Forty Something Year Old Tweed

In the 1970's in Staffordshire, my Granddad went to a wool market. There, he bought a few meters of tweed with the intention of making a shooting suit or a smart coat. In 2019 he gave me the fabric, having never had gotten around to it and I decided to have something lovely made for myself out of the material. 

Making your own clothes or having something made for you was always something I wanted to do, but couldn't really afford. My sewing skills are limited and the thought of taking material to a seamstress to make something for me just seemed pointless. I knew it would be expensive and something I thought was a bit out of my price range. However, with the sentimentality of the tweed in tow, I bit the bullet and contacted a local seamstress to have a fitting. 

I new exactly what I wanted a long wool coat and skirt, replicated from the Jules ones I own and love. The 'damage' however, was not as bad as first expected and I was delighted to find out that it would cost only £200.00 for the suit. In terms of tweed I feel like this was a bargain.

I decided on my first visit that for the lining and collar I wanted green satin and green velvet. This was to make it a little different and build off the green that ran through the fabric. I also wanted to keep the original labels that came with the material to add a bit of character and history. 

There is something special about having something made for you that is yours that you don't feel with other clothes. Making your own, or having something made, is the ultimate in slow fashion and I am grateful that my granddad gave me this wool that I will wear for the rest of my life.

When my mum was younger, she said that there wasn't really many clothes shops. She said they went once a year to a big city where there was a M&S and a New Look etc. I feel like it is easy to romanticize this time, of girls making there own dresses and trousers from old siblings clothes or what they got in fabric stores. But it also highlights just how quickly the fast fashion industry has sprung up. It is odd to thing about how much the world we live in has changed just since the 70's and 80's when it was so hard for people in this country to get nice new clothes.

I'm grateful I got the change to create something for myself that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I would for sure consider having clothes made for myself again as well, especially if it was something nice like this or a dress for an occasion. Overall the whole experience was so easy and enjoyable, while also being cheaper than buying in the shop - why would I not?

This experience also has inspired me to learn to sew a bit better so I can make my own clothes. It has also inspired me to get more clothes made for me, as it is an option I never considered before.