Seamingly Sera
- Katherine Ross
- Nov 27, 2018
- 3 min read
Sewing, Thrifting, affordable/sustainable style and more, Sarah Kolish seams together her passion for fashion and her desire to present more Eco-friendly sustainable styles on her YouTube channel-- Seamingly Sera.
Clothes can be a form of expression, and make you feel confident--that’s what caught Sarah’s attention. A “particular style can be a vessel to express yourself in a super intimate way, that everyone can see.”
Her interest in fashion goes way back, though her first video dates back to two years ago. But, what made her want to start a YouTube channel?
“I ultimately want to bring awareness to sustainable fashion and home decor, because it's not prevalent in big media at all yet and many people have misconceptions about shopping at thrift stores. I also want to fulfill my life-long dream of being an entrepreneur!”
Sarah is exactly right, though it is becoming more noticed, sustainable style is not a huge focus in main media. So, how did it catch her attention? It started with Sara and her friends would go to thrift stores in high school, leading to her sewing some of her clothes.
“I loved it because the clothes were affordable, so I could go home and just start experimenting "redesigning" them. I really started caring about eco-fashion a few years later, when I learned about the harm fast-fashion has on the environment and its' workers.”
Sarah’s process of upcycling starts with an inspiration. Once she has a plan, and she knows what she wants to make, it’s easier to shop for what she needs.
“For example, when I made my linen overalls, I knew I wanted to make a pair of light-weight, casual overalls so that's the material I looked for when shopping, and that's how I came across those over sized linen pants. I was looking for light-weight material, not a piece resembling overalls. I always tell people, look for patterns and the type of fabric you like, not for the garment itself. You'll rarely find a perfect, modern piece in a thrift store and that's another reason why I upcycle!”
When asked what her favourite thrift store is, she responded:
“Oh gosh, I go to all of the thrift stores in my area, and each for a different reason usually. They each offer some aspect that's better than the other, and that's another reason why I love thrifting, it's kind of like a never ending treasure hunt.
Though the idea of upcycling and DIY is appealing, many people may worry they aren’t DIY savvy--but Sara has some great advice.
“I totally understand this, because I'm a self-taught sewer myself. Honestly, I feel under qualified sometimes when I want to take on a difficult project. But the truth is, anyone can do it! Sewing is definitely an art to master, and I'm always learning. But, start out with a simple project, like making an envelope pillow case, or curtains, or recovering your dining room chairs. Once you've succeeded with that, you'll be ready to take on more difficult projects. Like I said, I'm self-taught, so I've always enjoyed the process in figuring it out myself because that's the creative part!”
There are also tons of ways to be eco-friendly, if you aren’t looking to DIY!
“There are more and more brands being established now that are eco-friendly and have great ethics. Just typing in "sustainable fashion brands" on Google will yield a ton of results- and for home decor too! But, a ton of the decor in my home is just thrifted, I haven't had to do anything to it. You'd be surprised at how much beautiful, trendy home decor is at the thrift store.”
Being eco-friendly is easy, and as she mentioned before, there are lots of sustainable fashion brands.
“You don't have to go as far as me and upcycle and thrift your entire wardrobe. Buying ethical brands is just as simple as buying unethical ones- nowadays eco-friendly brands are sold everywhere. Just knowing which brands to buy from is all you need to get started, and I'm sure reading up on those brands will inspire you to take your sustainability journey a step further."
Sarah’s videos may inspire you too! She has tons of creative videos, including her favourite DIY, linen overalls made out of thrifted pants! You can check out her videos on her youtube channel, Seamingly Sera.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kolishs/videos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seaminglysera/
Bonus Question!
What is your favourite staple piece for each season (winter/spring/summer/fall)?
Ooh I love this question! Okay for winter, I'd say a super chunky, warm turtleneck. Fall- my favorite upcycled, patchwork jeans. Summer- my super comfy denim shorts. Spring- my upcycled army jacket.