Social and Psychological Aspects

“So Weird and So Fabulous”: Expression of Identity in Retro Sewing

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Abstract

Home sewers choose to sew their own clothing as a means of self-empowerment to control their appearance as well as a creative outlet. Retro sewers, who sew their own versions of historic styles to wear as part of their everyday lives, represent a unique intersection between the vintage clothing market and the home sewing market. The participants in this study use retro sewing as a means of identity portrayal in a variety of ways. Retro sewing is a visual expression of identity. These home sewers consider their retro clothing to be part of their identities and an extension of themselves, incorporating nostalgia as identity continuity, postmodernism as styles are translated to today’s context, and uniqueness. Retro sewing is a way to enact personal values; participants discussed retro as opposition to the fashion industry, although they show high fashion involvement, and some use retro sewing as an expression of feminism.

Keywords: uniqueness, postmodernism, identity, nostalgia, retro style, retro sewing, feminism, home sewing

How to Cite:

Armstead, C. C. & McKinney, E. C., (2020) ““So Weird and So Fabulous”: Expression of Identity in Retro Sewing”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12048