Sewing and I part 1

Sewing and fashion have always been a part of my life and maybe I believe in my blood. My Nan was a tailoress and would make suits and wedding dresses. My mum who grew up in the 60s and 70s, made most of her own clothes on a budget and my auntie did quilting and custom making, so there was really no way I wouldn't find my own passion for it. 

My Mum, maybe a little older an than I am now.

I started young, making my friends drawstring bags for their christmas gifts and of course cushion covers. Then as I got a little older I would go to opp shops with my mum, buy something I purely liked because of the fabric, cut it up and make something. I remember seeing Sex and the City for the first time and recreating her tulle tiered skirt from the opening titles. 

As I grew into a teenager I would see things in Topshop or Tammy Girl (Gosh who remembers Tammy Girl?) and my mum would say things like “That's so easy to make Vanessa, just make it at home”. Which was met with an eye roll and a strop off. Nothing is more embarrassing than a mum to a teenage girl. Sorry mum. Mum was a huge educator for me, obviously with many things however she really taught me the importance of clothes. Not just in a practical sense but in the way clothes should make you feel. Nothing was off the table and she always pushed me to be imaginative and creative with how I thought about clothes and how I wore them. 

Me, age 8. Check out those leggings though! Obsessed.

School was definitely not a high point in my education, I struggled to understand what was going on most of the time and would get incredibly self conscious knowing everyone else seemed to be “getting it”. I would easily get distracted and really struggle to concentrate, my mind would wonder. I wasn't a “bad” kid, I seem to remember a lot of report cards and parents evenings where teachers would say “she's a lovely polite girl, if she could just focus.” Mum called it my butterfly brain, flitting from one thing to another.

When it came time to start thinking about life after school I wanted to pursue my passion so enrolled at college to study Fashion and Clothing Design. I learnt pattern making, fashion history, construction and a number of fabric dyeing techniques. I was in heaven, I soaked up everything they had to offer and really was able to hone in on the details and discover the joys of the technicalities of garment construction. I was able to try things I’d never done before. I designed and made knitted English heritage inspired menswear. I really challenged myself as I had never made menswear before. It was also my first experience of knitting machines. Geez those things are crazy.

From here I went to University to study Fashion Promotion. This course I'm sure was perfect for a lot of people, we learnt about photography, advertising, styling and so much more. However, I always found myself wanting to just design and make. I was told when starting that course that I could have chosen Fashion Design over Promotion but that that's all I would ever be “A seamstress, someone who just makes clothes”. 

Myself and Sophie, my absolute rock through university. We chose each other and haven’t let each other go since. Thank god!

I’ll be honest, this course was the beginning of the end for me, I had gone in feeling so confident after my college course and for the first few weeks there was an element of smugness when girls in my course would design something then get questioned on how someone would put it on because they hadn't thought of the wearability of what they were designing. That all changed after the first few terms. I quickly realised this probably wasn't going to be for me. I remember thinking that there was a very different world to fashion I hadn't yet experienced. One filled with brand names and the weight something had because of how expensive it was. The course I was on was filled with people who idealised these brands. Now, I'm not saying big fashions brands are “bad” of course not. They are artists and should be revered, but I felt my imagination and excitement to create dwindle. I just didn't see myself in that world or with these people. There were a number of times Mum had to talk me off the edge of dropping out and I will say I am so glad I didn't. I was the first person on my mum's side of the family to get my degree. It is one of my proudest achievements.

Finishing my degree was, I’m not going to lie, a slog. I came out the other side and wanted nothing to do with the Fashion industry. I didn't see myself there, didn't think I fit. The ultra glam and ultra expensive fashion world had its place, had its audience, I just was not it. I wanted something humble, something fun, that didn't take itself too seriously. I wanted to create but had gotten so fatigued from study I didn't really know how to anymore or even at that point if I wanted to.

Me loving life in Bristol. Fun fact: This tote bag got some much use it started to fall apart so I cut it up and used it as a patch on the back of my denim jacket.

I ran into full time retail work (which I had been doing while at uni). I wanted to earn money and experience a bit of life. I had travel on my mind. The idea of being able to move around and see where life took me was exciting. It eventually took me to Bristol, where I lived for 7 years. I met other creative people and saw what other people my age were doing with their passion. Friends who I had met at uni and in Bristol who had carved out a path for themselves, started blogs and passion projects, created their own businesses and travelled the world with no fear. I was in awe of these women who I was luckily enough to call my friends. So I turned 30 and had no other thought in my head other than “I think I need to go to New Zealand”.

Me having the time of my life at the beach while on a roadie with some friends.

At the time, coming to New Zealand was the only thing I was completely sure I had to do. I don't know if it was one of those quarter life crises but it's the best decision I have ever made for myself. I got to travel around this incredible country, met the love of my life and now I get to call it home. I arrived in New Zealand in Nov 2019 and in the March of 2020 Covid happened. While in lockdown looking for something to do I started sewing again. I had no distractions and started to feel the pull of a forgotten passion. So I got myself a sewing machine and got back on that horse.

And boy, I’m so glad I did!