The Problem with Modern Fashion 

Hi everyone! Just a heads up, I open up about my past struggles with body image and self-worth in this video 💕 Recording this video meant a lot to me, so I hope that you'll enjoy it too. Thanks for watching. See you in two weeks!

I am a men. 34 year old. I do like classical mens clothing. I think it most comfortable. High waist trousers with suspenders, waistcoat, nice jacket and newsboy cap - makes you warm and comfy. You have a lots of pockets. You dont need to be stressed about your not ideal, not atletical enough body. I love classic clothing.

I'm so tired of every aspect of my life being pushed on how much money it will make other people

As a 60+ woman who has spent a lifetime rejecting societal norms, I truly appreciate your sentiment in this video, and concur. As for how we help to evoke change in our world, it starts with being people of honesty and integrity (and the buddhistic middle path helps as well). Thank you for being you! Oh, and my best friend and I are getting back to sewing our own clothing this year -- and weaving cloth as well.🌺 Thank you for sharing your path with us!

I started handsewing historically inspired clothing a couple of years ago and now i'm experiencing my first pregnancy and it's been SO wonderful to still be able to wear all the clothes I spent so much time on because they adjust with my changing body.

“When bodies are treated as trends that need to be often permanently changed every few years, that’s a frightening reality.” Super profound words that I don’t normally get from a RU-vid video. Thanks for having the courage to spit truth like this. Keep putting together the wonderful work that you’ve been doing. Appreciate your bravery and honesty here.

Many years ago, my mother told me that we always say: 'that looks great on you' instead of 'you look great in that'. Many of us do have a tendency to look in the mirror and think it is ourselves who look wrong or right, instead of whether or not the clothing we are wearing is bringing out the best in us. Whenever someone asks me how they look, I try to remember that and let them know that they are the ones who look great in the clothing that flatters them, not the other way around. Love your content!

I've had my struggles with body image and self-esteem. My own sister was so jealous of me that she would intentionally tell me I looked good in something, like a dress or skirt, so I bought said item, then would later tell me how fat or bad i looked in it. It's been nearly twenty years since i cut all contact with her (there were a lot of other issues on top of this), and I'm just getting into a good head space with clothing, to the point where I can trust my own judgement again. Thank you so much for posting this video.

Your talk today brought back memories of Song Chen-Sen, my theology professor at Pacific School of Religion. He began the first lecture I heard him deliver by talking about fast fashion as the example of how we live our beliefs. (The class was titled "This I believe!") Dr. Song had us look at our shoes and think of who made them. Most of our shoes were mass produced in Asia. He "encouraged" us to hold this thought as we explored Christian theology. That day changed me to always remember everything has a maker. We cannot get dressed without depending on the labor of someone. While I have returned to sewing my own clothes, every cut of fabric I bring home has a maker. The wool in every hat I knit came from a sheep who had a shepherd. Thank you for bringing this memory from September 1993 back to my mind and my heart.❤

As a child growing up in the 1970's, I asked my grandmother to make me 1870's dresses, which I wore all the time. Later, I became a civil war reenactor, I loved making and wearing all 1860's style dresses, using a period sewing machine, and wearing bonnets and hats. I still sew all my special occasion outfits and my daughters dresses. My designs are NOTHING like modern clothing, I create my own style based on different time periods. All I get are compliments and it makes me feel wonderful.

I too gravitated towards ”alternative” fashions as a teen, and still i couldn't escape the pressure of ”looking right”, even within those spaces, (any wierdo millenial/early gen z will remember the horrible emo image Tumblr etc. loved to portray of that aesthetic) I'm slowly unlearning all the harmful body images I had and still have, but making my own clothes and not shopping at fast fashion stores has helped me immensely tbh Thank you for this lovely video ❤ looking forward to the next one!

I agree ! there is a lack of compassion for our bodies the way they are . finding clothing to fit your body is so hard lately it makes you want to not even put on clothing sometimes.

I feel like there's a loveliness to people's faces that comes from slow familiarity that tends to get lost when we reduce a person to still images and the quick judgments of first impressions. I feel there is something incredibly important about coming to know a person's beauty through their mannerisms and expression rather than consuming them at a glance. This is also why, although I wear flamboyant clothing, I avoid recognizable categories, where I can. I want to remain individual and irreducible - to confront people with their inability to read me. Likewise, I view my face as rather pleasant, actually - but I improve upon acquaintance, and I'm proud of that. My goal isn't to turn heads when I walk into a room. It's to turn heads when I exit a sparkling conversation. Of course, I am more aesthetically attracted to certain people than others - especially at first meeting - and I also have more immediate sexual attraction to some bodies than others (often quite distinct from my aesthetic preferences). But I have never looked at someone I actually *know* and thought of them as unattractive - unless there was some deeper emotional baggage. For example, I have an ex whose features have come to feel "wrong" in the aftermath of the relationship, but that reflects the sense of betrayal I felt for how I was treated. It didn't bother me before, and it isn't the sort of physical feature that would bother me on anyone else. I assume it's a protective instinct to keep me from going back to that relationship. It certainly has no relation to how I viewed their looks when we first got together. In a sense, I learned to loathe them. But I do not generally feel that kind of aesthetic contempt, elsewhere. For me, it requires social and emotional context to view someone as ugly. (Edited for clarity.)

Oh man, yes clothing being made to accommodate body fluctuations is so important, and it's terrible that it's so much less common now! A lot of historical breeches and trousers have lacing or a buckle tab at the back of the waistband so it's easily adjustable, and I make all my everyday trousers like that too. I can change the waist size by 3 inches easily. The modern dress pants I alter at work are made so the waist can be easily altered, but it's still way more bother to take it to a tailor than to just tighten up some lacing or a buckle. And jeans usually don't even have a seam at the back of the waistband! Growing up I mostly felt awful about my body for gender reasons, and am much much more comfortable after transitioning, and it's absolutely horrible to know that there are whole industries out there trying to make people feel that bad on purpose just for some arbitrary beauty standard that'll change again in another few years.

Your video and Karolina's have really resonated with me. I've been considering wearing vintage/historical clothing for a while, & I think this helped me understand why I'm drawn to the idea. What I care about most is history, art, and knowledge, so those clothes would reflect my values. In the past all fashion was 'slow fashion', and was custom made or altered to fit and flatter the individual's natural body. It was a kind practice. Modern fashion tricks us into thinking our bodies are wrong & need fixed; that we should all fit into a limited size and shape range of pre-made plastic garments. It's a cruel practice. I never felt fulfilled in alternative fashion subcultures either. They're better than mainstream trend-chasing for fostering individiality, but they're equally unforgiving. Both mainstream and alternative fashion constantly seeks to declare people "not good enough" and uphold unachievable standards. Authentic dressing with a body neutral attitude should be what we all ascribe to, living for our true inner selves and our values, not just wearing whatever is 'in' at the moment.

I can truly understand what you went through when you were a teenager. I was pressured by my peers to try to make myself look like other girls. I was a flat chested girl. The boys were ruthless in their teasing because I had no breasts. Puberty just sort of missed that step for me. It made me feel uncomfortable with that part of my body. I did everything I could to hide the "problem". I had thought about breast augmentation, but decided that it would have been a frivolous expense and I should learn to live with it. I got breasts after I started having children. By then, I had stopped wearing store bought clothes for the most part. Most of my clothes are made by housewives who are trying to supplement their household income with a cottage industry. I don't really think that I have a style. I like historical fashion as well as vintage fashion. I also like my "Mennonite cape dresses" . For me, they are the equivalent of wearing joggers and a t'shirt.

Having a tough day today. Thank you for reminding me of my intrinsic worth.

I loved hearing your thoughts about fashion, compassion, and gratefulness today. I've been really appreciating older TV shows and British shows where people look like people not photo filtered faces. I am taking time to appreciate my wrinkles, pores, etc. I am a human with human complexion. 💜💛

I admire you very much. I am 71(!) and have been rejected by society since I hit my teens as a chubby teen when Twiggy was the queen goddess...Now I wear what I like wearing what is comfortable...What would help us as a collective is for us to not want so much...do I need 10 prs of slacks/jeans? I also think that sewing our own clothes is a good thing....I needed "homemade" nearly all my life since nothing was made for my body ... Now I personally like folk fashion...I still want to make a sarafan, I have been devising my own pattern....at 71 am I too old to go this way...into folk fashion as what I wear. I also like shawal and kameez, I have worn saris and have many thrifted ones .... I am so proud of you and the other women whom I follow on this great experiment of the internet...you have found you, and I feel that this was the goal of my generation's activism ....for you to be allowed to be you....

One of the reasons I stopped buying fast fashion and looked into options where the shop cut clothing to my size was because I spent more time and money tailoring them (and then they would wear out quickly) than I did at the store. I was so fed up with this and I was fed up knowing that the women who sewed these cheap garments were often paid little, mistreated and often sterilized. My first purchase at eShakti was eye-opening. Not only was my dress made to my measurements, it came with a piece of paper that had written down the names of the women who made my pattern, cut and sewed it, and made sure it was up to quality. It always costs more to get my clothes custom made, but at least I know I will have them for life. They fit me and I look great in them. Plus, whenever I see the names of the women who made my clothes, I know how much dedication went into making them. I send (via e-mail) my gratitude every time I make a purchase. I don't make purchases often, but I always make sure it's a garment I need.

As an older guy, I really appreciate you thoughts and concerns about modern fashion and the body image struggles you experience. You are very correct and insightful when say, "You are enough." I began watching your channel because I'm interesting in dressing period and status appropriate as a reenactor. As the father of a child with body image issues what you shared helps me to understand and help them. Thank you. I am also concerned about the problems of the fast fashion industry and pointless ad driven excessive consumption in general.

Thanks for posting this video and being so open. I'm a 61 year old woman that has struggled my whole life with body image and self acceptance. Everything you said really was thought provoking.

You know, I love historical fashion and try to combine this with 'modern' clothing. I watch youtube channels about vintage/ historical fashion. But most of them go for the real historical/ vintage accurete sewing/making etc etc. I sometimes feel the pressure to do exact they advise/showing it, I feel intimidated because of the skills most of them have. This is for me the same as wat you are telling about modern fashion. Great video. I am happy that you did this.😘👌🏼

I was easily overwhelmed by the pace trends were coming as well. My sister was an early adopter of much fashion trends, and always poking fun at me for being at least two years later in incorporating certain items into my wardrobe. But I just hold on Longer to my belongings, clothing included. I try to wear them as long as I can. I have since stopped trying to fit in and now only wear either handmade or thrifted clothing and I find that I have now found a style that makes me feel confident and myself in clothes that lean heavily to historic fashion. I have learned that when I stand in front of the mirror and ask myself the question ''do I want to fit in on earth of fit in on Middle Earth?'' it's the latter that wins every day now.

I come from a family of Buddhists myself so I'm honored to know that you practice it, and internalizing its many virtues! My grandma would be proud. As for how we can make deep meaningful changes, unfortunately, it's individuals against corporations so it's going to be tough. The ways I try to make meaningful changes is by using my right to vote for who I think may help regulate these companies. Supporting unions and small independent brands can help. I've been wanting to learn how to sew, especially clothes from Vietnam as my parents are immigrants. It'd be nice to experiment with different dynastic period but I'm just starting off with the basics. When it comes to making the Kazan Tatar video, take as much time as you need, I'm sure it'd be very illuminating to learn about!

you are an old soul, such understanding and compassion for one so young. I truly enjoy and thrive when watching your vlogs. I am in the process of getting patterns' reproduced from '40s' and '50s'. It is the era I feel most comfortable due to my large size and proportions. I love the way they look and the attraction is partway of what suits you according to psychological studies. Do not change who you are unless you are happy for the change. We love you the way you are and I know that I do here. Love from Canada.

I’ve been buying almost all my clothes and shoes second hand for the past 7 years now. Even my nice work clothes. It started because I couldn’t afford anything new but at some point it turned into a game I enjoy and find fulfillment in. ❤ and I love knowing I’m not adding to some of the problems of modern fashion. I find natural fabrics like silk, wool, linen and cotton whenever possible. I

I wear my era of clothing because for me it is practical, I can work in them on my small homestead,go to town when I need, church too. Glad you did this video.❤

Thank you Vasi, for putting so beautifully and compassionately into words the feeling that I think many of us who appreciate vintage/historical fashion and beauty feel inside, but is sometimes hard to express in an eloquent and non judgmental way. I too love the fact that in days of old you were given resources to "fit" the fashionable image, in the form of undergarments and padding, without usually having so much pressure to "alter" your body into that shape permanently. The concept of a much more human idea of "fashion" is I think so important, because human bodies (making a generalization here, but I would say especially female bodies) are constantly changing, through phases of life and health, and it can be so hard to deal with the way that impacts on your external appearance. I gained a lot of weight due to health issues some time ago, thankfully I have once again lost a lot of it and I am at a place I feel more healthy and attractive again, but now I have the trouble that I have all these baggy clothes! :P I will be adjusting some, parting with others, but mostly I plan to begin making myself a vintage style wardrobe that is much more forgiving to my body, and will hopefully accommodate any future fluctuations I may have with my body more forgivingly. I personally really enjoy the 1940s-1960s vintage aesthetic myself, but I also appreciate and have a great deal of interest in more historical styles, like you wear so beautifully. I am so glad that you have made progress over the years with your own body image challenges, and as one random lady on the internet to another, I think you are very beautiful, and you look wonderful in your lovely wrappers and dresses and clothing that you wear and have made. You are an inspiration, and we are all lucky to be able to share a little bit of your life and perspective.

I have always dressed differently from my peers, but fortunately I'm neurodivergent and it makes it a whole lot easier for me to have a healthy body image and wear whatever I want. I just don't really understand the desire to "fit in," I don't know how to be anything but myself, and don't know why I would want to not be myself. I'm not an overly social being and prefer to be alone, so I won't even notice if I'm being ostracised for being different, let alone be scared of that happening. When I was a teen, one of my good friends decided she wanted to "fit in" and stopped talking to me and completely changed how she looked and dressed. I just didn't understand, and still don't, and it was really confusing for me to loose her as a friend and sad see her struggle so much to fit in when she was already such a cool, funny and interesting person. Anyway, not having that desire means I am very comfortable wearing clothes that aren't trendy, and instead wear clothes that match my body type, natural skin tone, personal preferences and the activity I plan on doing. With that being said, I have caught the desire for thinness from my family culture growing up and the media I do consume. So I do still feel self-conscious of my muffin top, belly pooch and jiggly thighs. The thing I have found most helpful in accepting my body is reminding myself that this is how I should look. I am on the lower end of a healthy weight for a woman of my age and height, I just have a natural hourglass shape and that comes with jiggles, a belly pooch and a muffin top. If I were to loose those things, I would be unhealthily thin. When I feel myself beginning to focus on those things, I tell the mirror "this is how I should look" and when I see images of people who do fit the thin beauty ideal, I remind myself it is not possible to look like that and be healthy. Getting into history bounding has helped me too, now I have a better understanding of the kinds of illusions and tricks I can pull with my clothes and that has also helped me understand what I can do to feel better about my body without changing it. I love making my own clothes, but where previously I would make clothes that I just liked, now I make clothes I like, and know will accentuate my body in a way I like, while smoothing over features I'm a little more self conscious about. Its awesome and you have been a part of that journey, so thank you for being you, and for having the courage to push back against the social pressure to conform.

The message of this video is SO powerful and truly touched my little animist heart when you talked about connecting with our clothes and those who made them 🖤

Recently I decluttered my wardrobe from everything that no longer fits. My mum said 'so, will you buy new clothes? Now you have space' and I said 'no. I'm gonna make them'. My favourite skirts are the ones I made myself and are adjustable. If something doesn't fit anymore I can fix it if I made it. I take meds that made me gain a lot of weight. I feel the best in midi adaptations of 1890s walking skirts. I want to sew myself summer dress and 'coquelicot' skirt. I also have wide hips and thighs and no trousers fit me. So I prefer to wear skirts. It really important to wear what makes YOU happy, not other people. Because, all in all, you are with your thoughts for the whole life. Others change and go.

What a beautiful message. I know you said it wasn't your intention to convert, but watching your videos has been giving me the confidence to start transitioning to a more historical (more bounding, to be honest) wardrobe and I've never felt more comfortable in my clothes. Just wanted to say thank you for that ❤

I really never was on trend with anything for my teens and early 20s but always felt like we had to buy into it. I was a few years behind on the skinny jean trend and never really figured out why I didn't like them. Thanks to pandemic and social media I learned about historical clothing and fast fashion and fabrics and so much. It's one of my favorite hobbies now to keep learning. But thanks to it I finally got to connect with the fashion of the historical women I always looked up to. It also has been a transition because I feel like I still need to dress down around people sometime. I feel comfortable in dresses and more "dressed up" but have friends that haven't found their comfort yet in their bodies and sometimes judge me. I also have been looking very closing at measurements and sizing up in my clothing purchases so that I can more likely keep them forever. I love the clothes I buy now and spend a lot of time deciding on if it is something actually useful. Ideally I'll start to seew my own clothes one day but I'm starting small with dog blankets 😅 Thank you for the wonderful videos and your wise thoughts on this one especially! 😊

I applaud your clarity and confidence in your journey. I have made similar discoveries and today embrace an ethic of simplicity in two dimensions: a work uniform consisting of jeans and a telnyashka, and a public uniform of jeans and a white dress shirt - with a bowtie for Quaker meeting. And if the fashion industry sees me as an inadequate consumer, I can but smile to myself. Peace be with you!

My love for fashion and and fashion history has lead to the deep feeling of connection to my sisters around the globe! Working with fibers is an ancient practice worldwide, it’s sacred way of celebrating life’s seasons.

It’s crazy to me that we could all be wearing POTATO SACKS if we wanted to, but instead humans have figured out how to make the clothes we put on our bodies more prettier or custom to our tastes. Or to feel soft against our skin, or to look amazing at a ball. Idk why that thought is so amazing to me. I’ve gotten hand me downs that I see are fast fashion, and I like to think others are now doing the same with the more longer lasting pieces. I constantly have anxiety over the earth dying 😩 lol so I like to think me using some pieces from fast fashion as hand me downs and sewing my wardrobes from now on will make some type of minuscule difference 🥺 Thanks for making this video! I always love your work and am always telling people IRL about “the lady on RU-vid WHO SEWS HISTORICAL CLOTHING BY HAND BRO” 😂 (You’re forever my hero for that last bit 🤣)

Thank you for this video, especially your words at the end, it brought me to tears. You definitely put quite some thought and care into this, and I so appreciate this short and sweet video. I've always been one that went against the grain when it came to fashion, I was even bullied for it as a child and in high school. But that never stopped my desire for simple and practical, yet beautiful, elegant and even sophisticated clothes which I would end up finding in thrift stores (which was all my family could afford as a young girl). I struggled with making my own clothes (my mom's teaching style clashed with my learning needs, unbeknownst to us at the time), but didn't ever feel the need to since whenever my mom bought me something, I would wear it for years and years afterward. In fact, to this day, I still have clothes I've been wearing since high school, which has been over a decade ago (except now I think it's time for a new wardrobe, since most of them are getting quite worn). What I'd like to do is work on pieces more from the Middle Ages. As much as I truly love and appreciate the Tutor, Victorian, Edwardian, and even more modern eras, nothing else has truly spoken to me as much as the one timeline we know the least about. Granted, I'm obsessed with the Pre-Tutor Medieval gowns, my mom even made me one for my wedding, but the 500-800 European period frocks really speak to me for every day wear. If anyone has any suggestions and/or can point me in the direction of creators who work with clothes from that time period, that would be stupendous, considering how rare it is to even find articles of clothing from that era. Again, thank you for your video, I guess I didn't realize how much I needed to hear from someone I admire, like you, tell me that I am still worthy and my body is beautiful and perfect the way it is. I've never been morbidly obese, but I've always been slightly overweight, and only recently got up to slightly obese a couple of years before the pandemic, and it's been a challenge to not hate myself or my body as a result of not finding cute clothes that speak to me in my size (hence the reason I've kept most of my clothes from years ago). So once again, thank you for being so kind, you are doing a superb job with your goal of having and being more compassionate in your life, I certainly felt that watching this. Keep being and doing you because you, too, are enough and worthy!

For every man that makes a comment, there's 100 men who love what you are doing and do not leave a comment. Keep on being you, and keep on inspiring us all.

Thank you for sharing. The compulsion to fit in came from wanting people to enjoy my company, to make other people at ease, to feel useful just making people happy

Thank you for being vulnerable and open about this important topic. I'm glad that things have gotten better for you and it's nice to have hope about things getting better for others as well. 💛

I really love your compassionate nature. I also really appreciate that you support people expressing themselves however makes them happy, and not harmful to themselves or others. Your channel and content are wonderful. Take care.

I love how you explain fashon, the reality of it. I love your style. It makes me happy to see you express your self. My style is also historical. It makes me happy. 1910 to 1920. Iagree with you. Hugs. Have a good day.

I've been teaching myself to sew clothes over the past several years, very slowly, and it is just as liberating as you say and has helped so much with my self image. I really appreciate everything you brought up in this video and am so inspired by your mentality and approach. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

I am a man, and I feel like most of my wardrobe reflects what I like, but I definitely feel tired of getting an outfit together in the first place. Everyday I see the joke of a closet with the same outfit 10+ times more reasonable!🤣 I think the biggest beauty standard I dealt with is early baldness. My hair started to recede and not really fall out but more like, if a little fell out like normal, it wasn't coming back. this started when I was 17. I do some hair treatments to keep what I have but I am at the point where I don't really care because I think my face looks great and hair isn't too important to me anymore. I have thought about wearing a toupe, and I wouldn't care about telling people I am wearing it, but it would literally make more people say things about my head than if i didn't wear one, even if it were high quality and real looking. less people say anything about baldness if you show them the bald than if you hide it, which makes no sense because now we are stressing people to get medical treatments that are potentially worse for their health.

tbh, the way in which commercial fast fashion works has recently made me turn 180 toward thrifting and trying to make my own clothing. It's mostly about lack of compassion, yes, but also about quality\longevity of the clothing piece I own. It feels like we're not meant to get personal with the garments we own - they come in weird sizes or shapes, they don't serve us for long and are not really meant for mending 'cuz they're made of worse materials which don't really hold up. On the other hand, creating a new piece of clothing or altering an existing one gives you a particular feeling... idk, like getting a voice? Not mentioning that even if it's one of the first garments you've ever made and it's faulty and newbie-ish, it still holds better and serves for much longer than an average fast fashion garment.

One thing I've been working on a lot lately is how to style and remake fast fashion to be more forgiving of size fluctuation, for me currently that means a lot of pinafore dresses over tops that are too small to wear with jeans, for example.

I stumbled on your videos just last night after watching a very distinguished gentleman who is the producer and creator of " Modern History" ... his videos are absolutely wonderful ... the theme is medieval knighthood ... following his videos was your medieval dinning for a week ... I do in fact have clothing from past time periods from the vikings to the American War Between the States ... I am amazed at the freedom of movement afforded when wearing these outfits .... my civil war uniform is so unrestricted! I can mount a horse more easily than when wearing modern 'cowboy' jeans and western shirts ... my stomach is freed from that constant constriction that is so prevalent with wearing almost all modern apparel... my linen Bagpiping shirt is a delight to wear whose type and design seems to have stayed consistent from medieval times to the late 1800' s ( that should really tell us something) ... I see the need for cover, comfort, full range of bodily motion and durability ( I've used only three shirts for 15 years in hard conditions of simulated combat . I wash one and then line dry ... then immediately ready to bagpipe graveside funeral services and even wear one clean' as a nightshirt) ... though more of a perspective from the feminine side your philosophical aspect is universal...... great videos !

I was not expecting the burst of inspiration this video gave me!! I have a deep appreciation for the art of garment making, right now I’m learning how to sew. I also want to learn about historical/folk clothing around the world, now I have motivation! Hehe

You seem so strong within yourself that it is surprising to learn you've struggled. Glad you've overcome! I greatly enjoy that the fashion you find most comfortable also brings history to life.

absolutely love this! i think a lot of our consumption habits (or addictions) stem from this external idea that our bodies need a kind of fixing and fast fashion only offers a temporary satisfaction of that until the next trend cycle reminds us that our bodies are still bad. it doesn't haven't to be historical or vintage fashion for everyone, but there's value in stepping back and thinking about your preferences and tastes and making the effort to find what you like, even/especially if it's outside of the mainstream.

It was lovely listening to you today. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. I have always been dressed differently even as a child. Because I was smaller than most children in my class, my mom had most of my dresses either sewn from patterns or sometimes store bought ones altered to fit. I loved my seamstress she always made growth tucks in my clothes. I got to pick the patterns out and definitely loved the styles of the 40s and 50s best. By the time I became a teen I taught myself to sew and started sewing to my own drum. I sewed several 1850-60 dresses. and wore them to school including my aunties petticoats from the 50s she gave me. Though I flirted with bought clothing as a mid teen I then discovered ethnic clothing of India and had friends teach me to sew them... I haven't followed fashion since... I will sometimes buy clothing for the fabric from the thriftstore or just fabric itself, or from smaller fabric stores online as I only wear natural fibers, but when I sew definitely vintage or antique styles and/or ethnic. I also love Kimono. Compassion I agree is something that would change much in the whole textile industry. I practice Shinto and being mindful of thanking all who produce/create/grow the things we use wether food, household or clothing is also a part of that. So understand.

You continue to amaze me with every video of yours I watch. You are an excellent messenger, and you radiate centeredness and an authentic sense of self. Your calm, still way of speaking truth to power is energizing and empowering. Thank you, *so* much 💗

Thank you so much for your clearly expressed thoughts. You are truly inspiring and indeed full of compassion.

Oh my goodness this actually made me cry in a good way, with relief. So many of my students, and friends struggle with body image and clothing. I have always felt much more comfortable in historical garb and when I discovered how undergarments and padding worked, It changed my whole idea of how to wear almost everything. Thank you so much for this.

This is a beautiful video, with a beautiful, wonderful, compassionate sentiment. Thank you so much.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. They’re very comforting and supportive to someone trying to work up the courage to flout the uncomfortable norms.

I'm enjoying how you think. You also have a very calming voice. I've been thinking lately about how to make my clothes last my life out, and I'm starting to be very curious about how historical clothing adapts to changing bodies. Thank you for the encouragement to keep thinkng about it.

I attended an Easter Vigil last night. Held a mini beeswax candle for about 3 hours! Traditional Catholic monastery and so surprising there were a lot of kids and babies at a service that ended just short of midnight! You are right that what we wear matters... Looking around at church, I notice that people actually put EFFORT into looking nice. Yes it is to honor God, but it also adds so much to our humanity too!!

One of the best videos I have seen in a while, V. Thank you for sharing!

I just found you and so glad I did. I have a degree in Fashion. I love your honesty. You speak the truth about fast fashion. So many people are afraid to go against the grain. You are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work. You are right fashion is so individual and we should treat it that way.

Vasi, You are such a beautiful woman, inside and out ❤ I wanted to comment about this video right after I watched it. But, I was so emotionally inspired by you, and made to feel so many emotions, I felt it best to sit with all the feelings for a day or two. I am so proud of you. I have such a enormous amount of gratitude for you, for you sharing your experiences and feelings. You have so much grace in the way you speak, and the way share parts of what you have gone through in life. I love that you also share how you have grown and how you are learning to settle in to your true self. The fact that you are honest about the work you do to find that inner voice and self worth, it's beautiful! It can be painful, because you make us feel yours and our own truths and hurt and strength.... thank you. You are a gift to so many people. I am so grateful and happy that I found your channel! I feel that you offer so much to all of us watching you and are a treasure to those close to you. With a sincere heart, Audri

I loved this video and can relate to it a lot. I have changed to wearing historical inspired clothing and only buying from small businesses. Due to early menopause I have gone from being very thin (a body shape valued by society) to much curvier and felt like a failure and ‘not beautiful’. Modern clothing-despite the size in the label-is not designed for the curves of a bigger woman’s body. With historically inspired clothing I am loving my body again and feeling beautiful just as I am.

I love hearing your opinion on this! I haven’t bought new clothes since 2018. I agree with you on the environmental problem that there is with fast fashion plus I don’t like modern fashion. To me the great majority is ugly, except for some. I wish I had a whole wardrobe of Victorian antiques and reproductions. Maybe one day! I still have hope. 💚

What i have been working on myself is telling me itis the clothes that dont work for my body if i dont like it, not that my body doesnt work for the garment. Clothes fit us not the other way around. So i might get a size bigger to accommodate me and then ill alter it to fit me as i like. I do unfortunately still use shopping as a coping mechanism but while working on it i try to buy mostly 2nd hand stuff. Ive also been looking at my wardrobe as a fashion collection so one day i might be my trad gothy self, the following i go more romantic, go for a more baroque look the next., etc.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, philosophies and practices. I am always glad to see how much you genuinely care about your content; and, I appreciate the work you put into your videos!

your journey with fashion & beauty standards is so relatable for me! as a compessionate being and wanting to change my life to fit what i want is truly not easy but such videos as this help me with that! Thank you✨🌷

I love how genuine and heartfelt your videos always are! Also your style is incredibly inspiring even though it’s quite different than mine. I love seeing people unafraid to be true to themselves. 💚

That's so great, I'm so excited to hear it. It was what I was certanly searching out of internet, unfortunately in my country and language I couldn't find someone explainning what modern fashion is doing with everyone; how it affects the mind of a society. Thank you so much, gave to me more words, gave to me a organized description that I couldn't do with my words.

Thank you! I subscribed to your account instantly! I am a buddhist as well and the way you discussed clothing and fashion hit me deeply on a spiritual level. I am very happy that I found your account today

Thank you so much for this video. I appreciate your message of compassion and love of slower fashion. It's something I would like to work towards myself. I also love that historical clothes as well as some other alternative fashions are more forgiving of changing bodies.

I pressed Play on this video as I was getting ready for my day. As you started telling your story, I took of my PJs and put on my chemise. I laced up my fancy kirtle as you told us about Karolina's video (which I've also watched!). I just put on my woolen overdress - it's cold outside today. I'm planning on going out to downtown Bucharest to see an expo by upcoming Romanian fashion designers, maybe meet with a friend. And I will do so wearing linen and wool that I've stitched myself into an outfit worthy of a middle class 13th century woman. I am comfortable, and warm, and can face the world as I am.

Thank you so much for this video. Ever since I went through puberty, I have had more of a cuvy figure which has made it difficult to find modern clothes that fit right. Many years ago, I got into vintage style and I'm talking from 30s-80s and now always prefer wearing vintage over modern because they just fit so much better!

Thank you for so articulately speaking the beliefs that I have had in my heart for years. I do not follow fashion trends. I wear the items that feel right for me. I love to sew but I don’t make my own clothes any more. I take ready-made items and alter them so they feel right for me. I love your channel.

I love this video! I have personally always had a hard time connecting to my body, & for most of my life felt it was nothing more than a vehicle for my conscience. When I was younger I cycled through many different styles trying to find The One that would finally feel right. I went through a phase where I mostly wore 18th century style dresses made from costume patterns; a Japanese Decora phase; a Classic Lolita phase; a Natural Kei phase, etc... But I was never able to find something that didn't feel, as you said, like a costume to me because I felt that my body in itself was a costume that my mind was wearing. I have only started feeling more connected to my body in the past few years since deciding to take up aerial dance, & learning to be more appreciative of what my body is capable of. Since then, I have come to realize that I feel happiest wearing preowned, preloved clothing that comes with a history behind it. It makes me feel more connected to the world & to other people to know that I am touching the same fabric that once brushed the skin of another, wholly complete person, with their own dreams and struggles and ideas. My style is now wildly inconsistent as I no longer pressure myself to purchase things that fit into one particular aesthetic (I enjoy everything from 1930's vintage all the way up to contemporary fashion castoffs at the thrift store), but the one consistent thread is that everything I wear now is either secondhand, sewn by me, or altered by me to fit better & make it more personal. I find that in buying vintage & secondhand, I am also more careful with my clothes & take extra care to mend them and make sure they last, which has given me so much more of a deeper appreciation for the technology and craftsmanship that went their making. I rarely feel the urge to buy clothes anymore, as I am happy caring for and wearing the items I already own (though I do still enjoy sewing as a creative endeavor). As a lover of self-expression, there is nothing more beautiful to me than seeing someone express their truest self, whether that be through clothing or another outlet. Thank you for making this video; although my body struggles have been a bit different to that of yours, I still felt the impact of your words & they resonated deeply with me ❤

Excellent! I only wear natural fabric with a mix of modern and historical.

Thank you so much, Vasi, for such a thoughtful video. Those of us who sew have a wonderful gift that we can give ourselves in expressing our creativity and, through fit and design choices, we also develop a deep connection with our bodies as they are and as we would like to present them to the world. I would encourage those who sew to be generous in teaching those skills to others who are interested, which will, I think, start to change minds and attitudes, at least on a small scale.

Thank you for your honest and personal statement. Much of it rang very true for me, especially having raised two daughters in a fast fashion world.

I'm SO excited to learn more about your ancestral culture and textiles!!!

Youre the best honestly. I loved this video and appreciate the effort it must have taken!!❤

Great video, really interesting to hear someone else's clothing journey. Also on another note, I really enjoy your communication and video style - you're very good at creating a balance between a mellow mood while still keeping things interesting.

I relate to this so much. Learning to sew my own clothing and getting into historical fashion has helped me disconnect from the pressures of modern fashion and beauty standards. Lately I've been researching the history and current state of fashion industry and it's such a mess and very much a daunting problem to solve. Especially with the fashion industry that's so massive and powerful, the "vote with your wallet" does literally nothing. Changing the industry needs structural change. One of the biggest and hardest things that needs to be done to make the fashion industry better is to dismantle colonialism. The fashion industry was initially built on it and it still is very much tied to it. Modern colonialism exploits cheep labour in poor countries, transfers profits to rich countries and floods the market with their cheep products killing any local industry, so the people stay poor and easily exploited. It's not just fast fashion that engages in this, though they are the most blatant and extreme about it, it's the whole industry, even most brands that are supposedly ethical and sustainable. And it's not like we who sew our clothing ourselves can fully escape it either, since most fabric production also engages in this colonialism. Dismantling colonialism as a whole is not easy and won't happen overnight (probably not in any of our life time if we're being realistic), but it absolutely should be everyone's long term political goal. What everyone in rich countries, who benefit from colonialism, could do now, is to support legislation that regulates the fashion industry. US being the biggest economic global power of course has the most power in this, but for example EU regulations (I'm mentioning this because it's relevant to me as I live in a EU country) also have a global effect as it is globally significant market and international companies would not want to loose that market, so they would have to at least partially comply. Regulation can only get us so far, but the fashion industry is really poorly regulated so it's a good place to start. Currently (at least in EU) the companies only have to disclose the content of the materials used and the production country, but any transparency about the sourcing of the materials and the production chain is fully optional. I think it would be super important to force every clothing company to release their chain of production and sources of their materials as well as data of their energy usage and other environmental effects. Currently the study about the environmental effects and working conditions of the fashion industry is very lacking since the industry is allowed to be so secretive. Many of the big players especially tend to only give their data to pro-industry organizations who produce very biased and manipulative studies and rating systems meant obscure the true effects of the industry from the public. This would also make upholding any further and current regulations easier. Current regulations about slavery and child labour are basically impossible to uphold as the burden of information gathering is on the enforcers. Some other regulations that I think would be beneficial are limiting the usage of plastic (I admit it's hard to legislate since ban on all plastic use would not be helpful but I think it's really important to find a way to limit it's use in the fashion industry) and outright ban textiles that have fibres made in the viscose method (I like rayon and viscose, but viscose method is super toxic and causes really bad health and environmental issues to the areas it's produced in, and there's non-toxic methods to do rayon now). Other things that could be done with local politics everywhere is to support small local textile producers and local craftmanship with governmental money, so they could become at least somewhat competitive with the international companies that produce abroad and also take their profits (and tax money) abroad. Even when done in rich countries it would eventually have positive effect on those exploited by colonialism, as rich countries would become less reliant on the exploitation of their labour. A longer term harder goal that I think would be really important to not just when it comes to the fashion industry, but much more broadly too, would be to eliminate tax heavens. This would need international political action and all powerful international companies that most benefit from them would resist this in any way they can, so it would be hard to implement. I know literally nothing about corporate law and accounting, but I know that the way these corporations avoid taxes and then dominate over local and small businesses, is by transferring profits and losses between subsidiaries and parent companies, which is somehow legal. If that was made illegal, we could mostly eliminate tax heavens without having to try to enforce international laws on every tax heaven, which would be hard and imo a bit questionable. There has been talk about international minimum tax rate as a solution for tax heavens, which I think is a step in right direction, but I think it would be really easy to get around. While I don't think any individual action can really change anything in the fashion industry, I think there are ways we can have positive impact with our individual actions. The first step I think is to get away from the mindset that your consumption habits can ever have any positive impact on the environment. Whatever you buy, even if it's something immaterial thing like an e-book or service like getting a massage, it will in one way or another cause an environmental effect even if by only supporting the system that's destroying the world (as an extreme example, buying an e-book, but from Amazon). Everything else is green-washing corporate propaganda. This does not mean we should never buy anything, that's literally impossible, just that we should never conflate consumption with environmental action. While I broadly encourage anyone to limit their consumption, even that doesn't have positive environmental effect. Not doing something is neutral, so it can't have positive effect and it alone can't really change anything. I think it good to be mindful of your buying habits, but since this has such non-impact on the whole system, I don't think it's more important anyone's happiness or comfort. You can have much better impact if you put your energy into political action not scrutinizing your buying habits. One thing anyone can do though, is to buy from local producers and artisans. While it won't fix the industry, I think for future of clothing production I think it's important to preserve craftsmanship skills and local production, which the industry is killing.

I love and agree with everything you’re saying. I wish I was as well spoken as you are. I would love to repeat this message to others who ask me about my clothing- which often stands out.

Thank you for this Vossy. I’m sharing it with my teenage daughter.

Thank you for your compassionate wisdom. I echo the liberation to be found in wearing what makes one happy rather than conforming.

Loved the video and your message. I feel so much better when I wear my vintage clothing. Modern fashion with Logos and all the trends were never really for me. In High school I wore them to fit in and make friends but now I wear what makes me happy. I am also an introvert, so I sometimes feel alone with the way I dress and carry myself. I just feel that sometimes nobody understands me. I live in Florida and dress in Vintage England type clothing. I am always getting comments on why I am dressed up when really, it's how I dress every day. It's because other people around me have on shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. Thanks again for the meaningful video. Hugs.

Just found your channel V. Birchwood I’m looking forward to diving into more of your videos! I also was wondering if you could do a video of danish fashion history. I just got back into sewing and would love to learn more about my heritage through your channel. Keep up the fantastic work!

I LOVED this This is my first video of yours I've seen but I'm a fan Wonderful commentary, intelligent and also personal 🙏🙏

I found this video very interesting and I agree with your viewpoint. Growing up, I think it is safe to say that I was somewhat unaware of 'fashion'. As a kid, I wrecked all of my clothes because I climbed a lot. My mother had a very definite idea of what her little girl was supposed to look like and behave like and I definitely fitted neither image. I went from too young to understand there was such a thing as image, but knew my mother had a problem, to being old enough to understand and totally disagree. My poor mother! As a teenager, I very early started embroidering everything, including my brother's t-shirts, and making clothes out of what I already had - jeans into a skirt (I never wore... just didn't wear skirts) and a bag, for instance. And most of the time, I just wore jeans and a t-shirt - easy, simple, comfortable, no need for ironing. Or in moments of finding stuff, I went to work in a kung-fu outfit, or a fabulous Indian dress, etc. It had to be something that I had seen that really struck me. This brings me to a person I know who is no longer in their twenties. They are not old, just older. As a younger person, they followed fashion very closely, bought the latest and cheapest (since they would only be wearing it once or twice), shopped weekly, etc. Now that they are older (and I repeat, they are not old, just not in their twenties), they have been running into the problem that their body has changed, but the fashion items they normally bought have stayed for the body of their twenties. It is causing a sort of identity crisis and a lot of turmoil and upset. I think it is very difficult for many people to adapt to the reality of their own bodies and that is terrible. We have one body and we need to care for it and take care of it and most important, accept it. It is the one thing we truly own. So, having described two extremes of attitude towards 'fashion', I think what you say in your video applies to all, regardless of style. As a teen, I believed I was possibly overweight (I was not, I've seen pictures, hahaha), that my body proportions were all wrong for a girl (think Twiggy from the 70's or Jane Birkin) and I was taller than all of the kids in my classes until about 14yo. These are all 'problems' teens and young adults have in some form or other but the fashion trends of the 20th and 21st centuries just make these into real problems not simply the growing phase of adolescence. I hope videos like yours and those of so many other historical costume/clothing creators will help many people re-think their body image in terms of its beauty regardless of what the 'norms' of the day are. I think re-introducing the idea of shaping the silhouette rather than the actual body is a winner. If only someone could manage to make it into a trend that takes off. I don't like shopping, but I do like walking around shops, and have decided to make my own clothes - I'm a painter, not a sewist, so it has been an interesting exercise that seems to have more to do with engineering than with sewing. There is a big difference between making something into something else and starting from a flat piece of fabric. Not everyone can or wants to make clothes and as you said, not everyone can buy more expensive, locally made or ethically-made clothes, but if those who can, do, then we're on the winning trend.

watching you and so many others in the historical fashion world made me start thinkig more about my clothing. im like modern and vintage fashion both and always have; buying 2nd hand was taboo where i grew up; you were "a poor kid" if you got 2nd hand clothes so i went straight to fast fashion as a teen. as i grew up, i noticed the constant change in seasonal fashion and thought it was insane! i just bought this, and now its "so last year" so i stopped caring. i moved away and found my own personal fashion. the waste of the fashion industry boggles me the most, so i switched to ONLY buying 2nd hand and thrift. i now only buy new socks, underwear and bras. everything else i purchase is previously owned. there is MORE then enough clothes in the world for us all, so about 8 years ago, i vowed to no purchase new clothing anymore. if there is something I see in a modern department store of clothing store; ill go find something similar 2nd hand. no daily fashion seems to actually be NEW, but rather reworked from previous decades; i really started noticing when 90's and '00 fashion was showing up again. its my way of adding a little less waste from clothing to the world, and not supporting the slave labor used to make fast fashion garments

Thank you for such a thoughtful and beautifully articulated video. I appreciate kindly wanting to be inclusive of differing needs and viewpoints but giving some food for thought. It was also interesting to find out your Buddhist beliefs because it was pleasantly unexpected. I’m a new viewer, so maybe you’ve shared that some of that part of your life before. Overall, thank you for sharing yourself with me and others. ❤

This so cool! Your experiment with trying to try past historical fashion is indeed very interesting.

I would love tto see a breakdown of garments that can fluctuate with weight! You are so right about modern clothing and the fabric it's made of is just terrible! Falling apart after a few washes, such a waste of money!

*I MAKE BESPOKE HISTORICAL MENSWARE 1900 - 1930* I don't have a website or Instagram, as I get absolutely swamped with requests. People are definitely becoming more aware of their clothes - more than just the fashion of them, aware of the materials, sustainability, ethics, investment et cetera. The one thing, I wish people would realise, and this was personified in your makeover, historical clothes are more comfortable than modern clothes, not the other way round.

Before discovering your channel, I had decided to make all my clothes. I wanted comfortable styles in natural fabrics. Even going so far as to stop wearing modern underwear. Its not comfortable or durable. Looking forward to enjoying more of your videos.

you are amazing and you are giving me a lot of inspiration and happiness, thank you!

It's like seeing a younger version of myself in you. From your ideas about fashion and the modern fashion industry to body issues thanks to my 'egg donor'. You are not alone in your beliefs and reflections. There are many of us who are alike.

Much appreciated commentary. Excellent. Thank you. I like to wear muumuus and gowns with no waist because it eliminates my anxiety of my body being judged by the nameless public. As a teen, I found bras uncomfortable so have worn one only two weeks of my life. Even my sport bras are uncomfortable. After finding vintage clothing channels I find that traditional corsets make much more sense. Now that time has done its thing with my breasts, going without support also has some drawbacks. I'm thinking of taking the challenge to make a corset,

What a beautiful and eloquent video! Thanks for sharing this important message with your audience.

I’m just the last year or two I’ve started to look past what’s new and trendy. It felt very suffocating to try to fit in and keep up. I think I understand now that I was just trying to make up for not being able to buy the “right” clothes when I was a kid. I’m now exploring well made linen dresses that I truly love even though I really look out of place in Target haha. I’m very excited because I’m very close to finishing my first ever hand sewn garment which is a petticoat to wear under my dresses! It’s a big shift for me to be excited to wear a petticoat when it’s not “fashionable” but I feel a strange amount of peace about it :)