The KInd Life Community Forum

Hi, I have been getting into vegan clothing and fashion for about the last 6 months. I've just began to sew, I'm currently working on a dress and some quilts. Through my first expierence of sewing my nephew a comforter for when he becomes a toddler too keep him warm. So, this is how I truly discovered the greatness of "ORGANIC" fabric and how they can have a positive effect on everyday living.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice or wants to share their expierence with me about vegan clothing, fashion, or even if they do your own vegan sewing.

What does a vegan lifestyle mean to you? How does the practice of veganism (other than food) enhance your life for the better? I'd like to learn about your feelings or expierences.

Thanks alot,

Julie S.

Hi Chrissekatt! It's very nice to meet you. That's wonderful that you wish to help others eat healthy in your Sweedish Community. I'm quite jealous if you ask me. I have a story for you Chrissekatt. Yesteryday, I went to 'Joannes' (it's an art's and crafts store that sells fabric) and I purchased a blue and black zig zag fabric that was made from partly wool. I purchased this wool fabric for a jacket, along with foux fur. I purchased these items with all the accessories, 2 buttons, elastic and all. Today, I ended up returning the merchendise I puchased yesterday to completely accomadate a total vegan lifestyle into my life. So, I returned the items and purchased a creamy white/chacky knit with lycra-that's spandex. I purchased this for my project class next week. I've taken classes teaching about knits before. So, I thought that I felt better just taking the skills that I have learned from my previous classes and actually applying them into my daily lifestyle.
So, here is my advice for you on clothing. Let your clothing desires come from your heart. Therefore, wear clothing that makes you totally happy and comfortable. For me, it is just easier to sew my own clothing and I choose to sew with knits. I love linen after my mom told me that it's all natural. I'm also really into sewing so it's very easy for me to sew my own clothes with colors that I am very comfortable to work with. I think that clothing is a passion that comes from the heart and the mind. So, create or use an existing wordrobe with items that make you feel your BEST! For me this would be vegan clothing that would be purchased from the store. Well, the thing is, my passion in life is sewing my own clothes so this makes it very easy for me to create my own vegan clothing from knits, organic or non-organic.
Sometimes it does take a lot of contemplation on what to purchase, create, wear or give to others as gifts. Although, the main ideas here are love, passion, creativity, what makes you feel most comfortable and what makes you feel free on the inside.
My advice is, be like me and sew your own vegan clothing, either from cotton knits, cotton and lycra(spandex) knits, linen, polyester. These are my main fabrics I will work with so, you can use them too. All others I try to avoid.
My mom always says that it's hair that comes from animals like giving the animals a haircut. Yet, keep in mind that wool, fur and goat hair are all kind of manly. I'm a woman so, I tend to go with womanly things. I do have a foux leather jacket that I love and I wear mostly everyday now since I purchased it. But hey, it's still vegan b/c it is not made out of actual leather. And yes, I do eat cheese when I need my B vitamins. I just take my lactaid pills along with my dairy. I'm also gluten free.
To answer your question on how to "go from beginners state to more advanced", my answer is look around in clothing stores, this might give you ideas or inspiration to sew your own clothing. Then, go to fabric stores, make sure that they are the ones that sell clothing fabric, not furniture fabric. Discover different prints and solids of cotton and discover which colors that your prefer to work with. Patterns are a great start, they are usually sold at "Joannes" for like $1.99 on sale and $3.99 'Vogue' patterns.
Well, if you decide to sew your own clothes as I will. Remember, make the focus of your project's be the expression of your heart's content (even if it's a solid or boldy printed knit)!!!
You can write back if you have any more questions. I'd love to answer them.
Sincerely,
Julie Swartout

Hi Julie! Half a year later, still vegan! Thank you so much for your response and your tips. I guess that it's all about; clothing must come from passion, but also from compassion. I can't buy something that makes me feel uncomfortable, and those stores I used to go to make me feel bad. What about fair trade fabrics and clothes? I'm sick and tired of the big companies that use workers for their profit (isn't that just how it looks in our modern world generally?). We also just work all the time, no time to sit down and think and create something of your own. I think I will start with just copying the clothes I usually wear, so I have more of them but in different fabrics and colors. I love clothing but I won't feel really happy if I just buy it from the big companies that earn a lot of money. Keep on working! :D

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