Clotheshorse Episode 229: Every Community Needs a Radical Sewing Club with Scout Quiquivix

Introduction

In Episode 229 of Clotheshorse, host Amanda Lee McCarty delves into the transformative power of small, radical actions and the importance of community engagement, especially within the sustainable fashion and retail industries. This episode features Scout Quiquivix, the founder of Radical Sewing Club, who shares insights on building inclusive community spaces focused on sewing and textile repair.

The Power of Small, Radical Actions

Amanda opens the discussion by emphasizing how seemingly modest individual actions can have significant, far-reaching impacts. She shares personal practices such as mending clothes, minimizing single-use plastics, composting, and supporting local businesses. Amanda reflects, “These are just like small things that are pretty unglamorous... but they're radical, right? If more and more people are doing these things, it adds up.”

The Importance of Community Rebuilding

Moving beyond individual actions, Amanda highlights the necessity of rebuilding and reengaging with communities to amplify these small efforts. She notes the isolation many felt during the pandemic and underscores the emotional and practical benefits of reconnecting with neighbors. Amanda states, “Rebuilding and reengaging with our community is essential if we're going to accomplish anything.”

Challenges in Sustainable Fashion: Competition and Inclusivity

Amanda and Scout discuss the internal challenges within the sustainable fashion movement, particularly the lack of inclusivity and the competitive atmosphere stemming from limited funding. Scout points out, “There's intense competition on this landscape... It creates paranoia and isolates people even more, which is like literally the exact opposite of what we need right now.” They critique how some organizations fail to embrace diversity, noting issues like classism, fatphobia, racism, and ageism in their operations and representation.

Amanda's Experience with Remake

A significant portion of the conversation is dedicated to Amanda’s traumatic experience with Remake, a large organization in the sustainable fashion space. Amanda recounts how Remake misrepresented her by taking quotes out of context, leading to public harassment and professional setbacks. She shares, “The organization and the CEO continued to bully and gaslight me for days afterwards... It was a horrible Zoom meeting... very traumatic.”

Meet Scout Quiquivix and Radical Sewing Club

Introducing Scout Quiquivix, Amanda expresses excitement about Radical Sewing Club—a safe space for learning sewing and textile repair within a community setting. Scout explains, “Radical Sewing Club is a weekly meetup where you can come learn how to repair your clothes, learn some basic hand stitches, and just hang out in community with people from LA.”

The Revolutionary Nature of Sewing and Mending

Scout elaborates on why sewing and mending are inherently radical acts. She argues that in a capitalist society driven by fast fashion, repairing clothes resists disposable consumerism. Scout shares, “Learning about sewing and repairing your clothes is radical. It’s a political act.” She emphasizes that even simple repairs on fast fashion items challenge the throwaway culture perpetuated by capitalism.

How to Start Your Own Radical Sewing Club

Scout offers practical advice for listeners interested in starting their own sewing clubs. She outlines essential supplies—scissors, needles, sewing hoops, thread, and fabric scraps—and stresses the importance of creating an inclusive, supportive environment. Scout advises, “Whatever your excess resources, whatever your skill is, share it with your community. People want help. People want to be in community.”

Building Inclusive and Accessible Spaces

Both Amanda and Scout discuss strategies to ensure sewing clubs are accessible to all, including considerations for different physical abilities and financial constraints. Scout mentions, “I want to make it so everybody feels like they can do it and they have a space to come to consistently.” They advocate for low-cost or donation-based models to remove financial barriers.

Amanda's Optimism and Call to Action

Towards the end of the episode, Amanda shares her optimism about the ongoing protests and grassroots movements, emphasizing the critical role of community involvement. She references research highlighting that only 3.5% of a population needs to engage in protest to effect significant change. Amanda encourages listeners to participate in local actions, stating, “We are not doomed unless we decide to be doomed and therefore do nothing.”

Conclusion

Episode 229 of Clotheshorse underscores the profound impact of individual and community-driven efforts in challenging the unsustainable practices of the fashion industry. Through Amanda’s experiences and Scout’s insights, listeners are inspired to take actionable steps towards building supportive, inclusive communities that prioritize sustainability and resist the pervasive norms of capitalism.

Notable Quotes

• Amanda on Individual Impact: “These are just like small things that are pretty unglamorous... but they're radical, right? If more and more people are doing these things, it adds up.” [00:45]

• Scout on Competition in Sustainable Fashion: “There's intense competition on this landscape... It creates paranoia and isolates people even more, which is like literally the exact opposite of what we need right now.” [19:30]

• Amanda on Community Rebuilding: “Rebuilding and reengaging with our community is essential if we're going to accomplish anything.” [12:00]

• Scout on Sewing as a Radical Act: “Learning about sewing and repairing your clothes is radical. It’s a political act.” [37:39]

• Amanda on Protest Participation: “We are not doomed unless we decide to be doomed and therefore do nothing.” [101:17]

Further Resources

For listeners interested in starting their own Radical Sewing Club or supporting sustainable fashion initiatives, Amanda encourages reaching out to local community spaces and utilizing available resources effectively. Links to Radical Sewing Club events and additional mending groups are available in the show notes.