A Pretty Solution For a Big Problem

I’m not sure how many times you kind people will allow me to keep talking about the same subject, but this is what keeps me up at night. Textile Waste. Before I go madly off on a tangent (I’ll try to keep it short) I present you with one of my local solutions…a fabric flower crown that is pretty enough for a wedding and comfortable enough for a trip to the grocery store. I would definitely wear this every day. In fact, I will be making one for myself and don’t see myself taking it off very often.

Headbands are a very big part of my life. If I’m not wearing a hat, I’m wearing a headband. My organic Madeline headband is one of my most popular designs. As much as I love this headband, I don’t love the way the fabric stretches out over time. Sustainability in my little micro business is really important to me. If a hat or headband no longer looks good after a year and the headband gets tossed then I feel that I am part of the problem.

Through lots of trial and error, I discovered that enclosing an elastic in fabric and then sewing it to a canvas base creates a headband that lasts for years. The elastic can even be replaced over time.

Um, It’s a bit windy out there today, but hopefully this photo will give you a sense of how the headband looks on a human head.

This design exploration began with this sweet little headband, but that voice telling me to cover the whole headband with flowers would not be silenced. I explained to the voice that hand sewing 21 tiny flowers, embroidering them and mounting them onto a handmade headband was hardly a good business move. How to explain to customers that this tiny object takes as long to make as a proper hat? The voice had little respect for my concerns and just got louder. Eventually, I gave in and got to work. Once I was done I knew that the voice was right. This pretty little day’s work object simply had to be made and I plan to make more. The best case scenario is that others will value its beauty as much as I value my time and the worst case scenario is that I have more flower crowns in my wardrobe.

I made a new colour! I have been wanting to dye canvas teal blue for so long and finally gave in. OK, Are you ready for my fabric waste tangent?

When we put our clothes in giveaway boxes only a tiny portion stays in our communities. A large portion gets shipped to used textile markets in Africa and a very large portion of our garbage becomes somebody else’s garbage. There is no more “away” in give away. Textile waste, largely the result of fast, cheap fashion, is the second largest cause of global pollution. As a designer, this is very much my problem. I realize that whatever little solutions I come up with are a drop in the ocean, but I can help with awareness. There is so little of that in regards to this issue. If you would like to learn more I highly recommend this episode of Haptic and Hue. Better to learn from people who are truly working on this issue than from me. I’m just trying to make things that will bring joy for years and that will go back to the earth when their time has come. That’s the goal. I’m not there yet, but I’m getting closer.

Taking the time to use up tiny fabric scraps to create a headband that will look beautiful for many years is one step, for me, in a more sustainable direction.

Thanks, as always, for spending some time with me.

xoxo

Anna