Remember when this was a DIY/sewing blog? Yeah, me neither, but for a few months it was! This thing called "real life" really gets in the way of having hobbies but while I was in Italy I didn't have wifi (how did I survive? Nobody knows) so I turned to knitting to keep me occupied on cold, rainy weekends.

What I learned is that knitting is incredibly relaxing; it keeps my restless hands occupied and stops me from wasting entire days scrolling endlessly through instagram. I also quickly discovered that the majority of knitting patterns online are highly complex, not to mention frumpy and old-fashioned. So I tried to wing it on my own but that didn't work out either. Enter Wool and the Gang.

You may have heard of Wool and the Gang, they've certainly been on my radar (and Christmas wish list) for a few years. They make fun, modern knitting kits in all sorts of colours and yarns that are perfect for even the most clueless beginner knitter. They are also involved with Fashion Revolution, sharing the people and process behind making their yarns.

In May, Wool and the Gang launched Tina Tape Yarn (made from tencel) and I've been trying it out. Tencel has really gained traction in Ethical fashion recently (like the tencel collection by People Tree) and it's easy to see why, it's made from eucalyptus which grows on land that is otherwise unusable for other crops and the whole process, from plant to fabric, uses 80% less water than cotton production (which is bonus because cotton is a huge water hog). Tina Tape yarn is soft like silk (but totally vegan) but cool enough to wear in summer.


Ethical crafting and DIY materials aren't as readily available and easy to find as pre-made ethical fashion so if you're looking here are three quick tips to help you spot the best options. These mostly apply to fabrics and yarns but are generally good principles for all sorts of crafting.

Natural materials are best as they're biodegradable but some are better than others. This guide from Trusted Clothes lists and rates different varieties of fabrics (ratings are equally valid for yarns).

As well as the sort of the fibre, it's important to consider how it's made. There are many different things to look for, e.g. Organic cotton, non-toxic dyes, or peace silk.

Sewing and knitting are only the final step in the long process of clothing manufacture, by making clothes ourselves we can guarantee there is no exploitation at that final step by there are also people involved in the manufacture of yarns and fabrics. Look out for Fair Trade certifications or details about the place of manufacture, if you're not sure, just ask!

This outfit is:
Vegan	Second hand

This outfit is:
Organic	Fairtrade	Second hand

If you're transitioning to ethical fashion you'll have noticed that it's definitely on the pricey side. Unfortunately, high street brands are built on cheap labour and hazardous factory working conditions, which is why they can charge so little. As Lucy Siegle succinctly put it:


Sustainable fashion is occasionally featured in fashion magazines but it’s usually the luxury brands, and normal people don't have the cash for that. Without physical shops on the high street it can be difficult to figure out where to start looking. Luckily there are plenty of ethical fashion directories, like mine, to get you started.

Sales are brilliant for a bargain (as we all know), the trouble is keeping your eye on the prize and not be distracted by that one cute top. To combat this, I keep a track of the pieces I’m lusting after during a season (I split them into summer and winter), then if I still want them by the time the sales roll around and they’re not too trend-focused, I’ll try and nab them. With season sales now happening earlier and earlier, you'll probably still be able to wear them straight away. Similarly – check to see if brands host sample sales, these are really great for budget pieces but are a total lucky dip for availability.

I never check-out without checking for a discount code first. Some brands run regular discounts so I’ll pop the things I want on my wish list and wait for the next one. Often signing up to a newsletter gets you a discount for your first purchase, these are all little things that add up. There are websites out there that compile coupons and deals, such as Ethos Deal which specialises in coupons for ethical brands.

To me, second-hand is the best source of clothing. It doesn’t require new resources, it's cheap, and it saves a piece of clothing from landfill. However, second-hand isn’t going to change the face of the fashion industry and it currently thrives on the back of our over-consumption of new clothing. For now though, it’s a fantastic option to get quality clothing for very little. If there aren’t any good charity shops in your area, try Depop, eBay, or online vintage boutiques.

When clothes are cheap it can mean that we don’t treat them with as much care and respect as our more expensive clothes. Imagine if we all treated our clothes are well as people treat their designer handbags! Washing clothes less often and with more care will mean they stay nicer for longer. Sewing on buttons that fall off or making other small repairs will also extend the lifespan of your clothing, check out this guide from Love Your Clothes for tutorials.

Transitioning to an ethical wardrobe takes time, don't worry about all those high street purchases you made in the past, but focus on the future and what you can do now.