Sew What?: How Art Can Turn Angst into Activism
by Loureyna Pablo
It feels like every day we wake up to a horrifying headline. Or two. Or more. With bad news in our faces and on our screens incessantly, life can feel all out of control. Constant overwhelm is so exhausting.
Desperately trying to ground myself in order and peace has seldom done wonders for me. It feels like a hunt for something nonexistent. What if instead of wildly searching everywhere for a remedy, we just have to lean into the messiness of our own selves?
I have always been into arts and crafting (lately that is writing, sewing, collaging and ceramics). Though for most things, my talent is middle-school prodigy at best. But self-acceptance has freed me. I have found that letting go of perfection has allowed me to relax, finding solace and empowerment in the act of making things.
My junk journal is unorganized? My ceramic mug is wonky-looking? So what? That is a part of the art.
Once I get past that wall of insecurity, I gain access to a soothing feeling of control. I get to creatively decide what happens and what does not. With the relentless genocide of Palestinians, the chaos of the U.S. government and other things even further out of my reach, I channel all my guilt, rage and fear into a burning productivity of something I can grasp in front of me.
With sewing, my current hobby, I have the agency to turn my angst into activism. For my first pair of skinny jeans turned baggy — achieved through the power of sewing — I accented them with embroidered flames and statements of “ABOLISH ICE” and “NO KINGS,” scrappily stitched on the sides. In a time when media coverage is spotty and communities are being erased, I have to use at least an ounce of my privilege to project what others cannot safely say.
While it is a bit censored so that I can wear it to my workplace, the jeans have helped me spark meaningful discussions. Because of the jeans, I have talked with coworkers about the No Kings protest that took place in June, and some of my peers have felt inspired to create again.
Chaffey alumna Tiffany Benitez, a friend who I met in Environmental Biology, discussed with me how activism plays a role in her work. She aims to create work that reflects the bubbly and positive light she wants to be in this world.
Her process is slightly different than mine, as she does not vent out her negative feelings directly in her art; but the intent in her creation comes from the urge to remind those that “forgot what it is to live, love or respect.” Especially considering current issues we have discussed — including the threat of climate change our class explored — using art to call others’ attention to what is going on in the world is how she finds it to be an expressive tool for activism.
Sewing has allowed me to DIY how I express myself and gives me control instead of yielding it to big brands. Lately, big brands and trends have begun to reflect a societal shift toward conservatism’s restraint and gendered roles. I challenge those confining ideals when making clothes that empower my character. Against the backdrop of the current government, creation can stand out as a bold “f*** you” to vile politics that obsess over identity.
Additionally, sewing my own clothes serves as a counter to the rise of big companies rapidly mass manufacturing fashion. I incorporate environmentalism into my work by thrifting fabrics that would end up in a landfill. Using what you have and what could be repurposed are accessible and sustainable ways of creating (bonus, you are rebelling against overconsumption.)
I used to struggle making my sewing look professional and clean. Mistakes in sewing are unlike painting, where messiness can easily be perceived as intentionally abstract. My stitches are crooked and sleeves can be so uneven that the work is nearly unflattering — but what I make is raw, and it is real and it is me. For sewing and any other art or craft, imperfection is the most sacred marking of humanity’s touch. How could I live if perfectionism never lets me try?
I do not make anything that rocks the world or is revolutionary. Even with hours of practice and watching Nava Rose sewing DIYs, my work is still a far cry from ending up in a fashion show or going viral for its commendable political messages.
And sew what? I am not doing it for the sake of fame. Ultimately, my progress from each project inspires me to do just continue creating. To get outside my area of comfort and to get messy and real and louder in the face of all things trying to tear my humanity down.
It is time we all embraced carefree creation outside of the digital. Pinterest, TikTok, and AI are not necessary when you have yourself. Creation requires nothing more than your brain and whatever you can make use of within your reach.
Just pick up the damn pencil or find the craft scissors at the bottom of a drawer. Let your instinct or current feelings drive your creative session. Maybe yo will make a silly doodle of your pet. Maybe even a museum-worthy piece. It is a long shot, but who knows? Maybe you will make something that sparks a movement.