Did you know Hand-embroidery is one of the most sustainable craft to create pieces of art that are beautiful, sustainable and eco-friendly - all at the same time?
With the growing emphasis on saving the planet and using more sustainable products, it is crucial that we as individuals and businesses play our part. We share a responsibility to adopt eco-friendly practices, reduce our environmental footprint, and champion sustainable products.
“Sustainable fashion is not a trend, it’s a responsibility.” – Livia Firth
I learnt embroidery from my Grandmother from a very young age. She taught me to embroider small flowers on hankies, followed by different stitches. By the time I was 10, I was confident making different designs and for my Mother's birthday, I embroidered a Donald Duck on a hankie and gifted it to her. My Mother loved my gift and cherished it for a long time. After all these years, I found that hankie, and I was so surprised that the embroidery was totally intact and as bright as when I had made it ages ago. This made me realise that the hand-embroidered pieces I create our sustainable, durable and make excellent keepsakes that you and your loved ones can cherish for a long time. As a hand-embroidery artist, I would like to highlight the pros of embroidery and what makes it so sustainable. So let's dive straight in.
Tip #1 - Customisable and unique
Hand embroidery allows for a high level of customisation and individual expression. Each stitch is carefully crafted by hand, contributing to unique and personalised designs. This uniqueness contrasts with mass-produced, machine-made items, and promotes cultural heritage, individuality, and sustainable artisan practices. Each piece I make is inspired and based on my own experiences, beliefs and my passion to create something unique and customisable.
Tip #2 - Use of Sustainable fabrics
Fabrics made from natural materials such as jute, bamboo and cotton are very popular with embroidery artists due to their texture, durability and versatility. While doing hand-embroidery, natural materials allow better flow of the needle as they are breathable, and hold stitches more securely compared to any other synthetic material. These materials also allow us to choose the type of weave and weight, giving artists like me the flexibility to experiment with our designs.
Tip #3 - Use of sustainable threads
Natural materials such as jute, cotton, bamboo, wood pulp, etc are used to create eco-friendly threads that are ethical and easy to use for embroidery. These threads allow artists the flexibility to create different designs - regular or intricate. These threads can survive washing without loosing their colour or integrity, and are highly sustainable.
“Fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world. We need to change that.” – Emma Watson
Tip #4 - Embroidery doesn’t get washed off
Have you ever noticed that screen prints or graphics on fabric start to crack after a few washes? This is because the ink in these starts to get damaged under hot water and harsh detergents. However, you won’t face this issue with embroidery. Embroidery involves creating stitches directly on the fabric, which interlocks the fibers, and can’t be very easily pulled out (unless of-course you take a scissors to it!). The natural threads do not fade or crack, making it a more sustainable choice. Hand-embroidered garments might cost you more than printed alternatives, but be assured that the embroidery will not start to look shabby after a few washes, and will last you a lot longer.
Tip #5 - Embroidery as patchwork/cover stains
Embroidery functions as a means reinforcement for the fabric, and hence is an easy solution to fix any holes or weakened areas on your clothing. Embroidery threads provide additional strength and stability to the material, hence increasing life of the garment. Decorative stitches can be created to beautify and strengthen specific areas of the fabric.
Embroidery can also be used to cover a pesky stain that you can’t wash off. Cover the stain with some beautiful embroidered design and your garment is was good as new. Wear it like a fashion statement, and no one needs to know the story behind it!
Tip #6 - Recyclable / Upcycle
Worried about spending time doing embroidery, only to have to throw to away when the garment has lost its colour and texture? Don’t fret, simply cut off the cotton around the embroidery design and it becomes a patch that you can stick or stitch onto your next garment. Perhaps on the front of a new hoody, or on a tote bag.
Fed up off wearing plain regular jeans? Then why not upcycle the jeans by embroidering some intricate stitches or patterns, and give it a new lease of life. Upcycle your regular jumper and add eco-friendly beads or floral designs to make the jumper different from everyone else.
Tip #7 - Reduce waste
While creating the keepsake hoops, I do end up with a lot of small scraps of fabric. But rather than throwing those away, I create other pieces of art with those. I use the plain fabrics to create embroidered pendants, earrings and keychains. Other scraps are combined together as appliqué and used to create beautiful cards and other embroidery pieces. The scrap fabrics that would normally end up in landfills, get converted into art you can wear and other beautiful items.
Tip #8 - Low energy consumption
With the growing cost of living, it is becoming increasing essential to use more eco-friendly ways and save money (and the planet). Hand embroidery has the advantage of being electricity-free and relies solely on manual techniques, thereby contributing to a reduced carbon footprint and environmental impact (and reduced electricity bill).
For me the biggest advantage is the portability - I can work from anywhere - home, on a train, in a car or even when I am on holiday. All I need is my art materials (which normally fit into a small box), and of course good light, and I am good to go.
As a small business, our commitment to creating beautiful, yet sustainable products is unwavering. So next time you shop, remember to buy a handmade sustainable item that you and your loved ones will cherish for years to come. Explore our website and find the perfect hand-embroidered gift and make someone feel special. Please leave a comment if you're an advocate of meaningful, hand-embroidered art!
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