This week, The Great British Sewing Bee managed to push the climate agenda into its otherwise harmless show in what was termed “Reduce, Re-use, Recycle Week”.
Sewers were given three tasks “focused on the environment and sustainability”: first to create underpants from old t-shirts; second to transform material intended for landfill into “a garment with drama at the back”; and third to make outfits with an environmental message.
The third challenge was by far the most ideologically heavy-handed. “Throughout history, fashion has been used as a tool for protest, a statement for resistance and a spark for social change,” began presenter Sophie Willan, introducing the task to contestants. “So the judges want you to create an outfit with an environmental message that’s close to your heart.”
When quizzed later about the impetus for the challenge, Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant told Willan: “Fashion designers have always been people that are kind of very socially engaged, and a big part of that is them having strong views on all sorts of things, and they want to put those forward through the clothes that they make.”
Luckily the designers didn’t seem to mind having their “strong views” decided for them by the judges and programme creators. “It is incredibly important to be environmentally conscious. Because we’re killing the planet,” one sewer was filmed saying. Another making a “Save Our Seas” protest dress was asked by Grant: “Why is the plastic thing so important to you?” She replied: “It’s so detrimental to the animals and the beauty of the sea.”...<<<Read More>>>...
