Raging against the system one stitch at a time, refusing to be a part of an oil-fed industry that makes profits for the few, exploits the many and dumps mountains of waste on other places.

The idea that crafting is an act of rebellion is not new¹ but deserves repeating. But first I must explain that I am not suggesting putting anarchist logos on craft-made items, no ‘FCUK’ or ‘Down with …..’. Rather I refer to the actual act of making things ‘by hand’ as a perversion or rebellion.

It would be much easier and cheaper just to buy a pair of socks from say Primark than make a pair.

These probably took about a day to make. I scoured the yarn, dyed it with woad, wound it into a cone then spent three hours cranking out the socks (though some can make a pair in an hour). Then I sewed up the toes, and then washed the pair. The yarn cost me around £5. Why bother?

It’s partly to give two fingers to the system that is killing our planet, the system which exploits the many and makes the rich richer. It is a way of disengaging from unchecked capitalism and the system which champions infinite growth on a finite planet.

The fashion industry is a major polluter. According to the UN environment agency, it is the second biggest consumer of water and accounts for more than 10% of global pollution. Exactly how bad it is is debateable. It may not be, as is often cited, the second largest polluter, but we have all seen pictures of the mountains of waste dumped on other countries. The textile leaders of industry who kindly contribute to our economy will not help. Governments seem powerless, striving to increase unlimited growth with finite resources because short-term thinking keeps them in power.

Crafting is devalued in our schools and universities; while science and the digital are promoted as they can be monetised and contribute to the economy. Of course, the creative can be rewritten as ‘brand design’ or ‘marketing’. Thus stressing the importance of money-making over the actual craft.

Crafting is often seen as a way for the poor to make things cheaply for themselves, or the rich to fill their time, or for the rest of us to relax. It can be a form of entertainment. Indeed, there are now several tv programmes promoting crafting.

Clothing has long been used as a show of rebellion, often by the young. Sporting short flapper dresses in contrast to more modest apparel, or wearing black bin-bag dresses has signalled the rebellion of youth. But making clothing oneself with care and time, can also be a way of making a point and taking a stand.

I present to you, the ‘socks of rebellion’!

1. For example, the Art and Craft movement of the 19th century was largely a pushback against industrialisation. ↩︎