upcycling, you know, the materials are those available: it is the design that follows the raw material, not the other way around. Search and search  again we found a military green fabric perfect for the dinosaur!

The best part of these workshops is the final satisfaction of the participants, the joy of having created with their own hands, of not having bought, of having saved a possible refusal.

The extra happiness for us was being together live: Anne-Laure and I finally in person! And meeting Carlotta, Mayra Sallie and Grazia, , directly from the Club Sostenibilità on clubhouse. Chiara from Gipsy cip also came to give us a hand!

At the end of the workshop, the garments di Cooperativa Sociale Mani Tese, Sartoria Sociale Manigolde and Oso, because “Another fashion is possible”!
The event was born from a collaboration between: Cooperativa ManiTese Onlus Manigolde Giardini in Transito – Giardino Comunitario Lea Garofalo Carlotta Redaelli Dress ECOdeLato B – l’altro lato di Milano Corte delle Madri NaturaSì

With a soft 100% organic cotton fabric from Maeko tessuti I had the desire to replicate the challenge. Not only because making something yourself is relaxing and satisfying, but also because of the opportunity to have a garment in your wardrobe just as you have in mind. Do you know the feeling when you have a precise idea of how you want a dress, a pair of trousers or an intimate suit?

On the internet there are all kinds of paper patterns. Here I show you a collection of free and non-free resources:

• Cartamodello pantaloncini culotte a vita alta
• Basic underwear pdf sewing pattern
• Underwear Sewing
• Panties pdf instant download
• Retrò style (in italiano)
• Lingerie Culotte
• Maxime High Waist Panties
• Celestie panties Free pdf pattern in questo sito ci sono diversi cartamodelli interessanti
• Lingerie panties Ohhh Lulu
• Coudre-une-culotte-surprise
• https://madalynne.com/product/noelle-diy-underwear-sewing-patter/
• Free Noelle DIY Underwear Sewing Pattern
• Patron de base – Culotte
• Rosy ladyshorts
• Bonnie, la petite culotte
• Per uomo? Uomo 1 e  Uomo 2

While I’m looking for these links for you, I want to create more!

Sometimes it all comes from the desire to do it with your own hands, while at other times making it yourself begins with a need. As in the case of the young businesswoman Megan Grassell. Not finding bras suitable for his 13-year-old sister in stores, without padding and underwire and with a jaunty air, he decided to create them by founding his own company at 17. Yellowberry is the brand with which it offers comfortable and colorful workout bras with names like Junebug and Sugar Cookie.

During the lockdown I chose to proceed by copying a slip model that I already have and that I really like. I drew the shape I wanted on a sheet of tissue paper, following the contours of the briefs taken as a reference. Do you have a pair of culottes or another type of underwear to throw away but that you really like? You can use them to create your own pattern, unraveling the pieces and reproducing the shape on tissue or newspaper.

I copied the paper parts onto Maeko’s fabric. With a remnant of lace I finished the front of the briefs. I added the elastic and here is the final result:

I am now sewing two more patterns. I enjoyed it so much that… maybe I’ll make a collection!

It’s November. We are temporarily in the city where I was born (Modena), for family reasons going back and forth from the hospital. I wear a bag bought many years ago, unfortunately in a fast fashion chain. I really like the model and I try to make it last for a long time, having now made a senseless purchase, before embracing sustainable fashion. It’s faux leather, so it’s okay about respect for animals but… often synthetic materials are used to avoid leather but have nothing respectful of animals and the environment. But who knew then? So I try to make it lasts as long as possible.

The damage

I’m in Modena and looking at the bag I exclaim: “I really like this model! It’s really cute!”. The next day, I don’t know how, a peeling appears on the top… To be thrown away.

I can’t do it. After collecting plastic and waste, I think and think again before throwing an item like this away. It should be a solution… If it were made of good quality leather, such as those we find in vintage and second-hand shops, it would have its charm even ruined (and in any case it wouldn’t peel like that) or it would be worth taking it to your trusted cobbler for repair. Instead this is what happens when you buy such pieces in fast fashion chains.

The solution

Time passes, the bag remains in a corner of the closet, waiting for a solution. Until one day, in fact, arranging fabrics and scraps I find a square of brown eco-leather. What if… What if I try to fix it myself, with a darker colored insert? I put the fabric close to the bag and it seems to work!

The recovery

I didn’t take any photographs of the bag before the restoration. It occurred to me during the recovery operation! In the video, however, you can see half as it was before the intervention. Originally, it was of a single color. I placed the sheet of a newspaper on the bag to take the shape of the insert to be covered. Then I placed the paper template on the back of the fabric, drawing the line to be cut with a pencil, trying to keep half a centimeter of the edge for safety. In fact, I imagined that the fabric would shrink once attached.

After sprinkling them with fabric glue, I patiently put the two shapes on the bag, mainly pressing on the edges and going over the corners.

Finally I passed the hair dryer, so that the inserts adhered better. I remembered when dad used to make me blow the hair dryer as a child to let the covers of school books adhere better…

Click here to watch the video

The outcome

And here is the result! I don’t dislike the final effect. I have to apply the glue again on the corners now that the first pass is dry. These are the points where it will otherwise tend to rise. In the meantime, however, I’ll show you in the photo.

How does it look to you? I really appreciate the idea of being able to use it for a long time to come! Even if it is no longer in a solid color, I can still wear it pleasantly.

Did you also happen to repair a “fast fashion quality level” purchase, before the conversion to sustainable fashion? If you want to tell me the story, write me by clicking on the button below! I will gladly listen to it and it will be nice to share it with those like us who are trying to reduce their environmental footprint.

First time on this site? Get started >

 Puoi ascoltare qui l’episodio: Vita da Dress ECOde – Sashiko

Scrivendo l’articolo (che puoi trovare qui) sull’antica tecnica del Sashiko adottata dalle moderne pratiche di moda sostenibile, avevo deciso di provare in prima persona ad applicarla. Improvvisamente si è infatti accesa una lampadina e mi è sembrata l’idea perfetta per quei jeans chiari accantonati nell’armadio da 10 (15?) anni, in qualche lavaggio sbiaditi vicino al ginocchio. Capita anche a te di non accettare di rinunciare a un capo a cui tieni? Il modello, il colore, il tessuto jeans leggero, mi piacevano troppo per rassegnarmi a non indossarli più. Sono rimasti lì in attesa di un’idea. Ed è arrivato il Sashiko.

Perché non provare? L’alternativa sarebbe stata mantenerli inutilmente nel guardaroba. Su quell’azzurro rilassante, le punte di bianco erano un richiamo alle onde del mare. Così nelle serate di blocco forzato per il Covid-19, pian piano ha preso forma uno scorcio di mare, affiancando punto dopo punto, filo dopo filo, tre sfumature di blu. 

Chiedo scusa agli esperti maestri presenti e passati di Sashiko per l’imperfezione, per la rozzezza dei punti e le geometrie sgangherate, abbozzate a mano con imprecisione. Il desiderio di arrivare alla fine e di recuperare finalmente quei pantaloni mi ha tenuto compagnia nelle serate casalinghe, con un po’ di suggestione immedesimandomi nelle antiche riparatrici di indumenti lisi che nelle buie sere d’inverno pazientemente muovevano il tessuto intorno all’ago da ricamo. 

Ora sono pronti per la stagione di onde, mare e pesciolini sott’acqua.

English – Dress ECOde’s lifestyle: on the wave of the article about Sashiko

By writing the article (which you can find here) on the ancient Sashiko technique adopted by modern sustainable fashion practices, I decided to try it firsthand. Suddenly it all clicked and it seemed to me the perfect idea for those light jeans set aside in the closet for 10 (15?) years, in some washing faded near the knee area. Does it also happen to you to not accept to give up on a garment you care about? The model, the color, the light denim fabric, I liked too much to resign myself to not wearing them anymore. They stood there waiting for an idea. And Sashiko has arrived.

Why not try it? The alternative would have been to keep them unnecessarily in the wardrobe. On that relaxing blue, the white points were a reference to the waves of the sea. So on the evenings of forced lockdown for Covid-19, a glimpse of the sea slowly took shape, placing side by side three shades of blue point after point, thread after thread.

I apologize to experienced current and past Sashiko masters, for the imperfection, for the roughness of the stitches and the unrefined geometries, sketched by hand with inaccuracy. The desire to arrive to the end and finally recover those trousers stayed with me in the home evenings, with a bit of suggestion identifying myself in the old repairers of threadbare clothes who on the dark winter evenings patiently moved the fabric around the embroidery needle.

Now they are ready for the season of waves, sea and underwater minnows.

Italiano/English below pictures

Puoi ascoltare qui l’articolo: Sashiko

Le armoniose geometrie che deliziano gli occhi e la mente e la filosofia sottostante collocano il sashiko sul podio delle ottime pratiche della moda sostenibile. Questa antica tecnica giapponese si fa amare per tanti concetti a cui rimanda: il valore dei tessuti come risorsa preziosa, la cura per la manutenzione dei nostri abiti, l’estetica e l’etica del rammendo, l’opposizione allo spreco e alla fast fashion, il lato bello del riuso.

Sashiko è una tecnica di cucitura tradizionale a mano, che utilizza un semplice punto eseguito in motivi ripetuti o intrecciati, di solito unendo diversi strati di tessuto. Si è sviluppato nel nord rurale del Giappone probabilmente durante il periodo Edo (1615-1868). All’epoca Meiji (1868–1912), il sashiko era una tecnica giapponese consolidata e combinava la finalità decorativa al rammendo e alla trapuntatura. Il suo nome significa “piccole pugnalate”, un riferimento al semplice punto che compone gli schemi geometrici.

I motivi sono molto piacevoli, con i loro punti regolari e l’uso preciso dello spazio, ma l’estetica è solo uno dei suoi aspetti.

Negli inverni rigidi del nord del Giappone, era un’attività svolta dalle donne nelle famiglie di agricoltori o pescatori per prolungare la vita dei tessuti consumati, per rammendare gli abiti e abbellire gli oggetti di uso quotidiano. Contrariamente agli splendidi tessuti di seta dei kimoni indossati dalla nobiltà e dalle classi superiori giapponesi, il sashiko era collegato a tessuti popolari prodotti e utilizzati dalle classi contadine. Fino alla comparsa delle prime industrie tessili (intorno al 1870), cotone, lino e canapa venivano filati, tessuti e tinti a mano.

La stoffa era una risorsa preziosa che richiedeva enormi quantità di lavoro e anche gli scarti avevano valore.

Il cotone era particolarmente scarso nel nord del Giappone, dove faceva troppo freddo per crescere, e proibitivamente costoso per l’abbigliamento quotidiano. Le famiglie più povere facevano affidamento sulla produzione dei propri vestiti dalla canapa e il rammendo era una necessità assoluta per sopravvivere.

Sashiko era una parte cruciale di una tecnica di riparazione chiamata boro.

Boro significa ‘stracci sbrandellati’ in giapponese e indica biancheria da letto e indumenti di cotone amorevolmente rattoppati e riparati, usati molto più a lungo del normale ciclo di vita poiché cuciti ordinatamente insieme a punti sashiko che coprono i buchi e rinforzano le aree consumate.

Unendo due o più strati di stoffa si creavano piccole sacche d’aria negli abiti, che intrappolavano il calore e offrivano una protezione molto migliore, una maggiore durata (fino a tre generazioni) grazie alle fitte cuciture che preservavano il tessuto, e un personale tocco creativo.  Il classico aspetto “crema su blu”, che associamo oggi al sashiko, è dato dal filo non colorato con cui sono creati i motivi geometrici. Un effetto molto bello, che era anche molto pratico, perché le donne spesso ricamavano il sashiko nelle serate buie e il contrasto consentiva loro di vedere bene la cucitura. Le figlie degli agricoltori aiutavano le madri nei ricami dall’età di cinque anni, così il sashiko è andato avanti nel tempo, di generazione in generazione. Con l’arrivo però degli abiti occidentali, nel XX secolo, il sashiko cadde in disgrazia perché ricordava la povertà delle famiglie. Negli ultimi anni si è di nuovo diffuso in Giappone come hobby artigianale. In Occidente, lo stiamo riscoprendo nell’ambito della moda sostenibile.

Il rammendo e la riparazione degli abiti sono una delle forme con cui si stanno manifestando la rottura con la moda tradizionale e un allontanamento dal canone classico di bellezza dei vestiti.

Abbiamo maggior cura di ciò che già possediamo, stiamo riscoprendo il gusto di riparare invece di buttare e i nostri occhi si stanno allenando a trovare bellezza nelle ricuciture e nelle suture. L’interesse dei consumatori più attenti alla sostenibilità verso il sashiko sta aumentando.  Alcuni brand e designer iniziano a considerare le tecniche di rammendo per estendere il ciclo di vita degli indumenti, cominciando a vedere i consumatori non come clienti alla ricerca di continui acquisti. Patagonia diffonde l’impegno a riparare, riutilizzare o riciclare i capi alla fine della loro vita. Con il programma Renew (Rinnovo), Eileen Fisher riacquista gli indumenti utilizzati dai clienti per ripararli, restituirli e rivenderli. Altri brand e designer propongono prodotti o abiti con punti di rammendo. Come lo zaino di EastPak in tessuto Boro Sashiko. 

Far scorrere i punti del sashiko su un tessuto strappato è un processo di trasformazione non solo del capo ma anche personale. Ci connette armoniosamente con ciò che già possediamo. È un sollievo per l’anima che lentamente trova conferma che tutto può essere trasformato: ciò che è rovinato, lacerato o distrutto ci offre un’opportunità di creare qualcosa di nuovo e più bello.

Puoi ascoltare l’articolo anche su Spotify: sotto le foto troverai il podcast, buon ascolto!

Link per approfondire:  

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/sashiko-embroidery-patterns-1177479
http://www.pointdemarque.it
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/free-sashiko-embroidery-patterns-1177478
https://upcyclestitches.com/sashiko-instagram/
https://www.sashiko.it/
https://japanese-embroidery-books.com/

Materiale per iniziare:

Sashiko-starter-set-japanese-hand-sewing
Sashiko-starter-set-mini
sashiko-mini-starter-set-japanese-hand
Pattern-marking-tool

Libri:

The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook, Susan Briscoe; Sashiko: Traditional Japanese Quilt Design, Nihon Vogue; Sashiko Style: Traditional Japanese Patterns for Contemporary Design [With Patterns], Yoko Koike; Sashiko, Satomi Sakuma; Point par point, le sashiko se met à table, Kumiko Yoshida; Modern Sashiko, Silke Bosbach.

English – Sashiko, an ancient practice rediscovered by modern sustainable fashion, to repair and embellish garments with harmonious geometries

The harmonious geometries that delight the eyes and the mind and the underlying philosophy place the sashiko on the podium of the excellent practices of sustainable fashion. This ancient Japanese technique makes itself loved for many concepts to which it refers: the value of fabrics as a precious resource, the care for the maintenance of our clothes, the aesthetics and ethics of mending, the opposition to waste and fast fashion, the beautiful side of reuse.

Sashiko is a traditional hand sewing technique, which uses a simple stitch made in repeated or interwoven motifs, usually by merging several layers of fabric. It developed in the rural north of Japan probably during the Edo period (1615-1868). At the Meiji era (1868–1912), sashiko was a well-established Japanese technique and combined the decorative purpose with mending and quilting. Its name means “small stabs”, a reference to the simple point that creates the geometric patterns.

The motifs are very pleasant, with their regular stitches and the precise use of space, but aesthetics is only one of its aspects.

In the harsh winters of northern Japan, it was an activity carried out by women in the families of farmers or fishermen to extend the life of worn fabrics, to mend clothes and embellish everyday objects. Contrary to the splendid silk fabrics of the kimonos worn by the Japanese nobility and upper classes, sashiko was linked to popular fabrics produced and used by the peasant classes. Until the appearance of the first textile industries (around 1870), cotton, linen and hemp were spun, woven and dyed by hand.

Fabrics were a precious resource that required enormous quantities of labor and scraps also had value.

Cotton was particularly scarce in northern Japan, where it was too cold to grow it, and prohibitively expensive for everyday clothing. The poorest families relied on the production of their clothes from hemp and mending was an absolute necessity to survive.

Sashiko was a crucial part of a repair technique called boro.

Boro means ‘tattered rags’ in Japanese and indicates lovingly patched and repaired bed linen and cotton clothing, used much longer than the normal life cycle since it is neatly sewn together with sashiko stitches that cover the holes and reinforce the worn areas.

By combining two or more layers of fabric, small air pockets were created in the clothes, which trapped the heat and offered much better protection, greater durability (up to three generations) thanks to the thick seams that preserved the fabric, and a personal creative touch. The classic “cream on blue” aspect, which we associate today with sashiko, is given by the non-colored thread with which the geometric patterns are created. A very nice effect, which was also very practical, because women often embroidered sashiko on dark evenings and the contrast allowed them to see the stitching well. The farmers’ daughters had been helping mothers in embroidery since the age of five, so sashiko has gone on from generation to generation. With the arrival of Western clothes, however, in the twentieth century, sashiko fell out of favor because it reminded of the poverty of families. In recent years it has once again spread to Japan as a craft hobby. In the West, we are rediscovering it in the context of sustainable fashion.

The mending and repairing of clothes are one of the ways in which the disrupt with traditional fashion and a departure from the classic canon of beauty of clothes are manifesting.

We take greater care of what we already own, we are rediscovering the taste of repairing instead of throwing and our eyes are training to find beauty in the stitches and sutures. The interest of consumers who are more attentive to sustainability towards sashiko is increasing. Some brands and designers begin to consider mending techniques to extend the life cycle of garments, starting to see consumers not as customers looking for continuous purchases. Patagonia spreads its commitment to repair, reuse or recycle garments at the end of their life. With the Renew program, Eileen Fisher buys back the clothing used by customers to repair, return and resell it. Other brands and designers offer products or clothes with darning stitches. Like the EastPak backpack in Boro Sashiko fabric.

Sliding the stitches of the sashiko on a ripped fabric is a process of transformation not only of the garment but also personal. It connects us harmoniously with what we already have. It is a relief for the soul that slowly finds confirmation that everything can be transformed: what is ruined, torn or destroyed offers us an opportunity to create something new and more beautiful.

Link to learn more:  

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/sashiko-embroidery-patterns-1177479
http://www.pointdemarque.it
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/free-sashiko-embroidery-patterns-1177478
https://upcyclestitches.com/sashiko-instagram/
https://www.sashiko.it/
https://japanese-embroidery-books.com/

To begin:

Sashiko-starter-set-japanese-hand-sewing
Sashiko-starter-set-mini
sashiko-mini-starter-set-japanese-hand
Pattern-marking-tool

Books:

The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook, Susan Briscoe; Sashiko: Traditional Japanese Quilt Design, Nihon Vogue; Sashiko Style: Traditional Japanese Patterns for Contemporary Design [With Patterns], Yoko Koike; Sashiko, Satomi Sakuma; Point par point, le sashiko se met à table, Kumiko Yoshida; Modern Sashiko, Silke Bosbach.

Puoi ascoltare qui l’articolo: Come trasformare abiti

Nei suo video dallo stile scoppiettante puoi trovare una miriade di idee per costruire il tuo guardaroba più sostenibile: Sarah Kolish è una fonte di spunti per trasformare capi second-hand in modo che calzino a pennello. Seamingly Sera è il suo canale YouTube dove pubblica i video in cui passo passo mostra come “reinventare scoperte economiche nei negozi di usato per aiutarti a costruire il tuo stile e il tuo guardaroba da sogno”. Viene voglia di prendere ago e filo per provare subito i suoi esperimenti! Da un po’ di tempo seguiamo il suo canale e abbiamo deciso di intervistarla per saperne di più di lei e dei suoi video (e anche per chiederle qualche consiglio!).

Adoro il tuo messaggio ‘Non farò shopping fino a quando non farò upcycle di tutto ciò che ho!’ (upcycle= riutilizzo trasformando). È completamente in linea con la filosofia del nostro sito. E adoriamo tutti i tuoi video su come ricreare l’abbigliamento riutilizzando quello che hai! Quando hai iniziato a cucire e perché?
“Grazie! È stata una sfida piuttosto dura per me, ed è una sfida che penso che tutti dovrebbero provare ad adottare almeno una volta nella vita – mi ha davvero mostrato quanto ho già per creare e da apprezzare. Ho cominciato a cucire al liceo, circa 10 anni fa ormai. Ho iniziato a dedicarmi all’usato e all’upcycling perché per me era un modo economico e divertente di creare moda senza avere molte conoscenze tecniche di cucito”.

Come hai imparato a cucire?
“Sono orgogliosamente autodidatta. Ovviamente attraverso prove ed errori, letture e video di YouTube!”.

Quando hai iniziato il tuo canale? Com’è nato?
“Ho cominciato il mio canale a dicembre 2017 e l’ho aperto perché avevo sempre desiderato avere una mia attività e sapevo che YouTube era un modo fattibile per realizzarla, quindi ho preso la mia passione e ho iniziato a fare video al riguardo. Ho ancora molta strada da fare, ma sono così grata per il supporto che ho ora e per quanto sono cresciuta da allora”.

Quanti vestiti hai cucito e trasformato?
“Oddio – davvero così tanti… troppi da contare!”.

Qual è stato il più difficile? Ricordo un video in cui veramente eri messa alla prova, non sono sicura ma mi sembrava si trattasse di cucire un reggiseno!
“Il reggiseno fai-da-te è stato in realtà abbastanza semplice, tutto ‘detto – fatto’ (adoro drammatizzare!) – il più difficile finora potrebbe essere il mio abito da sposa (perché sono lontana dall’averlo quasi finito!) o il mio vestito increspato rosso e bianco, l’arricciatura era così difficile da capire come farla con la mia macchina da cucire”.

Quante volte hai fallito (ovvero non hai raggiunto il risultato atteso)?
“Haha, oh tante volte… penso che sia solo la natura di chi sono e di come cucio – non ho alcuna istruzione tecnica sul cucito, quindi devo solo vedere come va, e poi farlo funzionare se non funziona perfettamente”.

La tua creazione preferita?
“Sono tutte così speciali per me – ma indosso moltissimo i miei Levi’s neri! Mi calzano a pennello”.

Perché preferisci l’usato rispetto all’acquisto di nuovi capi?
“Mi fa davvero sentire che sto facendo la differenza nel settore della moda. Sono sempre ricorsa all’usato perché è economico e per me è molto emozionante quando trovo oggetti fantastici – è come una caccia al tesoro per me, sapendo che potrei trovare occasioni ovunque”.

Dove acquisti di seconda mano?
“Vado in ogni negozio dell’usato possibile ed è quello che suggerisco di fare. Non c’è un negozio dell’usato segreto e perfetto in cui compro. Devi solo andare da tutti, continuare a ritornare e capire quali negozi hanno una buona selezione”.

Qualche suggerimento per l’usato?
“Invece di passare in rassegna ogni singolo elemento sugli appendiabiti, mi piace scansionare le grucce per tessuto, motivo e colore da cui sono attratta – Risparmio un sacco di tempo in questo modo e al giorno d’oggi non ho la pazienza di guardare comunque tutto! Faccio sempre anche un elenco di cose di cui ho bisogno prima di fare acquisti”.

Cosa ti piace di più del cucito e del rimodernare i capi?
“La cosa più gratificante è che posso creare e indossare i miei progetti senza creare sprechi. Apprezzo molto che la maggior parte del mio armadio sia riciclata e fatta a mano”.

Stai preparando l’abito da sposa per il tuo matrimonio, giusto? Qualche anticipazione? Come sta andando?
“Sì:) sta andando davvero alla grande finora! Ho appena definito la struttura e la vestibilità del corpetto e della gonna, quindi sono entusiasta di iniziare il resto del progetto”.

Hai qualche suggerimento per chi vorrebbe iniziare a cucire ma ha timore?
“JUST DO IT! Voglio dire, guarda solo uno dei miei video: cucio da 10 anni e sbaglio ancora quasi ogni volta. Ho tanti suggerimenti per cominciare: inizia in piccolo, non essere troppo ambizioso con i tuoi primi progetti. Ad esempio, crea una gonna a ruota, tovaglioli, una coperta, un top a tubo, pantaloncini con elastico in vita, ecc. Assicurati anche di utilizzare tessuti facili da cucire: non iniziare con tessuti leggeri o scivolosi o denim. L’upcycling è “IL” modo di cominciare per principianti: tutto è economico, quindi non ti senti male quando sbagli e i vestiti sono già fatti per te! Devi solo modificarli nel modo desiderato. Nel complesso, entusiasmati per i tuoi progetti e ricorda che gli errori accadranno sempre, ma non è la fine del mondo (perché so che è come a volte ci si sente)”.

Grazie Sarah per i tuoi preziosi suggerimenti e per ispirare con i tuoi video! Continueremo a seguire il tuo canale (non vediamo l’ora di vedere pronto il tuo abito da sposa!).

YouTube: Seamingly Sera Instagram: @seaminglysera

English – How to transform clothes found in thrift stores into a dream wardrobe: Sarah Kolish explains us step by step in her videos!

In her bubbly style videos you can find a myriad of ideas to build your more sustainable wardrobe: Sarah Kolish is a source of inspirations to transform second-hand garments so that they fit perfectly. Seamingly Sera is her YouTube channel where she publishes videos showing step by step how “to reimagine cheap thrift store finds to help you build your style and dream wardrobe!”. You feel like taking needle and thread to try her experiments right away! We have been following her channel since a while and we have decided to interview her to find out more about her and her videos (and also to ask her for some advice!).

I really love your message ‘I’m not shopping till I upcycle everything I own!’. It’s completely in line with our website philosophy. And all your videos about recreating outfit reusing what you have! When did you start sewing and why?
“Thank you! It was quite a tough challenge for myself, and is a challenge I think everyone should try adopting at least once in their lives – it really showed me just how much I already had to create with and be appreciative of. I started sewing in high school, about 10 years ago now. I started thrifting and upcycling because it was a cheap and fun way for me to create fashion without having to have a lot of technical sewing knowledge”.

How did you learn sewing?
“I am proudly self-taught. Just through trial and error, reading, and YouTube videos of course!”.

When did you start your channel? How was it born?
“I started my channel in December, 2017 and I started it because I had always wanted to have my own business, and I knew YouTube was a viable way to make that happen, so I took my passion and started making videos about it. I still have a long way to go, but I am so grateful for the support I have now and the amount I’ve grown since then”.

How many clothes have you sewn and transformed?
“Oh goodness – so so many… too many to count!”.

What was the most difficult one? I remember one video where you really were challenged, not sure if it was about making a bra!
“The bra DIY was actually pretty simple all said and done (I love to be dramatic) – the most difficult to date might be my wedding dress (because I am no where near done with it!) or my red and white shirred dress- shirring was so hard to figure out on my machine”.

How many times did you fail (i.e. not coming to the expected result)?
“Haha, oh so many times… I think that’s just the nature of who I am and how I sew – I don’t have any technical education on sewing so I just have to see how it goes, and then make it work after it doesn’t work out perfectly”.

Your favourite creation?
“They are all so special to me – but I wear my black Levi’s to death! They fit me like a glove”.

Why do you prefer thrifting than buying new?
“It truly makes me feel like I’m making a difference in the fashion industry. I’ve always thrifted because it’s budget-friendly and to me is very exciting when I find amazing items – it’s like a treasure hunt to me, knowing I could find bargains where ever I go”.

Where do you buy second-hand?
“I go to any and every thrift store possible and that’s what I suggest to do. There isn’t a secret, perfect thrift store that I shop at. You just have to go to them all, keep going back, and figure out which stores have good selection”.

Any suggestions for thrifting?
“Instead of looking through every single item on the rack, I like to scan the hangers for fabrics, patterns, and colors I’m drawn to – I save a lot of time that way, and nowadays I just don’t have the patience to look through everything anyway! I always make a list of things I need before I shop, too”.

What do you like most of sewing and refashioning?
“The most gratifying thing is that I can create and wear my own designs without creating waste. I really cherish that the majority of my closet is recycled and handmade”.

You are preparing your wedding dress, aren’t you? Any anticipation? How is it going on?
“Yes : ) it’s going really great so far! I just got the construction and fit of the bodice and skirt down, so I’m excited to start on the rest of the design”.

Do you have any suggestions to someone who would like to start sewing but is scared?
“JUST DO IT! I mean just watch one of my videos – I’ve been sewing for 10 years and still mess up almost every time. I have so many tips for beginnings – start small, don’t be too ambitious with your first projects. For example, make a circle skirt, napkins, a blanket, a tube top, elastic waisted shorts, etc. Also make sure to be using fabrics that are easy to sew with – don’t start out using lightweight, slippery fabrics or denim. Upcycling is the WAY to go for beginner sewers– everything is cheap so you don’t feel as bad when you mess up, and clothes are already made for you! You just have to modify them the way you want. Overall, just get excited about your projects, and remember that mistakes will always happen, but it’s not the end of the world (because I know sometimes that’s what it feels like)”.

Thank you Sarah for your precious suggestions and for inspiring through your videos! We will keep following your channel (looking forward to see your wedding-dress ready!).

YouTube: Seamingly Sera Instagram: @seaminglysera

 Potrai a breve ascoltare qui l’articolo*: Audio-à-porter!

Avevamo in mente di trattare un tema che sta suscitando interesse nel web, staycation ovvero la vacanza trascorsa a casa: budget friendly e a emissioni zero. Alla luce degli ultimi avvenimenti, per maggiore utilità è diventato più un articolo su stayme, stay + time for me, “il tempo per me trascorso a casa” spontaneamente o forzatamente, per provare a viverlo come una ‘vacanza’. Qui sul serio ci sentiamo esperti! Perché se è vero che studi e corsi sulla moda responsabile mi hanno portata su questa pagina, nel campo dell’isolamento è la vita che ha fatto scuola! Ho praticamente acquisito un dottorato nel trascorrere lunghi momenti di stop.  A volte imposto come nel caso di malattia e relativo post intervento chirurgico, a volte improvvisamente necessario come durante la fase di uscita dall’azienda, altre volte invece voluto. Ed è stato in fondo principalmente uno dei periodi di soggiorno in casa forzato a contribuire alla nascita di Dress Ecode. Penso a te che ti trovi ora a trascorrere molto tempo in casa, abituato a uscire spesso. O a te che ti trovi isolato, vivendo da solo. O a te che scegli di prendere le distanze per esempio per evitare un burnout (l’esperienza di sentirti con le pile scariche) o per dedicare del tempo a te stesso. Quando i momenti lontano dagli altri e dalle attività ordinarie si prolungano, anche se per carattere ami rifuggire la moltitudine, a lungo andare possono farti sentire giù. A qualcuno possono acuire la sensazione di vuoto e di essere soli. Ma anche se non hai problemi di solitudine, qui puoi trovare alcune idee per utilizzare al meglio il tempo da trascorrere in casa e in fondo all’articolo puoi scoprire anche una nostra iniziativa con cui concretamente cerchiamo di essere d’aiuto. Alcune idee potranno sembrarti banali, ad altre forse non avevi pensato. Spero che tante piccole cose che mi hanno aiutata nei lunghi giorni di isolamento, lontano dalla famiglia e dagli amici, possano ora sostenere anche te che stai leggendo. 

Lettura, musica e film. Sono le idee più semplici e quasi scontate ma molto efficaci. Leggere di tutto, leggere qualcosa che ti piace, leggere qualcosa su un tema completamente nuovo. Ebook, musica e film in streaming. Se hai modo di accedervi fisicamente, la biblioteca è un luogo magico in cui andare alla ricerca di letture a costo zero. Mi piace sfogliare i libri per trovare quello perfetto per il momento. Nella biblioteca in cui riesco ad andare hanno pubblicazioni datate sulla moda, d’ispirazione per il proprio stile, e alcuni saggi interessanti. Non puoi uscire di casa? Alcune librerie stanno prevedendo un servizio di consegna a domicilio: Libri a domicilio. Qui trovi inoltre libri da scaricare: scribd, ebookgratis.net, bookrepublic, Kindle-Store/, Audible, Gallucci. A supporto delle zone rosse, imprese, associazioni e privati hanno messo e metteranno a disposizione servizi gratuiti per chi si trova nella zona rossa: Solidarietà Digitale. Segnaliamo anche questa risorsa: Internet Archive e Istituto Luce Cinecittà. Se amate il legno, non perdetevi gli articoli che ogni giorno saranno disponibili gratuitamente su Legno Lab

Ascoltare radio e podcast. I programmi sono tantissimi. Consentono di ascoltare intrattenimenti divertenti e leggeri o di imparare e informarsi su una miriade di argomenti. Alla radio mi piace ascoltare opere teatrali o letture di libri. Mi piace viaggiare per il mondo con questo link: Radio Garden. Puoi invece trovare i podcast su Spreaker, Spotify, Apple podcasts e altre piattaforme. Ovviamente ti consigliamo il nostro podcast sulla moda sostenibile: Audio-à-porter!

Visitare un museo. Virtualmente ma è sempre affascinante. Visite virtuali

Seguire corsi. Per approfondire una passione. Per imparare qualcosa di nuovo. Per acquisire una nuova competenza nel proprio lavoro. Oggi grazie a internet possiamo imparare qualsiasi cosa, accedere a corsi di ogni tipo, anche a studi universitari. Corsi per imparare a cucire, ricamare, fare la cartapesta,  divertirsi con esperimenti chimici, autoprodurre, cantare, apprendere un’altra lingua, cucinare per cani e gatti, trovare l’anima gemella, avere successo, comunicare, migliorarsi: l’elenco è infinito. Basterà inserire l’argomento e i motori di ricerca presenteranno tante opzioni. Una piattaforma per i corsi? Udemy oppure Skillshare. Vuoi provare la tintura naturale dei tessuti? Ecco un corso per te: Tintura naturale

Riparare. Dedica tempo ad aggiustare oggetti in casa, quelle cose messe da parte aspettando di avere tempo per sistemarle. Puoi approfondire l’arte giapponese del Kintsugi. Vale anche per i vestiti. L’antica tecnica giapponese del Boro Sashiko si sta diffondendo per riparare indumenti: Boro stitching. Idee per i jeans: 5 minutes craft

Fare decluttering. Passa in rassegna ciò che hai in casa, uno spazio alla volta facendo caso a ciò non usi più. Per i vestiti ne abbiamo parlato qui: Un’app che ti aiuta a ottimizzare il tuo guardaroba.

Riordinare. Non le pulizie di casa di routine. Scegli un ripiano, un cassetto, un mobile. Svuotando tutto e poi riponendo con cura ciò che utilizzi. A volte sistemo calze e intimo per mettere a posto i pensieri. Piegando alla Marie Kondo (Il magico potere del riordino) ma non è necessario.

Rendere la tua casa più accogliente. Basta scegliere anche un piccolo angolo, riorganizzandolo, sistemandolo, inserendo solo ciò che ti piace molto oppure a volte la soluzione migliore è semplicemente togliere per creare più spazio.

Passeggiare o girare in bicicletta. Se puoi uscire, cerca di camminare o andare in bicicletta, in spazi aperti come un parco oppure nelle vie della città quando sono meno affollate. Prova a guardare la zona in cui vivi con occhi nuovi. Spingiti un po’ più in là ogni giorno, arrivando sempre più lontano. Proponiti una meta (un monumento, un edificio con una particolare architettura, una piazza con una storia). Se hai un posto in mezzo alla natura vicino casa, approfittane: la maggior parte dei nostri problemi deriva dalla disconnessone dalla natura!

Allenarsi a casa. Se non puoi andare in palestra, sono tanti i video e le app da scaricare per fare esercizi o seguire corsi a casa. Nike training club, Pocket yoga, La Scimmia Yoga, Runtastic results e tante altre. Sto provando Daily Yoga, ma ci sono altre app anche in italiano.

Cucinare. Rispolvera libri di ricette e riviste di cucina. Naviga in rete e scegli di provare qualcosa di nuovo, una ricetta etnica, un piatto sano, un dolce che ti ricorda momenti belli della vita. Ultimamente mi sono specializzata in pancake, pane, biscotti e dolci senza zucchero. Spadello pancake di ogni tipo sbizzarrendomi nelle decorazioni.

Far cucinare qualcun altro. Al contrario, concediti una cena speciale facendoti consegnare a casa cibo già pronto. Oltre i diversi tipi di cucina regionali o nazionali, ci sono anche siti per ricevere a casa pasti sani (come questo: NutriBees).

Journaling, ovvero tenere un diario quotidiano. Ho sempre ammirato chi ci riesce, mi manca la costanza nello scrivere un diario. Puoi mettere nero su bianco quello che ti passa per la testa ogni giorno, puoi usare disegni e colori per raffigurare lo stato d’animo, puoi scrivere come se fosse un diario di viaggio oppure tenere traccia di un’attività che quotidianamente decidi di fare in casa. Anche se ti dedichi saltuariamente, va bene lo stesso. Scrivere aiuta. Qui puoi trovare alcuni video: Journaling.

Disegnare. Funziona come la scrittura. Non importa se pensi di non essere in grado. Prova a tracciare segni e a colorare, in libertà. Oppure puoi seguire un corso on line di disegno o pittura. Ho scoperto che mi piacciono molto i tutorial di acquerello.

Fotografare. Se la scrittura e il disegno non fanno per te, prova con la fotografia. Non è importante andare in qualche posto particolare, viaggiare o uscire di casa. Ho la fortuna di poter immortalare da casa le nuvole. Si possono fotografare le piccole cose di tutti i giorni. C’è chi riesce a creare meravigliose fotografie anche con oggetti comuni (travelonart, fotocomefare). Perché non provare gli esercizi di visione proposti da Fondazione Modena Arti Visive?

Trascorrere una pausa in balcone, terrazzo o vicino alla finestra. Affacciarsi all’esterno aiuta. Non importa se non hai un balcone enorme, basta un angolino fuori o anche solo accanto alla finestra aperta dove mettersi con una seggiola o un comodo cuscino. Un libro o il tuo diario. Una tazza di tè o di caffè. La colazione o la merenda. Un picnic improvvisato se hai un terrazzo.

Fare origami. Basta un foglio di carta quadrato e in internet si trovano tutorial per creare oggetti a ogni livello di difficoltà (Pinterest, Origami, TheSpruceCraft, Per bambini). Oppure fiori di carta: Pinterest. O un puzzle.

Prendersi cura delle piante. Non ho il pollice verde ma ho scoperto di riuscire a farne sopravvivere alcune, basta trovare le piantine giuste, quelle più affini a te. Non ne hai nessuna in casa? Se in questo momento non puoi farti donare talee da amici né andare al vivaio o al mercato dei fiori, prova ad acquistarle on line da vivai nella zona (oppure da siti come Ladre di piante). Com’è una casa piena di piante? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooMiIm8RItw

Spa in casa. Quel tempo per prendersi cura di sé, tra maschere, manicure, impacchi per i capelli, scrub e tisane. Mi piace creare maschere casalinghe. Vuoi provare un taglio di capelli di fai-da-te? Su YouTube ci sono molti tutorial. Oppure puoi provare a fare ricci e boccoli senza piastra, anche per questo i video non mancano.

Meditare. Tanti i benefici. Tra questi Deepak Chopra, che spesso propone percorsi gratuiti di meditazione di 21 giorni, spiega:”Durante la meditazione, il tuo cervello va letteralmente in vacanza in quanto scarica impressioni, esperienze ed emozioni. Quindi, organizza tutti questi elementi e li archivia in modo appropriato. Mentre scivoli nella quiete del silenzio della meditazione e ti prendi una pausa dalle normali attività quotidiane, provi gioia, felicità, pace, amore e compassione. Perché limitarti a sperimentare queste sensazioni solo mentre sei in vacanza, quando puoi averle nel bel mezzo della tua vita quotidiana?”. Ho provato l’app Insight Timer. Ci sono anche Calm, Happiness, SAM, Clarity e Medita Ora.

Prendersi cura di sé. Suonerà banale ma forse è la regola numero 1 per restare in piedi nei periodi in casa. Vestiti come se uscissi, cura il trucco, sistema i capelli, apparecchia la tavola a festa. Anche se sei da solo. Sì. Magari non ne avrai voglia tutti i giorni. E allora resta pure in pigiama per una volta. Una. Gli altri giorni indossa ciò che ti piace e circondati di cose belle.

Telefonare o videochiamare. Non solo per avere compagnia noi, se siamo costretti a stare a casa lontano da tutti, ma anche per fare noi compagnia a qualcun altro. Ho una sorta di allergia alle conversazioni telefoniche (sviluppata dopo la fase adolescenziale di interminabili chiacchierate al telefono), ma soprattutto se non si può vedere nessuno mantenere relazioni a distanza aiuta. Anche pochi momenti di dialogo ma di qualità. In un momento ‘no’ una voce familiare o amica può fare molto. Chiama chi sta passando una fase di solitudine, che sia o meno da solo. Chiama per ascoltare. Chiama per raccontare una fiaba. Chiama per un saluto. In questo momento di maggior tempo trascorso in casa, qualcuno potrebbe avere bisogno di sentire la tua voce.

Ecco, pensando a quest’ultimo aspetto, vorremmo farti sapere che noi siamo qui. Se stai passando un periodo di pausa forzata e hai bisogno di consigli o idee o di supporto contattaci (contact_us@dressecode.it).

*Perché questa puntata non è ancora sul podcast? Perché raccoglieremo altre idee modificando l’articolo e successivamente registreremo. Intanto non perdetevi le altre puntate sul podcast!

English – Time spent at home: 20 things to do to avoid boredom and loneliness – Dress ECOde’s lifestyle

We had in mind to deal with a topic that is arousing interest on the web, staycation or the holiday spent at home: budget friendly and with zero emissions. In light of the latest events, for greater usefulness it has become more an article on stayme, stay + time for me, “the time spent for me at home” spontaneously or necessarily, to try to live it as a ‘holiday’. Here we seriously feel like experts! Because if it is true that studies and courses on responsible fashion have brought me to this page, in the field of isolation it is life that was a school! I practically acquired a doctorate in spending long breaks. Sometimes imposed as in the case of illness and related post surgery, sometimes suddenly necessary as during the phase of leaving the company, other times instead wanted. And it was basically one of the periods of stay at home forced to contribute to the birth of Dress Ecode. I think of you who are now spending a lot of time at home, used to going out often. Or to you who find yourself isolated, living alone. Or to you who choose to distance yourself, for example, to avoid a burnout (the experience of feeling yourself with low batteries) or to dedicate time to yourself. When the moments away from others and from ordinary activities are prolonged, even if you love to flee the multitude by nature, in the long run they can make you feel down. They can make someone feel empty and lonely. But even if you do not have problems of solitude, here you can find some ideas to make the best use of the time spent at home and at the bottom of the article you can also discover one of our initiatives with which we concretely try to help. Some ideas may seem trivial, to others you may not have thought of. I hope that many small things that have helped me during long days of isolation, away from family and friends, can now support you too, who are reading.

Reading, music and movies. These are the simplest and almost obvious ideas but very effective. Read everything, read something you like, read something on a completely new topic. Ebook, music and streaming movies. If you have access to it physically, the library is a magical place to go in search of readings at no cost. I like to browse through the books to find the perfect one for the moment. In the library where I can go, they have dated publications on fashion, inspired by their own style, and some interesting essays. Can’t you leave the house? Some bookstores are providing a home delivery service: Libri a domicilio. Here you will also find books to download: scribd, ebookgratis.net, bookrepublic, Kindle-Store/, Audible, Gallucci. In support of the red zones, businesses, associations and individuals have made and will provide free services for those in the red area: Solidarietà Digitale. We suggest also this resource: Internet Archive and Istituto Luce Cinecittà. If you love wood, don’t miss the article that will be available for free everyday at Legno Lab

Listening to radio and podcasts. The programs are many. They allow you to listen to fun and light entertainment or to learn and learn about a myriad of topics. On the radio I like listening to plays or book readings. I live travelling around the work thank you to this link: Radio Garden. You can find podcasts on Spreaker, Spotify, Apple podcasts and other platforms. Of course, we recommend our podcast on sustainable fashion: Audio-à-porter!

Visiting a museum. Virtually but is is always wonderful. Virtual visits

Taking courses. To deepen a passion. To learn something new. To acquire a new skill in your job. Nowadays thanks to the internet we can learn anything, we can access courses of all kinds, even university studies. Courses to learn to sew, embroider, to make papier-mâché, to have fun with chemical experiments, to self-produce, to sing, to learn another language, to cook for dogs and cats, to find a soul mate, to be successful, to communicate, to improve: the list is infinite. Just enter the topic and the search engines will present many options. A platform for courses? Udemy or Skillshare. Would you like to trying the natural textile dyeing? Here there is a course for you: Natural dyeing

Repairing. Take time to fix things in the house, those things set aside waiting for time to fix them. You can know more about the Japanese art of Kintsugi. It works also for clothes. The ancient Japanese technique of Boro Sashiko is spreading to repair clothing: Boro stitching. Jeans ideas: 5 minutes craft

Decluttering. Review what you have at home, one space at a time, noticing what you no longer use. We talked about clothes here: Un’app che ti aiuta a ottimizzare il tuo guardaroba.

Reordering. Not the routine house cleaning. Choose a shelf, a drawer, a piece of furniture. Emptying everything and then carefully placing what you use. Sometimes I arrange socks and underwear to put thoughts in order. Bending to Marie Kondo (The magical of tidying up) but it’s not necessary.

Making your home more welcoming. Just choose even a small corner, rearranging it, arranging it, inserting only what you really like or sometimes the best solution is simply to remove to create more space.

Walking or cycling. If you can go out, try to walk or ride a bicycle, in open spaces such as a park or in the streets of the city when they are less crowded. Try looking at the area where you live with new eyes. Go a little further every day, getting further and further away. Choose a destination (a monument, a building with a particular architecture, a square with a history). If you have a natural place close to your home, enjoy nature: the most of our problems comes from the disconnection from it!

Work out at home. If you can’t go to the gym, there are many videos and apps to download to do exercises or take courses at home. Nike training club, Pocket yoga, The Monkey Yoga, Runtastic results and many others. I’m trying Daily Yoga, but there are other apps in Italian too.

Cooking. Dust off recipe books and cooking magazines. Surf the net and choose to try something new, an ethnic recipe, a healthy dish, a dessert that reminds you of beautiful moments in life. Lately I have specialized in pancakes, bread, biscuits and sugar-free desserts. I toss pancake of all kinds being very creative with the decorations.

Let someone else cook.  On the contrary, treat yourself to a special dinner by having ready-made food delivered to your home. Besides the different types of regional or national cuisine, there are also sites for receiving healthy meals at home (like this: NutriBees).

Journaling, or keeping a daily diary. I have always admired those who do it, I lack the constancy in writing a diary. You can put what goes on your mind every day in black and white, you can use drawings and colours to represent the mood, you can write as if it were a travel diary or keep track of an activity that you decide to do every day home. Even if you dedicate yourself occasionally to it, it’s okay. Writing helps. Here you can find some videos: Journaling.

Drawing. It works like writing. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re not able. Try to draw signs and color, freely. Or you can take an online drawing or painting course. I found that I really like the watercolor tutorials.

Photographing. If writing and drawing aren’t your thing, try photography. It is not important to go to any particular place, to travel or to go out. I am fortunate to be able to capture clouds from home. Everyday little things can be photographed. There are those who manage to create wonderful photographs even with common objects (travelonart, fotocomefare). Why not trying the visual exercise proposed by Fondazione Modena Arti Visive?

Spending a break on the balcony, terrace or near the window. Poking your nose outside helps. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a huge balcony, you just need a corner outside or even just a space next to the open window where you can put on a chair or a comfortable cushion. A book or your diary. A cup of tea or coffee. Breakfast or snack. An improvised picnic if you have a terrace.

Taking care of plants. I don’t have a green thumb but I found I could make some of them survive, just find the right plants, the ones closest to you. Don’t you have any at home? If at this moment you cannot meet your friends to receive a cutting or you can’t go to the flower nursery or market, try buying them online from nurseries in the area (or from sites such as Ladre di piante). What does a house full of plants look like? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooMiIm8RItw

Making origami. Just a sheet of squared paper and on the internet you will find tutorials to create objects of all difficulty levels (Pinterest, Origami, TheSpruceCraft, For children). Or paper flowers: Pinterest. Or a puzzle.

Home Spa. That time to take care of yourself, including masks, manicures, hair packs, scrubs and herbal teas. I like making homemade masks. Do you want to try a DIY haircut? On YouTube there are many tutorials. Or you can try making curls and ringlets without a hair straightener, also for this there is a plenty of videos.

Meditating. So many benefits. Among these, Deepak Chopra, who often offers free 21-day meditation courses, explains: “During meditation, your brain literally goes on vacation as it downloads impressions, experiences and emotions. So, organize all these elements and store them appropriately. As you slide into the quiet silence of meditation and take a break from normal daily activities, you experience joy, happiness, peace, love and compassion. Why limit yourself to experiencing these sensations only while on vacation, when you can have them in the middle of your daily life?”. I tried the Insight Timer app. There are also Calm, Happiness, SAM, Clarity and Medita Ora.

Taking care of yourself. It may sound trivial but perhaps it is the number 1 rule for staying up at home. Dress as if you were going out, take care of your make-up, arrange your hair, set the table for a party. Even if you are alone. Yes. Maybe you won’t feel like it every day. So stay in your pajamas for once. A. On the other days, wear what you like and surround yourself with beautiful things.

Calling or video calling. Not only to have some company, if we are forced to stay home away from everyone, but also to keep someone else company. I have a sort of allergy to phone conversations (developed after the adolescent phase of endless chats on the phone), but above all if you cannot see anyone, keeping relationships at a distance helps. Even a few moments of dialogue but of quality. In a ‘no’ moment, a familiar or friendly voice can do a lot. Call who is going through a phase of loneliness, whether or not alone. Call to listen. Call to tell a fairy tale. Call for a greeting. At this time of most time spent at home, someone may need to hear your voice.

Thinking about this last aspect, we would like to let you know that we are here. If you are going through a period of forced break and you need advice or ideas or support contact us (contact_us@dressecode.it).

Puoi ascoltare qui l’articolo: Temperature blanket

Un nuovo modo di diffondere il concetto di cambiamenti climatici si sta diffondendo: il progetto non convenzionale di maglieria e uncinetto Temperature blanket (coperta termica) lo traduce nella materia fatta di fili colorati. 

Josie George ha trovato un modo per visualizzare un concetto astratto come quello del cambiamento climatico. Mettendo a frutto la sua abilità a maglia, ha iniziato creando una sciarpa in cui ogni riga rappresenta la temperatura e il clima nella sua città. Un filo colorato indica la temperatura, una seconda riga mostra se un giorno particolare è stato nuvoloso, soleggiato, piovoso o nevoso. 

“Ho deciso che quest’anno, ogni giorno, avrei lavorato a maglia una riga su una sciarpa per segnare la corrispondente temperatura/clima giornaliero della mia città. Mi è sembrato un buon modo per affrontare il cambiamento climatico e l’anno che cambia. Un modo per prestare attenzione e non distogliere lo sguardo”.

Il suo progetto pubblicato su Twitter ha ispirato tante altre persone e ognuna interpreta in modo personale il concetto del clima che si modifica nel tempo. Più spesso sono utilizzati i colori dell’arcobaleno, alcuni scelgono solo colori pastello o una tavolozza più limitata. Punti, segni, oggetti creati cambiano da persona a persona dando vita a un’individuale trasposizione della propria visione dei cambiamenti climatici nella materia.

Desideri provare anche tu? Qui trovi un grafico stampabile gratuito che ti darà un’idea delle temperature e delle combinazioni di colori corrispondenti. Scrivici e seguiremo il tuo progetto!

English – Temperature blanket: colored threads to interpret the abstract concept of climate change

A new way of spreading the concept of climate change is becoming popular: the unconventional knitting and crochet project Temperature blanket translates it into the material made of colored threads.

Josie George has found a way to visualize an abstract concept such as that of climate change. By putting her knitting skills to good use, she started by creating a scarf in which each row represents the temperature and the climate in her city. A coloured thread indicates the temperature, a second line shows if a particular day has been cloudy, sunny, rainy or snowy.

“I decided that this year, every day, I would knit a row on a scarf to mark the corresponding daily temperature/weather of my town. It felt like a good way to engage with the changing climate and with the changing year. A way to notice and not look away”.

Her project published on Twitter has inspired many other people and each one interprets in a personal way the concept of the climate that changes over time. Rainbow colours are most often used, some choose only pastel colours or a more limited palette. Stitches, signs, created objects change from person to person, giving life to an individual transposition of one’s vision of climate change in the matter.

Do you want to try it too? Here you will find a free printable chart  that will give you an idea of the temperatures and the corresponding color combinations. Write to us and we will follow your project!

Puoi ascoltare qui l’articolo: Belle le soluzioni ecologiche fai-da-te!

Su siti o canali social vi capita di vedere spesso articoli, video o foto di soluzioni fai-da-te ecologiche che possano sostituire i prodotti usa-e-getta più inquinanti. Qui per esempio avevamo parlato delle spugne ecologiche: Da-fili-o-tessuti-avanzati-le-spugne-ecologiche-per-la-casa/

Vi piacerebbe molto poter essere più sostenibili partendo magari da piccole cose di uso quotidiano. Non avete però mai preso in mano un ago, né un uncinetto, né un paio di ferri per la maglia. Non vi ha insegnato nessuno, oppure sì, ci avete provato ma non avete la pazienza di creare qualcosa. Oppure anche se ne siete capaci non trovate mai tempo da dedicare.

Le alternative ci sono: acquistare nei negozi, su siti di e-commerce o su piattaforme come Etsy che riuniscono artigiani.

Immaginate ora un’altra possibilità: trovare qualcuno, magari nella stessa città per evitare l’impatto delle spedizioni, che possa creare per voi queste soluzioni più ecologiche. Ecco, è possibile e vi spieghiamo come. Tutto nasce da una richiesta di questo tipo avanzata da una lettrice di Dress Ecode, Valentina C. Vedendo un nostro post sul tutorial per realizzare stracci cattura-polvere duraturi, è partita la ricerca di chi potesse realizzarli per lei.

La reazione alla richiesta è stata davvero straordinaria, tantissime persone hanno risposto offrendosi per creare all’uncinetto i cattura-polvere. Valentina ha preferito scegliere qualcuno nella sua città, per essere più green evitando l’impatto ambientale della spedizione.

Considerando quante persone si sono proposte, abbiamo pensato di mettere insieme i riferimenti così da poter trovare qualcuno che possa cucire, lavorare a maglia o all’uncinetto per noi. E, perché no?, anche insegnare a realizzare qualcosa da soli, riprendendo quell’idea accantonata da tempo di imparare. O magari sarà anche un’occasione per conoscere qualcun altro che come noi sta cercando di ridurre il proprio impatto ambientale.

Il post che raccoglie le offerte di disponibilità a creare all’uncinetto è questo:

Come suggerite di procedere? Può essere utile una lista in cui le persone possono spontaneamente segnare la propria disponibilità a realizzare qualcosa per voi, indicando le loro abilità e il luogo in cui risiedono? Fateci sapere!

Ci piace sognare una rete, sempre più grande, di persone che si trovano per fare insieme questo percorso, facendo incontrare chi cerca qualcosa e chi può offrirla in modo da non rinunciare a fare un passo avanti!

English –

On social media sites or channels, you often see articles, videos or photos of eco-friendly do-it-yourself solutions, that can replace the most polluting disposable products. Here, for example, we talked about ecological sponges: From-advanced-threads-or-fabrics-ecological-sponges-for-home/

You would love to be more sustainable, starting perhaps from small everyday things. However, you never picked up a needle, a crochet hook, or a couple of knitting needles. Nobody taught you, or yes, you have tried but you don’t have the patience to create something. Or even if you are capable of it, you never find time to devote.

The alternatives are: buying in shops, on e-commerce sites or on platforms like Etsy that bring together artisans.

Now imagine another possibility: finding someone, perhaps in the same city to avoid the impact of shipping, who can create these more ecological solutions for you. Here, it is possible and we will explain how. Everything started from a request of this type put forward by a reader of Dress Ecode, Valentina C. Seeing our post on the tutorial to make long lasting dust-catching rags, the search began for who could make them for her.

The reaction to the request was truly extraordinary, many people responded by offering to crochet the dust catchers. Valentina preferred to choose someone in her city, to be greener avoiding the environmental impact of shipping.

Considering how many people have proposed themselves, we thought of putting together the references so that we could find someone who could sew, knit or crochet for us. And, why not ?, also teaching how to do something on our own, taking up that long-forgotten idea of learning. Or maybe it will also be an opportunity to get to know someone else who, like us, is trying to reduce their environmental impact.

The post that collects the availability offers to crochet is this one:

How do you suggest to proceed? Can a list be useful where people can spontaneously enter their willingness to do something for you, indicating their skills and where they live? Let us know!

We like to dream of an ever-growing network of people who find themselves doing this path together, bringing together those who are looking for something and who can offer it so as not to give up taking a step forward!

Listen to “Belle le soluzioni ecologiche fai-da-te! Ma… se non so fare da me?” on Spreaker.