Breaking down age barriers in fashion and sewing

At My Handmade Wardrobe I aim to provide you with the tools and knowledge to create clothing that speaks to your individuality. Our patterns are carefully crafted to inspire confidence and self-expression, whether you're stepping out for a night on the town or enjoying a cosy day at home.

But before we get carried away with all things fashion, let's address a pressing issue: ageism in the industry. It's no secret that the fashion world tends to favour youth, leaving many women feeling invisible as they age. But here's the thing: Ageing is a privilege and style knows no age limit.

Last month month I had the pleasure of spending quality time with the awesome designer and sewing influencer, Nicole Akong and the creative force that is Janene Spencer of Ooobop designs at the Sewists Mending Meet-up and I felt compelled to express my feelings about celebrating ageing. Both ladies are awe inspiring, truly expressing their tastes and personalities through the way they dress.  Nichole shared a wonderful talk at the event which I urge you to watch on my Youtube channel right after you’ve finished reading!

I am also just back from the Sewing for Pleasure show where I had a stand and presented a catwalk show featuring my wonderful customers, modelling my pattern designs. Find out more about the wonderful Sewing for Pleasure show and the MHW catwalk on my Instagram feed and Youtube.

I presented a talk about the Power of Pattern Making and dressing to express your own unique style at the show and I had the chance to share my plans to launch the “Sew Your Own Style” programme, a free 4 week programme designed to help you explore, embrace, engage and express your own unique style!

I really enjoyed speaking to so many customers about why you sew and what you want to sew. The response was amazing - so many of you are ready to make the change from dressing to suit others expectations and inspired to delve into discovering your own unique style and learning how to make and alter patterns to express that! If you are interested too, make sure you are signed up to my newsletter and stay tuned for a newsletter with details about how to join in very soon!

This month we also lost the fabulous style guru Iris Apfel at age 102. Icons like her and my fellow sewists encourage me to feel excited about my continued journey through life and fire me up to be more experimental with my dressing as I progress.

image credit: https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/iris-apfel-nude-collaboration

At My Handmade Wardrobe, inclusivity and body positivity are at the forefront of everything we do. We believe that every woman, regardless of her age, deserves to feel beautiful and confident in her own clothes. That's why we're dedicated to breaking down age barriers and celebrating the beauty of women at every stage of life.

Ageism in fashion is a pervasive issue, perpetuated by airbrushed magazine covers and a lack of representation. But by embracing our own unique style and refusing to conform to society's narrow standards of beauty, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse fashion industry.

So, how do we fight back against ageism? It starts with embracing our individuality and celebrating our own unique beauty. Whether you're rocking a bright yellow blazer at 50 or a fun jazzy printed jumpsuit at 60, your style reflects who you are, and it deserves to be celebrated.

At My Handmade Wardrobe, we're committed to showcasing the beauty and diversity of women of all ages in our marketing campaigns and social media channels. By featuring real women like you rocking our designs, we're challenging stereotypes and celebrating the beauty of ageing.

So, to all the incredible women out there, I say: embrace your age, embrace your style, and never apologise for being your authentic self. Together, let's break down age barriers in fashion and pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse industry. Let's celebrate the privilege of ageing at every stage of life and keep shining bright!

If you are interested in learning some valuable techniques to start sewing to celebrate your own unique, authentic style, make sure you are signed up to our newsletter to hear more about our Sew Your Own Style programme starting this May!