Part the Third - Portfolio

Who Gets to Stitch?
There’s something quietly powerful happening in kitchens, garden sheds and social media feeds across the UK: a resurgence in sewing, mending, embroidery, and all forms of slow textile craft. For some, it’s a nostalgic hobby. For others, it’s political—a way to resist fast fashion, reclaim labour, or mend what capitalism breaks.
But behind the romantic images of heritage fabric, well-lit studios and handmade home decor lies a tougher question: who actually gets to do this kind of making? And at what cost?
The growing movement to ‘make, not buy’ is often seen as empowering—but it also relies on certain resources that are unevenly distributed. Time. Space. Stability. Income. A room to sew in. A quiet hour or two. A sense of permission.Many working-class women, carers, and precarious workers don’t have these luxuries.
So what happens when we start to unpack the real conditions behind the “revival”?