Fresh, bright and cool: A collection of vintage cotton fabrics ready for summer. A unique selection of fabrics, many of which are over 2 metres, perfect for dressmaking. Floaty summer dresses, cool vibrant shirts, cute floral shorts. It looks like we have another month or so at home. Enough time to create summer outfits in…
Have you made a face mask? I’ve seen lots of posts and videos but I wasn’t sure if they were effective prevention against the Corona Virus. A friend asked me to make a mask for his girlfriend. She is working in a restaurant take-away and can’t get hold of any masks. His opinion is it…
For Fashion Revolution Week, I have been looking into the properties of our most common fibres and their effects on the environment. Cotton & Polyester are the most common fibres in our clothes and fabrics. Viscose is a close third. Particularly popular amongst dressmakers due to its beautiful soft drape qualities. In clothing, it is…
My Five takeaways from this inspiring week This week I’ve been taking part in Fashion Revolution Week, to find out more about the processes that go into making my clothes and fabrics. Being in lockdown means I’ve been able to attend more events than ast year as they have all been online. It has been…
‘Two thirds of our clothes contain 100% of chemicals and yet are not disclosed to the consumer. We are breathing, eating, drinking the fibres in our clothes, the majority of which are plastic and chemical’ Peter Gorse of Golf Refugees This week I’ve been watching virtual discussions and lectures as part of Fashion Revolution Week…
During Fashion Revolution Week 2020, the charity are asking us to investigate #whatsinmyclothes? I sell vintage fabrics, so instead I’ve been looking into what’s in my fabric? Researching the most common fibres in our clothes; how they are made and their effects on the environment. Polyester is in 60% of our clothes in the UK…
How to identify the fibre content of your fabric My favourite thing about running Olive Road is meeting customers and sourcing vintage fabrics. I travel around the UK rummaging in antique centres, vintage fairs and charity shops on the look out for vibrant unique prints and quality textiles. Sourcing fabrics second-hand has it’s downsides. I…
Cotton is the second most abundantly grown natural fibre in the world. Non-organic cotton is a very thirsty crop and sadly uses a vast number of pesticides that seep into the environment at risk to the agriculture workers and those who live close to the fields. Buying vintage fabrics is a form of sustainable textiles.…
Fashion Revolution Week 2020 Today is the start of Fashion Revolution Week. The seventh year in which the charity ask us to challenge our favourite fashion brands with the question #whomademyclothes? Fashion Revolution was established in 2013 a year after the Rana Plaza disaster that killed 1138 garment workers in Bangladesh. Since then charity have been…
