Well, hey there, honey! You wanna talk about fashion craftsmanship? That’s a mouthful, ain’t it? Reminds me of them fancy words them city folk use. But I reckon I know a thing or two about makin’ things pretty. Used to sew all my own clothes back in the day, you know. Didn’t have no fancy machines, just these old hands and a needle and thread.
Nowadays, everything’s made in them big factories, I hear. Clothes fall apart after a few washes. Not like the old days. We made things to last. Like my old quilt, been through thick and thin, that one. That’s fashion craftsmanship, if you ask me. Making something that lasts, something with heart in it. Making good clothes needs good skills.
These young’uns today, they got it easy. They just go to the store and buy whatever’s on the rack. Don’t even know how to sew a button back on. Shame, really. They’re missing out on the joy of creating something with your own two hands. Good clothes are important, you know. Need to have good clothes. You need good pants, good skirt. Top and bottom, you know. That’s the first and second element. Then you need an extra something, to make it great.
I see them fancy dresses on the TV, all them sparkly things. Reminds me of the time I tried to sew sequins on my Sunday best. What a mess that was! But, you know, I didn’t give up. I just kept at it until I got it right. That is what I think about fashion craftsmanship. That’s how it is with everything in life. Just keep trying.
- You don’t need to be rich to make good clothes.
- Just need some cloth and a needle and thread, and time.
- And you can make somethin’ real nice.
And it’s not just about clothes, you know. It’s about everything. Like, making a good pie. You gotta use good ingredients. You gotta put love into it. Same with clothes. You use good cloth, you sew it with care. That is good fashion craftsmanship.
Now, these new folks making clothes, some of ’em, they get it. They’re going back to the old ways. Making things by hand. Using good stuff. That’s heartening to see. I always think hand making is better. You know, in India, they do that hand embroidery, all them pretty stitches. And in, uh, that other place, Indonesia, they got them colorful patterns, what do they call ’em, batiks? Real pretty. And somewhere else, they weave them delicate cloths. All that’s fashion craftsmanship, too.
Those fast clothes, they come and go. Like the weather. You buy it one day, then a few weeks later, nobody wears it anymore. Waste of money, if you ask me. They say it goes through stages, these trends. First, it’s new, then everyone wants it, then it’s everywhere, then nobody wants it, then it’s gone. Like a puff of smoke. Fashion craftsmanship is not like that.
They show them awards on the TV. All them fancy folks in their fancy clothes. Some of it’s real pretty. Some of it, well, I wouldn’t be caught dead in it. But, you know, to each their own. They say there are trends on the red carpet, whatever that is. And they talk about who won what. And sometimes, someone’s dress falls apart. Oh, the shame! That’s why you need good sewing, see? That’s fashion craftsmanship.
They say to learn this fashion craftsmanship stuff, you gotta go to school. Learn to draw, learn to cut patterns, learn about cloth and all that. And how the whole thing works. That’s probably a good idea. I just learned from my mama, and she learned from hers. That’s how it used to be.
I remember one time, I tried to make a dress out of an old flour sack. Didn’t quite work out the way I planned. But I learned something from it. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Learning and growing. And making something beautiful along the way. It is important to learn and to grow, you know?
- You gotta learn from your mistakes, that’s what I always say.
- And don’t be afraid to try new things.
- Even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll learn something.
So, yeah, fashion craftsmanship. It’s more than just sewing a straight line, you know. It’s about putting your heart into something. It’s about making something that lasts. It’s about being proud of what you made. And that’s something, ain’t it? I think so.
These young folks, they need to learn some of these skills. Like leatherwork, they call it. Making things out of leather. That’s tough stuff. Takes time to learn. But it’s worth it. Making things with your hands is good for the soul. You should learn it too. I think that’s all I got to say about that. Hope you young’uns are listening.
