Sometimes I ponder the many changes that I have witnessed in my lifetime, from my childhood to the present day. The advances in technology are mind boggling to one like me who had only one black and white television in my family’s living room. One area that may be less noticeable to some, is the quality of our clothing. As a child, I had to wear hand-me-downs either from my sister, who was five years older, or from family friends. My mother would buy me only one or two new outfits at the beginning of each school year. These were usually bought on lay-a-way because my parents did not have credit cards.
It is obvious to me whether or not a clothing item is of good quality. I have seen the quality of most apparel decrease significantly over the years. This morning when I put on a shirt that I had recently purchased on clearance, I noticed that the cuff on the sleeve had been sewn on askew. I have purchased a pair of socks where one sock was a good four inches longer than the other one. I had a pair of capri leggings with one leg several inches shorter than the other leg. I have seen clothing with large crooked stitches and seams that had never been pressed. Sometimes the fabric itself has flaws. Other times, the hems on skirts or dresses are uneven.
When I notice these obvious defects in my clothing I cannot help thinking about the person who sewed them. Nearly all of our clothing is made overseas these days because the labor is so cheap and the companies are purely profit-driven. Did the cuff on my shirt get sewn on crooked because the worker had been working for too many hours and was too tired to correct her mistake? Did her supervisors expect her to meet a certain quota in her production regardless of whether her work was perfect? Was she feeling ill because she had not had enough to eat? Did she have a sick child at home?
Few people know how to sew their own clothing anymore. It is just one more way in which we have given up our ability to be self-sufficient. Clothing, like most things in our modern world, is not made to last. It is laundered in chemically derived detergents that wear them down more quickly and then dried in very hot driers, shortening the time in which they begin to show wear. With so many new clothes available in stores, old clothing is tossed away without a thought. Most people do donate unwanted clothing; however, the predominant mind set is that one should have new clothes almost continually and those made by famous designers.
I no longer have to wear hand-me-downs and I purchase better quality clothing whenever possible. Finding clothes that fit me properly and that suit my tastes is not easy. The styles that I prefer are often no longer available. I do know how to sew; but let’s just say that it is an art which comes more naturally to some than to others. It is my hope that my granddaughters’ and younger generations might bring back this mostly forgotten skill. The recent pandemic has created more interest in gardening. Perhaps more people will learn to sew as well.
