Keep Calm AND Become a Seamstress!

Having lived almost half a decade and worked for 20, 90% of it falls under the category of self-employment. Call me nuts but I simply can't understand why anyone, after a few jobs fresh from graduation as a stepping stone or for experience sake, would want to work for others who end up taking all the credit and making multi-million dollar profit while you, as an employee, dedicate your limited time and resources, working your butt off in a job you probably have no interest in, in exchange for a meagre pay cheque which is nowhere near what your boss make; all the while worrying about getting laid off (thanks to advanced technology). Call me 'unemployable' but I personally don't buy the idea of contributing to a company which doesn't make the world a better place to be, one which only cares about sales figures and meeting sales targets, treating the employees like second class citizens, taking them for granted, and showing no appreciation whatsoever for their input and effort, let alone the wellbeing and sanity of those who rely on the income for survival. 

I believe there are many ways of contributing to the society without selling your soul. I have been teaching English privately for 12+ years and it has been the most satisfying job so far in my life when I see confidence developed in my students along the way. My decision of changing career and become a Personal Stylist is just another way of helping women to regain their confidence, which has been stripped away for a myriad of reasons, by learning to choose the right colours and styles for their unique body shapes and personalities.

Mindless shopping becomes a thing of the past as they learn what looks good on them, the techniques of mix & match, the possibilities of outfit coordinations, and shop in their closets making use of the existing garments in their wardrobe to create even more outfits one couldn't even imagine. Meanwhile, I advocate buying second hand items (clothing or not) from charity organizations which speak to your heart, not only to exercise your muscle of creativity, but helps to contribute to a better world! I have since stopped buying from chain stores and retail outlets which fail to shoulder ethical / social responsibility, and I start to question who made my clothes and where they were being manufactured.

In reality, doing what you love and getting paid for it seems like a fantasy for many. I might be broke but I find it totally unacceptable to compromise my values and beliefs working for someone who doesn't share my vision. I don't entertain the idea of working more (and make more money) only to spend it on new arrivals / fashion which changes so quickly ; dictated by celebrities / models / the big shots in the fashion industry. Why should we wear a particular colour just because 'someone' decided it was the trend for the season?

As a consumer, why would anyone want to wear designer / brand logos on their chest without getting paid for marketing? Why do people continue to buy clothes (fast fashion) just because? I honestly don't understand why we should be spending our hard earned cash (or get yourself in serious debt using plastics) on mass produced commercial garments which lack individuality, not to mention looking cheap. Are we really so tuned out by the marketing gimmicks that more is better; without being aware of the sufferings incurred on those who participate in the manufacturing process whose life and wellbeing are exploited and compromised to such an extent that life doesn't worth a dime? Can you imagine what kind of a life it is to work 18 hours a day for a payment which is barely enough to afford 3 staple meals for a family while the fashion moguls are enjoying extravagance at the Four Seasons? There is no free lunch in this competitive society when the cheap prices come with the hidden costs such as irreversible environmental degradation, underpaid workers, dangerous factories and poorly made clothing which doesn’t last.

To take my disparagement further, I don't see the logic when people are paying for pets when there are so many stray dogs and cats looking for a home. Similarly, why pay for 'new' garments of mass production when there are tons of good quality / timeless pieces available at different charity shops (I love the Oxfam Vintage collection!) which you can get at a fraction of the original price. Most are never worn and they are all unique pieces so mixing and matching of your findings could be real fun! Op-shopping is one of my favourite past-times (yes I am from Australia) and it minimises the impact of wasted garments ending up in the landfill, while simultaneously helping out in fund raising for a cause of your choice.

Technology might be the IT for the digital generation but I can also tell that that the profession in demand in the coming years would be tailoring / seamstress. Forget about getting an MBA, pick up a course and learn to sew and alter clothings would be more desirable as sustainable fashion (recycling / upcycling) is going to be big anytime soon. People are becoming more aware of what they put on their bodies, thanks to campaigns like Fashion Revolution, and buying new is no longer sustainable or making us happy when we finally come to our senses. My job is to educate and advise my clients how to give the old pieces in their wardrobe a new lease of life, and buy only from charity the missing pieces to complete the outfit if at all necessary. The ultimate goal is to save my clients precious time and money while looking and feeling great 24/7.

Sustainable fashion is going to be the topic du jour in the coming years as we transit from being fast fashion impulse consumers to ones who care about the social implications / issues of the world, actively playing a part in making a difference, one step at a time. I intend to spend more on experiences and less emphasis on stuff.

Would you care to join me in the process?