Not Just A ‘Woman’s Hobby’ – Why More Men Are Picking Up Sewing, And Why You Should Too
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Men have taken up a sewing storm, leading to a cultural shift that challenges the traditional notion that sewing is a “female hobby.”
The COVID pandemic has led to a resurgence in the home economy, with many people – including many men – learning skills such as sewing and knitting.
Since then, this trend has increased, even after the end of confinements. And it disrupts the dominant narrative that men stick to stereotypical masculine identities – particularly in rural Australia, where social pressure to behave a certain way can feel amplified.
The rise of men’s tailoring
The term “performative man” has been used to describe a subgroup of men who strive to appear “unmasculine” – usually in an effort to attract women. Is taking up sewing just another performative male thing?
Research suggests no. Instead, it reveals a subculture of men who are truly passionate about fashion and are learning this skill.
Globally, men’s sewing groups have also been created to foster community and improve mental health.
Gen Zers in particular aren’t shy about personalizing their style and finding ways to personalize their wardrobe on a budget.
These young men are not as heavily influenced by trends coming from the catwalk. Instead, they leverage social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram to share their passion and influence others, thereby attracting more young men.
The increase in the number of men mending and sewing clothes is also linked to a broader societal awareness of issues of sustainability and overconsumption.
Tailor-made influences
Although sewing has long been (and arguably still is) considered a typically feminine activity, today there is historical precedent for the rise of sewing among men.
Throughout history, tailoring and costume making have been considered acceptable professions for men – and still are in many cultures such as Pakistan, South Korea, Italy and Hong Kong.
In London, Savile Row and its famous menswear manufacturing companies have been around for almost 200 years. These establishments have dressed many members of the royal family and celebrities. Savile Row has also been the starting point for many famous designers such as Alexander McQueen.
In Australia, Rip Curl founders Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer were both pushed into clothing production because of the surf culture.
Australian designers such as Christopher Esber, Martin Grant and Toni Maticevski were all influenced by complex tailoring practices which supported their wider fashion practice.
Women shape fashion
So how did clothing making end up being labeled as women’s work? Well, Australia has a long history of women in fashion. Even today, the fashion sector is made up of 77% women.
Beginning in the 1800s, and becoming more widespread in the 1920s, we saw the rise of a system of batch manufacturing in which major brands sent bundles of clothing pieces to the domestic sewer to be sewn and returned. Sewers were often paid per bundle or per garment.
Then, in the 1940s and 1950s, World War II created economic conditions (including clothing rations) that led most Australian women to acquire sewing skills, with many sewing their own clothes.
While women were responsible for filling labor shortages left by the war, sewing was considered a “simple” job that women could easily undertake. Of course, anyone who does it themselves knows that’s not entirely true. Sewing has always required a complex set of skills and has always been underestimated.
Local manufacturing and home sewing by women declined between the 1970s and 1990s due to the removal of government tariffs and the industry’s inability to compete in the low-cost fast fashion market.
How to get started
If you’re considering taking up sewing as a hobby this summer, don’t worry about finding a fancy machine with plenty of features.
All you need is a machine that sews straight lines; you might even find one gathering dust in a closet. Just start with basic upcycling, before tackling your first garment from scratch.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to access in-person beginner sewing classes. But if that’s not the case, don’t worry: surveys suggest that about 48% of Gen Zers taught themselves a new skill through TiKTok, and 42% through YouTube. So this could be your first point of contact.
@CorneliusQuiring, @glory.allan, and @zoehongteaches are just a few of the many TikTok accounts to get you started.
Who knows? You could be the next Christian Dior or Cristóbal Balenciaga. It’s just a matter of practice and finding joy in the challenge.
