Sewing is not only a fun, valuable hobby, but it also comes with many environmental benefits. By making your own clothing, you are reducing landfill waste, minimizing your contribution to labour exploitation in low-wage sweatshops, and ultimately, you can express your individuality through your unique garments.  

Below are some tips to help reduce your impact on the environment while also sewing on a budget. 

• Reuse fabric from clothing you already own.
• Purchase fabric from charity/thrift shops (curtains and bedding work great as fabric!).
• Salvage buttons, zippers, and closers from old clothing.
• Buy dead stock fabric from fabric mills or clothing brands as a sustainable alternative to buying new fabric.  
• Use compostable, natural fibre threads.
• Mend clothing with minor imperfections—usually holes, stains, tears—to prolong their life (visible mending makes a powerful statement about your values).