It’s Ethical to Recyle…and Stylish!

I was 16 when  I picked up my first Military jacket from a market stall in Durham. It was bright red, with shamrocks on the collar and elaborate sleeves and back. After that came my black dress jacket, a commanders in the artillery division. Ever since I have picked up Military jackets from market stalls and bootsales, as well as swords and weaponry, simply because I love the sleek  tailored design. My red jacket now hangs by my bed, alongside a replica of a sword used during the English Civil War.

A couple of months ago, I decided to give some of my purchases a make over, those that were somewhat sentimental I kept. By now you should know, just how much I love to recycle, to reinvent, and how ethical it is to re use , to up-cycle, to give new purpose.

I was surprised by what I was able to produce, but I feel they are beautiful, effective pieces of work. You can view more of my designs on my Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/QuintessentiallyEccentric

Here’s one of my favourite bags I made by recycling one of my jackets, the bag strap I created using the belt that came with the jacket, it has an interior pocket in the lining, and two exterior jacket pockets on the back and front, aswell as the original metal belt hooks.

Sarah

http://quintessentiallyeccentric.wordpress.com/

Shoulder bag, made from a recycled Military Jacket and Belt.

Shoulder bag, made from a recycled Military Jacket and Belt.

Durhams Vintage Scene : Vintage Is Not Unique, But It Is Ethical.

Over the last few years I’ve watched as Durham has become alive with Vintage clothing and accessories! Particularly the last 6 months there has been a boom of create and individual clothing appearing in the Market place, some have come and gone, some have stayed and made it their permanent home.

Besides Ding Dong Vintage, the wonderful ecliptic vintage shop in Durham, there is Vintage @ No14 which has become a permanent residence.

I have been a number of times myself, and I am particularly fond of their tweed  blazers! If I had a little bit more money to spend on impulse buys, one of these would be first on my list to acquire.

Buying Vintage is not only affordable, fashionable and ALMOST completely different (Lets face it, everyone is wearing vintage clothing these days)  it is also a very ethical purchase to make .

So, is Vintage REALLY unique? Well no, not really, if you consider Vintage as a theme, or genre, then everyone really is wearing it, yes, that gorgeous empire line emerald-green dress you picked up is truly a one-off, I imagine the rest that were made have been thrown out over time, but as a style? Vintage is many things. Vintage is ethical.Vintage is fashionable. Vintage is thrift. Vintage is cool. But vintage, is not unique.

Durham markets is a treasure trove of vintage, unique and wonderful finds, so when you have a day to rummage, go down and have a look!

Recycling Vintage Scarves

Last year I picked up half a dozen vintage scarves at a thrift shop,with the intention of using them in a craft recycling project, a few of those scarves were silk and silk-like, decorated with beautiful patterns!

It felt such a shame to waste them , especially considering not many women these days actually wear scarves anymore.

So I decided to see what I could make with them, one of them failed miserably,I suppose you could consider that a “practice piece”, but the ones I feel that have been successful, are using the scarf as a lining for a bag, and for creating the skirt of a dress. I’ve decided to do a separate blog entry on the bag, as it has so many unique and funky features I didn’t feel I could do it justice at the moment!

I really love the dress, the clashing prints and colours, the fitted bodice with the free-flowing skirt! It’s currently only “pinned” to the bodice, whilst I decide if I want to add a waistband in order to length the dress by an inch or so. The bodice I created by unpicking the seams of a chinese jacket and then re-cutting the material using a dress pattern.  The skirt itself was as free thinking in design as the material is in the wind. Recycling at its’ finest.

Sarah Louise Brandon

http://quintessentiallyeccentric.wordpress.com/

Quintessentially Eccentric

Hi,I’ve been harping on for a while now about starting my own business, well, here we go..I’ve finally decided on a business name, and over the next couple of months I am hoping to begin trading. Quintessentially Eccentric, an online shop selling one-off pieces of clothing, homewares and textiles!  My first post even shows you a look in to my home office!

http://quintessentiallyeccentric.wordpress.com

Desperately Seeking A Mannequin

In my last post I mentioned that I was  working towards my own business selling handmade and ethically sourced clothing and accessories,  so far, my business plan is going really rather well, an my range of clothing is expanding. I however, desperately need a mannequin to help with clothing alterations, they can b quite expensive, another cost to add-on to the insurance, the website, initial start-up costs for marketing and publicity etc

Being unemployed and trying to start your own business without taking out a loan is, difficult, but I will power through, I’ve decided to try to sell some of my unwanted items, to raise start-up capital.  Any advice on how to raise start-up capital would be most welcome!

So,  here are a few of the pieces of clothing I am currently working on! The skirt is my favourite piece, made using fabric from a military jacket, predominantly the sleeves, and tied at the side by a cream satin ribbon.

I then went on to use the front of the military shirt to make this very unique top! The material for the back was taken from an Asian inspired dress, and it wraps around and fastens at the side with a little bit of frogging!  Sorry I’m not the most fantastic model, or  photographer, but I was just so excited to share these!
Keep looking for more professional photo shoots!

Novitatem

It’s been almost 2 months since my last post,  however, over this time, there has been Christmas, New Year, Wedding plans, interviews, and a lot of socializing on a weekend with friends, mostly playing board games!

I have spent my time sewing, tidying, learning to knit, learning to weld! And now I am about to put all of my energy in to creating a business, Novitatem, selling handmade and ethically sourced clothing , textiles, furniture and everything in between!

I am very passionate about ethical goods, british makers and designers, and everything pre-owned, I  want my business to reflect these passions.

So, for 2012, I am hoping to see fashion shoots, market stalls and an online empire.

Wish me luck!

Re-fashioning

Have you ever heard of re-fashioning?

If you haven’t, then you’re missing out on a fantastically ethical and cheap solution  to new, tailored clothing! If you can’t sew, why not ask someone who can? Perhaps you have a friend who might be willing to lend a hand.

Re-fashioning involves taking existing clothing and altering it to take on a new appearance, weather it is simply taking the item of  clothing in so that it fits better, or adding embroidery etc.

I myself, having just learnt how to thread a sewing machine, have become interest in re-fashioning.

My Dowdy Dress

For my first attempt, I took a floor length, blue velvet dress that I bought in a charity shop for a photo shoot, I chopped off the bottom of the dress  and overlocked and hemmed the raw edge.

I then decided to alter the neckline from a very “Dowdy” v neck, to a sensual off the shoulder look.

What do you think? I hadn’t noticed the shoulder had slipped before the photo, however it does balance nicely on both sides!

My Re-Fashioned Dress

Only Eskimos’ Wear Uggs’

I’d like to say that I’ve always had a keen interest in fashion, but that’s a lie, I have never been fashionable, so I suppose I should rephrase that sentence. I have always had a keen interest in style, stylish clothing, stylish furniture, stylish people. In fact, I would go as far as saying, fashion is something you wear, when you can’t be bothered too think for yourself.

Top Hand Made by Sarah Louise Brandon

You can buy fashionable clothing, and in some cases you can look good, provided you’re 17 with the frame size of a  boy, however no amount of money can ever buy style if you don’t already posses it.

Being stylish isn’t about being comfortable in the clothes you are wearing,as some might suggest, it’s about being confident enough in your own opinion,on knowing how to dress your body, and learning to say that no, Ugg boots do not look good, unless you’re an Eskimo.

Sarah

My Finished Dress

Carrying on from my last blog about ethical fashion and sewing, I’ve finally been able to finish my dress to a standard where I am pleased with the results! 

The dress was made from a piece of Sari fabric I found in my local charity shop.

Whilst making my dress, I found that I had a huge problem with the bias binding, and the type of fabric that I’m using, so although it was “Doing its job”,  it wasn’t looking very aesthitcally pleasing! That was when I decided to use the left over fabric to create a ruffle effect around the neckline!

You can’t get much more ethical than buying the fabric from a charity shop and sewing it yourself!

PS. Please forgive the low quality photo, it was taken using a camera phone.

My first sewing attempt

In an attempt too live more ethically, and frugally, I decided to learn to sew!
I’ve found it to be incredibly painstaking, irritating at times, and yet highly enjoyable when everything is going to plan! I’ve made a couple of things before, but nothing without the supervision of my instructor.
My first dress, in total, cost me £2.05, this included picking up a piece of beautiful sheer Indian fabric in a charity shop for £1, and the bias binding for the neckline and arm holes for a further £1.05

Although it isn’t quite complete, I wanted to share with you my progress, In order to hide my modesty due to not having it lined yet or being in possession of  a full length slip (A classic and highly necessary piece of clothing) I have chosen to wear underneath a cami-top and a pair of leggings

Learning to sew has been a great asset to me, being able to choose where I buy my fabric from and knowing  under what conditions the item was made is an important step for peace of mind!

I hope to have made further progress over the next week and I look forward to sharing with you my final article of clothing!

Sarah