I grew up in USSR and I remember my babushka and mama darning socks (a great skill they passed onto me), mending tights and adding layers of fabric to my only dress as I was growing out of it. At that time no-one spoke about up-cycling or saving the planet, this was just the way people lived. You couldn’t easily replace a pair of tights with the next day Amazon Prime delivery like you can today.
Now, in the time of self-isolation and people being quarantined at home, companies are offering tutorials on how to mend, up-cycle or clean your clothes and accessories. Here are a few of my favourites, which I selected for my original article for the fashion rental site Loanhood:
Clothes Doctor
Clothes Doctor is a team of expert craftspeople, providing high-quality clothes repairs, alterations, and restoration treatments to customers - the UK's first digital clothing maintenance service company. Since the lockdown they’ve released 4 free tutorials so far: on darning, hand hemming, embroidery and how to patch old jeans. Not only I find them very informative and easy to understand, they are also very soothing and relaxing. Check them out HERE.
Jason Markk
For all you sneakerheads out there - Jason Markk is The Drop-off Sneaker Care Service located in Carnaby Street, London with another outpost in LA. Self titled The World's Most Trusted Premium Shoe Care, Jason Markk is a fantastic cleaning line designed specifically for your kicks. They now have lots of fun videos on their IGTV channel on how to clean your sneakers at home. Head over to their IGTV for all the videos.
Levi’s
Levi’s has handy DIY videos on their Youtube Channel which can keep you busy with projects and gaining new skills. My favourite is the one is on how to make a blanket out of old jeans, watch it HERE
Skillshare
I’m very happy I’ve stumbled upon Skillshare, an online learning community for creatives. They’ve got lots of interesting courses from creative writing to photography, animation to UX design and plenty more inbetween. They allow you a 14 days free trial so check it out and feel free to share your experience with me via my instagram or with LoanHood directly.
I hand picked this one for you, a deep dive on how to naturally dye fabrics: Watch it HERE
Fabric Swatch
The Fabric Swatch is a small London based group who collect fabric scraps from manufacturers, designers and fashion houses. They then share out the fabric to hobbyists, sewing classes and small businesses who can make use of scraps. They’ve moved their classes online whilst the majority of the world are on lock down. There is a limited number of donation based tickets (pay what you wish) in each section. All classes start promptly at the time given and you will be emailed the list of equipment needed hours before the session. If there is no session scheduled at this time email them via this LINK
Image at the top of the page: Clothes Doctor Instagram