Whilst looking at my own collection of scrap fabrics I began to feel a kind of guilt at the thought of designing more and more fabrics that almost inevitably end up in the ‘rag bag,’ or even worse, to landfill. I decided to turn my rag bag of odds and ends into a rich and vibrant colour palette.

The discarded patterns are digitally manipulated into bright, colourful kaleidoscopic designs; a kind of updated patchwork. (See Patterns Page.)

The use of ‘readymade’ patterns in my work is intended to show the abundance of fabric already present in the world that often just goes to waste, of the 1 million tonnes of fabric thrown away each year only 25% are actually recycled.

The designs are then applied to ‘make at home kits.’ They start at simple covered buttons to bows to collars and finally to a full dress; something for everyone even the least confident of sewers.

By turning these designs into ‘make at home kits’ I want to encourage creativity and form a connection between garment and wearer, the process of making it themselves means the piece is unique to them and hopefully something they will treasure for a long time, unlike many of the disposable ‘fast fashion’ garments sold today.

The instructions and packaging are printed on handmade paper embedded with seeds that can be planted and grown into flowers.