How Sewing TikTok is Inspiring a New Generation of Creatives

TikTok has a massive following, and in case you missed it, this is a video streaming social media platform popular with the 20-somethings but universally loved by a wide range of age groups. The rules are, well, there are no rules as such. Users post videos and hope that they go viral. You will find streams of pretty much any subject you can think of, searchable by hashtags, including the one we are looking at today #sewingtiktok.

What is #sewingtiktok?

Reality television seems to be responsible for this particular sewing revolution. With such masterpieces as Making the Cut, The Great British Sewing Bee and Project Runway, TikTok users have been inspired to share their creations, clever up-cycles, and cheap copies that look so good you would be hard-pressed to tell the difference. The platform has racked up over 725 million views of videos tagged #sewingtiktok. Some of the accounts are big-name influencers like Andriaa Hall, a self-styled thrift flipper, but others are so far unheard of names wanting to showcase their budget ball-gown or other fantastic homemade designs.

The appeal of influencers

Perhaps the most prominent name using this hashtag is Maddie White, a model who used the lockdown to teach herself to sew and pass the time as her career was put on hold. Her remit is budget clothing that emulates the looks she loves the most from the biggest fashion houses in the world. Her most-watched TikTok attracted 6.3 million views and featured her replica Chanel LBD as worn by Lily Rose-Depp at the 2019 Met Gala. She spent just $50 on materials, and the result was outstanding. This inspired a new generation of self-taught sewers looking to make fashion they can be proud of.

Why making your own clothing can help the sustainable fashion movement

High street fashion chains have been mimicking the latest trends for years, so it wasn’t that hard or even that expensive if you wanted to emulate the catwalks. However, thrifting has once more circled back to popularity, and now it is not just about copying a thousand dollar dress on a budget; it is all about sustainability. By making or repurposing clothes, you can contribute to the reduction of pollution from transportation, lessen the number of items that end up in landfills and offset some of the damage done by commercial clothing companies who generate greenhouse gasses, use toxic chemicals and generally do little to help the planet but a lot to damage it.

TikTok inspired upcycling projects

So, just what creations have been inspired by #sewingtiktok? The answer is lots of things, and you will find helpful tutorials as other newbies share their education to help you get started.

Tie-dye  

An easy way to completely change the look of a garment is to dye it. Tie-dyeing involves creating patterns by using elastic bands or string to section off parts of the fabric. When immersed in the dye, the sections scrunched, folded or twisted into sections dye differently from portions left flat, and when the ties are removed, you are left with patterns. It is popular because it is so simple and the results achieved are stunning.

Shoe painting

Another excellent technique for revamping a pair of shoes you have lost interest in is shoe painting. Whether you have canvas vans or a pair of heels that look tatty, taking your artistic talents to them can generate some fantastic results. TikTok has seen sunflowers on checkerboard vans and movie characters on stilettos. Not only is it a great way to revamp shoes, but some TikTokers are also turning their talents into a side hustle and making some extra cash upcycling shoes for others.

Crop it

From hoodies to a tee, jeans to leggings, another big inspiration involves taking a pair of scissors and transforming an item into a cropped version to repurpose it. Jeans and leggings can become Capri pants or shorts, hoodies and tees can become crop tops, and it doesn’t stop there. Hack out the sleeves and create a racerback; the possibilities are endless. There are so many inspiring videos waiting to be watched that you are bound to find your next project.

Hair decoration

The recycling doesn’t have to stop at clothing either! The popular hashtag has also seen an influx of videos showing how you can use old clothes or even fabric leftover from a ‘crop-it’ project to make hair scrunchies and headbands.

Get involved

We love sewing and crafting as it’s a great way to showcase your creativity. So, with its popularity rising, it’s never been a better time to get inspired and start your own creations. Check out our fabrics, including cotton, silk, linen and denim, to design your next garment.