#21: The Joy of Reclaimed Fabric with Sarah aka Sew Love NZ

It’s Episode 21 of CYT, and today we’re busting a big myth: that you have to be completely serious and joyless to be passionate about the environment, or to have any impact. I’m chatting with New Zealand based sewing teacher, maker and sustainability phenomenon, Sarah Lancaster, AKA Sarah Sew Love. (You can also hear her cat, Forest, in the background!) She shows us that having a vibrant aesthetic and awesome energy really helps her engage with others over important topics. We talk about how she set up a social enterprise to share sewing and mending skills around NZ, and how making more sustainable choices can bring your life extra layers of enjoyment rather than restricting it. She also shares her love of creating with reclaimed fabric to make her fantastic product range, how she scored her most precious piece of fabric, and her dream sewing tattoo! Be prepared to feel the (sew)love! 

Listen to Ep. 124 of the Sustainable (ish) podcast with writer J.B. Mackinnon about his book ‘The Day The World Stops Shopping’ HERE. 

Read the Guardian article about the study looking into the productivity of small scale food growing HERE.

Find Sarah Sew Love and her joyful aesthetic on Instagram HERE.  

Her Etsy shop where she sells bumbags and towel ponchos is HERE. 

The amazing video of Sarah showing how to wear your bum bag depending on your dancing style is HERE.

Sarah works for Xtreme Zero Waste in Raglan, New Zealand. Learn more HERE and HERE.   

Other businesses and enterprises mentioned:

• Fabricabrac (fabric markets around NZ)  HERE. 
• My Keeper (sells and rents dresses and collaborated with Sarah on a range of bumbags) HERE.
• DIY Daisy (colourful inspiration and garment tutorials) HERE. 
• Señorita Awesumo, (Zero waste pattern designer in NZ, with my tattoo) HERE.