Quarantine has made me fall in love with embroidering. When I first got home in March, I picked up a hobby sewing dainty flowers at the edge of my shirts, and soon enough everything in my closet had something embroidered on it. I embroidered Toad and Frog, Casper the ghost, and lots of chickens. Amidst a pandemic, shopping became significantly difficult. Shopping online was the only option when going out wasn’t feasible, not to mention the cost of shopping when you don’t have a job. I soon found that making my own original pieces was the way to go. Originality and fashion are intrinsically connected in one way or another, so making your own pieces further delves into that individuality.

Making your own fashion pieces can mean many things, clothing, accessories, or jewelry. For Elizabeth Apple ‘22, making earrings out of polymer clay has been her go-to this summer. Although she’s made earrings for fun since she was a small child, the pandemic helped mold her happy hobby into a business where Apple can share her customized projects as well as make money. Her business, “Earrings By Elizabeth,” that she began on Instagram (earringsbyelizabeth), has been a perfect way to share her appreciation for individuality within fashion.

“I think when you create your own jewelry or items that you can wear, they give you a better appreciation for handcrafted things in general, especially artisan related products that you see on Etsy for example,” says Apple. “Someone spent a lot of time, effort, and love into making different handmade jewelry, and personally that's what I feel is so special about it. When I wear jewelry that I've made, or when I see someone else wearing jewelry that I've made for them, there's this great sense of connection and community.”

“Holding onto something you know someone made especially for you holds a whole other dimension of meaning. In comparison to buying a product in stores that was mass made, having something that only exists for you makes you trendier on a much more personal level.”

“I think fashion and personality are largely connected,” Apple notes. “I have great respect for fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and even the average person who puts together unique outfits because they understand their style so much that they can create their own clothing pieces—like how amazing is that? When you have originality in your outfit or in your style, it's a reflection of yourself as an authentic person.”

While Apple sits at her kitchen table with her big box of crafts supplies, she is a gateway for many individuals looking to make their outfits a tinge more original. Making your own piece is not only a reflection of inventiveness but it’s also sustainable. It's always better to make your own things rather than buy from a big company. The process of making your personal item can also teach you about a variety of things.

“It’s an opportunity to try new things and put your name out there. If you're looking for a side hustle to help with funds, the way I finally was motivated to start my earring business was with COVID-19, I couldn't go outside. I couldn’t get a job. I needed some money for the summer,” says Apple. “It was a great way to combine all my talents into one, and let me explore more of my talents without a stressful environment. It led to me taking more action for myself to get the business off the ground. That meant I was watching YouTube videos, reading articles, understanding marketing, photography, pricing, connection, all those business-y aspects.”

To Apple’s point, making your own fashion pieces and accessories has been trending on marketing apps such as Etsy and Depop. With the rise of social media apps, such as Tik Tok, society is becoming more aware of the hazardous repercussions of fast fashion. Of course, this realization has also led to shining a light on small creators whose sustainability makes unique pieces. All of a sudden having something that is custom and different from everyone else has become trendy. This change in dialogue within the fashion world comes largely from the way the pandemic has shaped fashion. With COVID-19 affecting how much we make at work, as well as limiting the places we can shop, individuals have turned to making it themselves. Creators such as Apple are the pioneers of such trends. These artists are teaching us that there is magic in individuality and fashion, a powerful intersection.

Make It Yourself