Sustainable fashion is championed by conscious designers, ethical brands, and an increasing number of us who want it. We’re concerned about who makes our clothes, and how our planet is impacted in the process. What a privilege and honour then, for Motif Handmade...
Does a blank page, or screen fuel your imagination or fill you with dread? My honest answer is a resounding, ‘YES!’ It really depends on the day. I mean, is it warm and sunny out? But, give me a blank natural fabric and it’s a different story....
Recycled yarn hand dyed with natural dyes seems almost normal now! Sustainable fabrics are here to stay and thankfully there’s a growing number to choose from. But, here’s a thought … what if there were no colours, if life really was a black &...
The dynamic young women you met here last week, are embracing the new as trend seasons start to change. Gorgeous recycled sari ribbon and soft natural cotton fabric are familiar materials. But a designer’s creativity for sustainable fabrics knows no end! So how...
Sustainable fabrics and slow fashion are still seen mostly as Women’s Work, and some baggage comes with that – especially in these days of shared responsibility at home and work! But, there is work happening in this realm we can hold onto with pride....
Fair trade, handmade goods are not just beautiful, they’re vital. Why? Because at their core each one offers a sustainable and ethical solution for both people and our planet. As this global pandemic inexorably moves on through the nation of Bangladesh an...
Aaaaaand drum roll pllllease … For our grand finale I’m proud to introduce one wonderful sustainable fashion designer Emily Harris of Mrs Emily! Emily has taken our #zerowaste, near #zerocarbon fabric and played with it … making such beautiful...
Some sewists may hesitate to work with handwoven fabrics – but I never met a sewist yet without a love for experiments! And what do you have to loose? By meeting your own home and clothing needs with a sewing machine, scissors and thread you’re already a...
Today 24th April seven years ago in 2013, we woke to news of the worst factory accident in the fashion industry ever. Ultimately the collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory claimed 1,134 lives and injured over 2,500 more. Fashion Revolution Week was born out of...
If you thought Steps 1-3 of an eco-friendly fabric involved a lot of people – just wait for this one! At this point the yarn for the weft is wound on the bobbin and ready to weave. BUT the warp is still on spools and has a long way to go before getting to the...
It’s a beautiful thing that Earth Day falls in Fashion Revolution Week. The worst excesses of the Industrial Revolution are seen in the fashion industry. Human rights abuses and environmental disasters were common then and now, 250 years later, how much has...
With the Fashion Revolution Week falling in the midst of a global lockdown many creative alternatives to public demonstrations and gatherings are emerging. See below for what we’re up to at Chicago Fair Trade. At Motif we’re keen to get you up to speed on...
On 24th April 2013 the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed killing over 1,100 people and leaving over 2,500 badly injured. Since then the reality of ‘fast-fashion’ has become headline news and movements the world over are pressing harder and...
My High School art teacher Mrs Crick – Bless her name! – gave me a project that literally changed my life. I remember the excitement as pages of research revealed to me the mind and heart of the amazing Mr. William Morris, a leading founder of The Arts...
Inspiring younger women to #beboldforchange was the charge given to a number of us at an International Women’s Day event in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Challenging cultural norms that disallow women a voice in family, educational and professional arenas were well...
What’s love got to do with it? Really? Tina? What were you thinking? Well, at least if we’re talking eco-conscious and sustainable life choices I’d say love has EVERYTHING to do with it – wouldn’t you? But when Tina Turner launched this 80s...
We’re all trying to get there … many of us anyway, each looking for ways to be more eco-friendly, make more sustainable choices and choose the smallest carbon footprint. It’s imperative that we consider these daily choices because as our...
In the last 3-5 years the environmental and social impact of our consumer choices is increasingly front and centre in the public space. We not only need to be informed, we want to be. We want good information so as to make more eco-friendly choices. We want to see...
How long have you been a Fair Trade supporter? Long enough I’m sure to know that Fair Trade and Sustainability are a match indeed! In fact the 10 fair trade principles every ethical business strives to uphold speak clearly: 1 Creating Opportunities for...
In Bangladesh and elsewhere, sustainable design starts when artisans and designers work together on exciting solutions, often stretching the use of materials and skills into totally new products … even when both may sometimes wonder, “What is s/he...
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5 STEPS to Design & Produce Your Sustainable Handwoven Fabrics
Step into a world of handmade wonders!
Learn how easy it is to transform your design business with custom fabrics inspired by age-old traditions with our FREE guide!
