David and I were talking about our fantastic weekend in Birmingham and his impressions of the grand opening of Lauren's new haberdashery and his opinions on the Great British Sewing Bee....and he agreed to do a guest post for today! Enjoy!
It was great to travel to Birmingham this past weekend to be present at the opening of
Guthrie & Ghani, the haberdashery/brainchild/labour-of-love of Lauren from the Great British Sewing Bee, and her partner, Ayaz.
We had been thinking about going on an overnight for my birthday, and had a few ideas in mind but once we heard about the Grand Opening, it was an easy decision. Debi found a lovely B&B between the airport and Birmingham city centre, and we looked into things to do the day after the opening (which will, no doubt, feature in a forthcoming post).
I came away from the weekend feeling very much inspired and thankful. As I've related in a previous guest post, it's been amazing to witness the support network that Debi has found online (and IRL as a result of meet-ups). As the partner of a particularly passionate sewist, it's not only great to see her involved in an activity that gives her so much pleasure but it's wonderful to see the community that has formed amongst sewists online, and the budding friendships that have developed as a result of enjoying a common pursuit.
Much of this was alluded to in interviews with each of the Sewing Bee contestants (and in a chat we had with Tilly on our way to the railway station), and I am impressed with the way the show highlighted the importance of sewing in Britain, and the many ways in which people approach the art and utility of sewing. I love hearing about the reasons why people have taken up sewing; for the practicality of making durable clothes that fit and compliment one's body; to learn a traditional skill (often passed down the generations); to dress in a particular fashion (such as Debi's fascination with the clothes of the 1930s and 40s); or to indulge in a practice that harkens back to a time and ethos - something that is perhaps missing in our current era, something that is worth reinvigorating and keeping, in order to combat the more seemingly shallow and disposable aspects of modern life.
It was also inspiring to see what Lauren and Ayaz have been able to do together - transforming a neglected building into a beautiful and lovingly-polished storefront and workspace. The amount of care and attention to both the original building materials and the feel of the space were evident in every centimetre of the store and workshop upstairs. The space itself has a wonderful feel to it, and will be a productive, engaging atmosphere to learn, shop, and sew in. There are already big ideas floating around the workshop's ceiling.
The work they've done on it together has imbued the space with their spirit, and that of those who helped, including skilled workers, family and friends.
Debi and I are firm believers in following one's dreams (as it's brought us this far), so it's always wonderful to see others pursuing theirs. Hopefully, this will inspire others to strike out on a similar path.
Although the Great British Sewing Bee is presented in the ubiquitous television programme format of an elimination competition, the contestants all expressed similar sentiments - that although they wanted to win, it wasn't as important to them as engaging in the camaraderie that developed amongst the contestants, something that was very much in evidence this Saturday. Most of the show's participants were present and happy to support Lauren in her new business venture. Although none seem entirely comfortable with their newfound celebrity status, they were happy to lend it to making the day a truly successful event by helping to cut fabric, greeting those waiting in the enormous queue that ran up the sidewalk, signing books, posing for photographs, and mingling with fans of the show inside the store.
A "bee" is defined in the OED as "a meeting for communal work or amusement: a sewing bee." It is a space wherein skills can be passed-on and refined, workloads (and stories) shared, and friends made. It is a communal space that has nothing to do with competing for prizes or titles. The fact that this true spirit of the term shows through both in the televised story and in reality is a testament to the strength of what is at the heart of sewing and within the hearts of the people who are drawn to it.
Personally, I think a more interesting show format would be to keep all the contestants and showcase the creative ways in which they approach the set tasks rather than eliminating participants. It was fascinating to see each individual's interpretation of the challenges. Whether or not that would make for "good television" (something that could be commodified) is questionable. However, what was evident on Saturday is that co-operation, friendship, and a passion for the art and skills of sewing are the defining aspects of this community, and that its expansion into the blogosphere and the skewed "reality" of television has only allowed its strengths to shine through to a greater degree.
It is a community that I am happy to see re-establishing itself in our modern world, and one that I am happy and proud to support and be a part of.
Thank you David for such a great post!!
