The craft of sewing is disappearing, and we can't allow it to happen. Handmade clothing is also, among other great things, much more sustainable.
This week we had a date to talk to you about a different topic. But after months of searching for a new manager for our workshop, we had to talk to you about the seamstress's profession, its importance to fashion, and the art of making clothes by hand.
Knowing how to sew isn't just about stitching or sewing fabric. It's, as the famous saying goes, "Knowing how to read between the seams." Or as we say around here, "Knowing what the garment is asking for at any given moment."
Sewing isn't just about stitching or sewing fabric, it's about knowing how to read between the seams : knowing what the garment is asking for at any given moment.
Read on to discover the sustainable, social, and cultural benefits of craftsmanship in fashion. Or how to make what you wear your identity and truly revolutionize…
What role does craftsmanship play in fashion?
Craftsmanship or "handmade" is intrinsic to fashion. To fashion in general, and to made-in-Spain fashion in particular. At least that was the case until the arrival of fast fashion .
Until fast fashion chose to opt for low prices, 50 collections a year, and a lack of environmental friendliness and less ethics. Or to forgo the quality of materials and workmanship, the DNA of Spanish fashion.
But what role does craftsmanship play in fashion today?
When we talk in the workshop about what craftsmanship means to us, we can't leave out our clients.
Because, in addition to sustainable, quality materials, local craftsmanship, meticulous manufacturing, and limited-run production, craftsmanship is about knowing the people who will wear it. Capturing what they want and ensuring they receive more than they expect.
So when a customer comes to our Zaragoza store, telling them the story of each garment, its process, and its material, giving them advice if they ask, and having them try it on, is part of fashion and craftsmanship. At least at Elisa Muresan.
Ultimately, artisan fashion expresses a close connection with the entire process: the most creative aspect, the manual labor, all the people who make it possible, the men and women who will wear it, and the final destination of the garments.
In short, it is the opposite of fast fashion .
It's fashion with character and, in its day, the mother of haute couture. It's not a different way of making fashion; it's the way of making fashion. It's legacy, tradition, and culture, but also innovation and avant-garde.
So hearing that craftsmanship in Spain is experiencing a boom is music to our ears. These are great songs that we hope never stop playing.
Fashion, craftsmanship, and sustainability: are they compatible?
As you might suspect by now, they are not only compatible, but together they are the best weapon to stop and combat fast fashion and promote sustainability.
When they go hand in hand, manufacturing is more humane, the number of collections and garments per series is limited, and there is an increasing focus on ecological, biodegradable and recycled materials, with Zero Waste design.
It is also important for us to carry out the entire process locally and with our own workshop.
Because in this way, in addition to using certified sustainable materials, such as GOTS organic cotton (our favorite), we achieve four major goals:
- Bet on local work.
- Control the entire process.
- Minimize the impact of transportation.
- Produce garments that stay looking new for a long time.
It's clear that design, well-paid hours of work, and the care and love that goes into making things come at a price, but isn't it worth it?
Let's be blunt: supporting fast fashion is supporting a consumption model based on modern slavery: mass production, highly questionable ethical standards, and offshore production to where labor costs are lower and laws are more lax. Only then can prices be lowered.
So, yes, fashion and craftsmanship are compatible. In fact, they are almost inseparable and very necessary to achieve true sustainability.
Benefits of handmade fashion
To summarize it in some way, we can say that craftsmanship in fashion brings us these benefits:
- Quality materials and manufacturing.
- Greater durability of garments.
- More ethical, ecological and circular production.
- Local employment and economic growth within the country itself.
- Taxes that result in greater wealth for society.
- Exclusive, more creative, unique and original designs.
More than enough reasons to offset its only disadvantage: a higher price that quickly becomes very profitable.
Are you missing any reason to wear eco-friendly clothes ?
Artisans in fashion. Vindicating the seamstress's craft
As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, finding a new workshop manager for Elisa Muresan has been a near-nightmare. But we couldn't put it off any longer.
The craft of seamstress, or the art of making clothes by hand, isn't just about passing fabric through the machine. It's an art in which understanding how to arrange sustainable fabric , fitting all the pieces together perfectly, and mastering pattern making are essential.
We needed someone who knew how to "read between the seams" or "listen" to what the garment is asking for at any given moment. And that, in the fast-paced, frantic 21st century, isn't easy. Bringing our sketches and patterns to life is painstaking and exquisite work that requires patience, care, and keen eyes to achieve a flawless result. It requires years of experience and dedication, concentration, and great precision.
Hence the saying "May Saint Lucy preserve your sight." She is the patron saint of seamstresses, who celebrate her International Day every October 14th.
So, we're clear that without seamstresses, there's no fashion; they're a cultural heritage we must keep alive. However, there's something we don't fully understand: if craftsmanship in fashion is booming, why is the seamstress profession in danger? Could it be because sewing hasn't always been highly valued?
A bit of history…
History of the artisanal craft of sewing
Sewing is a very old craft traditionally linked to women.
As early as the 17th century, Louis XIV established a seamstresses' guild in Paris to meet the ever-increasing demand. However, for centuries, men were the visible protagonists.
With the industrial revolution of the 19th century and the invention of the sewing machine, production became cheaper and easier, and the range of fabrics diversified.
Fashion continued to grow, and with it the profession of seamstress, whether in workshops or self-employed. But the prestige and the majority of the profits remained in the hands of the tailors, mostly male.
Women, whether in workshops or at home, whether to clothe their families or the upper classes, continued to sew without recognition or a decent wage. The women weren't even aware that what they did was a genuine craft. And of course, they never imagined themselves as cultural agents or custodians of ancestral knowledge.
Today, more in-demand than ever and still little recognized, they are also rare gems. That's why, with this article, we decided to pay a small tribute to them, give a HUGE THANK YOU to Teresa, our workshop manager, and honor her craft.
We need new talents who embrace the art and beauty of this profession. We need a generational renewal to prevent the disappearance of traditional seamstresses: new women, and even men, seamstresses!
Crafts near you…
If you've made it this far, you've been surprised to discover so much more about the true story behind each handcrafted and sustainable garment. There's a reason our motto is "For every heartbeat behind your clothes." Do you understand it better now? All that's left to do is try on one of our designs and connect their story with yours.
