For sources of inspiration, mentees can:

Identify a problem

A wedding dress made to draw attention to the ocean pollution. This was made with the model‘s white T-shirt and a sumptuous, eye-catching skirt. This was made of a sheer curtain (the ocean) decorated with plastic bottle tops, straws, cartons and other waste.

Pay tribute to cultural heritage

A grandma‘s skirt adjusted to the model‘s measurements complemented with folk costume pieces. This combines various cultures and eras in one garment. This is an example of minimal upcycling with emphasis on the fact that styling can be sustainable by using already existing clothing.

Go to the world of fairy tales

A teenager’s fairytale character brought to life through dressmaking with tablecloths and bedsheets.

Fairy tales can help us to rest, relax, wind down, and escape the world in which we live. Hand sewing can draw us into a world where there are no sewing machines and every detail is handmade.

Go to school or work

A garment that fits the life that you lead. Making a work or school outfit from old clothes is a challenge. A forgotten shirt turned into a smart blouse and pants into a skirt shows that remaking clothes can be a common practice in our lives.