Sewing Bee Finalist Promotes Clothing Care to Counter Fast Fashion

A participant who reached the final of The Great British Sewing Bee is urging individuals to “make and mend” their garments themselves, aiming to mitigate the impact of fast-fashion. Pascha Al-Qassab, a student, commenced filming for the tenth series of the popular BBC One program in September 2023, at which point she was 20 years old. Currently 21 and having returned to the University of Bristol, Ms. Al-Qassab is orchestrating sustainable fashion markets within the city’s “thriving” sustainability environment. She expressed a desire for increased avenues for young individuals to acquire sewing proficiencies in educational settings. She stated, “We could build that culture of caring for our clothes as an important part of looking after the environment.” Research conducted by the British Heart Foundation, which initiated The Big Stitch campaign in 2017, indicates that almost six out of every ten individuals surveyed reported a lack of confidence in their sewing abilities. Ms. Al-Qassab asserted that this issue requires resolution if society intends to curtail fast-fashion, which is defined as the rapid succession of fashion trends and a shift towards inexpensive, mass-manufactured apparel. She further commented, “People are throwing clothes away earlier than ever before.” She also noted, “I think it’s a quarter of Brits that don’t know how to sew on a button.” Ms. Al-Qassab, a native of Surrey, mentioned that the BBC program motivated her to begin sewing, though she also remarked, “I like to joke I started out of stubbornness.” She explained, “There was a dress that I really loved the top of, but I wasn’t keen on the company that sold it.” She continued, “So I bought the dress, made a pattern out of newspaper, sent the dress back and remade it with one of my dad’s own shirts.” The program’s final episode was broadcast in July, featuring Ms. Al-Qassab competing against Luke and Ailsa, with Luke ultimately securing the title. Since the show concluded, she is readapting to her regular routine, employing her needlework expertise to mend garments for friends and create impromptu dresses for social evenings. Pondering her experience on the television series, she stated, “I’m a big fan of the show and I couldn’t believe I was in the sewing room itself.” She added, “If you sew or you’re a creative person it’s like Disneyland.” For updates, follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for content on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.