Meaningful mending and re-working
AKA WELL WOO
I offer mending and re-working under the name 'Well Woo' which is combination of
​
‘WooWoo’: meaning, esoteric or ‘hippy’
​
and
​
‘Well’- a slang adverb- meaning 'lots'.
For me, this label speaks to the contradictions held within myself: I both love fashion and to explore my ever evolving self expression and to have new clothes to play with AND I also really challenge the methodology of the fashion industry and the grinding growth of capitalist consumerism.
I deeply care about the environment and our impact on the wider world so
want to create pieces that are natural and respectful of nature,
AND
I want to look interesting, edgy and feel connected to my own and our collective wave of what’s in fashion.
I think many of us walk around with deep contradictions within us- especially as we navigate a challenging, collapsing and damaging world.
Well Woo is about holding our inner contradictions, about embracing our multiples with compassion and self love. We are all a bunch of contradictions. We are more than one thing. We are urban and rural, we are shallow and deep, we are separate and connected. This video is me styling a few of my re-worked pieces into an outfit that includes the 'hippy' and 'urban' parts of my own style
By mending and re-working pre-loved garments and textiles we can remain connected with this thread of self expression and playing with fashion but we have a far less damaging impact on people and planet. We can reinvent our clothes and ourselves: changing the shape or style and getting the satisfaction and self affirmation of changing our wardrobe without having to buy lots of new things.
This is what I offer with my meaningful meaning and reworking service as Well Woo.
Here's a small selection of the pieces
I have re-worked and mended:
I offer my re-working and mending services on commission and with flexible rates depending on your access to resource and I love to work with people to find ways to bring more love into a garment they've loved already.
​
Please be in touch using the form in the footer if you have a garment or piece you'd like me to mend or re-work for you.
Here's some of the techniques I use:
Satchico stitching and embroidery
Satchico stitching is a wonderful technique to add patches to holes or to add thickness to areas that are thinning. It's a traditional Japanese technique and uses geometric stitching patterns to create areas of interest.
​
Embroidery uses thread to create images on a garment and can be used in conjunction with printing and applique to create texture, layers, contrast and add colour.
darning
Darning is often only associated with Socks- but darning holes can be a wonderful way to add texture and exciting colour to a garment. It is usually used on knitted fabric and can be a great way to create visible mends that show that the clothing is loved.
Patches and panels
Adding sections of different or contrasting fabric can be a really beautiful way to add more interest and texture to a garment- whether there's a hole underneath or not! Clothes with different textured panels have been really popular in fashion over the last few years.
Block Printing
Block printing using Lino, rubber or wood is an amazing way to add images to textiles- they're detailed, easy to repeat and washable with the right inks. I love creating Lino stamps that can add detail, meaning and decoration to garments both as patches but also adding prints directly onto pre-made garments. It can be a way to make a simple staple piece far more unique and striking.
​
I have also carved all the letters of the alphabet so I can print any words on fabric which is great for t shirts, banners and quilts.
Cyanotype printing
This is a very old form of photographic process that creates deep cyan blue tones and captures fine detailed shapes using the power of the sun! By laying plants and other items over the Cyanotype chemicals painted onto cotton and placing them in the sun to develop you can create beautiful and unique impressions. Plants work particularly well. And the imprint is washable afterwards too!