Is homemade clothing cheaper or more sustainable?

Dear users, dear authors,
Is homemade clothing actually cheaper when you factor in the costs of materials, patterns, etc.? Personally, I believe that homemade clothing scores higher in terms of sustainability than price. What do you think?

It’s probably not cheaper if you prioritize good-quality materials. And you definitely should, because only then is the garment truly sustainable. If I use cheap wool or fabric that stretches out of shape, pills, or forms little bobbles, I won’t enjoy wearing it and certainly won’t wear it very often.  

Definitely not cheaper—especially not when you factor in the time spent making them.
Perhaps more sustainable, because you know how much work went into them, so you might value them more and wear them longer.
For me, sustainability—whether something is homemade or not—means that a piece of clothing doesn’t end up in the trash after being worn just twice, but is either worn for a very long time or gets a second (or third, fourth, fifth...) life.
My mother’s clothes became children’s dresses for me, which then turned into doll clothes when I outgrew them, and finally, they became rags for my father to polish his car.
My husband’s first stuffed animal is a mythical creature, sewn in 1948 by his mother-in-law from old clothes, and it still exists today.

My self-sewn wardrobe is definitely sustainable, because I have pieces in my closet that I’ve been wearing for 30 years and still love. And if I ever sew something and then see myself in a photo wearing that garment and don’t like what I see, I either find someone to take it off my hands or alter it.
When it comes to being cheaper, as so often, that’s not really the case, but what I like to do during the summer sales is buy high-quality fabrics for a small price—that way, I have something that will last for years, especially since I make sure my sewing patterns are mostly timeless and not subject to any crazy trends that often don’t even last as long as the expiration date on fresh meat.

Best regards, Inge

It’s definitely not cheaper, because on top of the materials, you also have to factor in the time spent making it. I think the days when making something yourself was cheaper are long gone.

Isn’t it more the case today that people make things themselves because it’s fun?

It’s definitely more sustainable, because something I’ve made myself is much more valuable to me than something I’ve bought. I still have sweaters in my closet that I knitted over 30 years ago. When I put them on, they bring back memories that suddenly come flooding back—sun, vacation, beach, Italy—that’s where I knitted it. 

I agree with the previous speakers: Not cheaper, but definitely more sustainable!

Here’s a tip if you want to save money: upcycle old clothes. Otherwise, if you want a minimum standard of quality, the materials are already quite expensive. And when you factor in the cost of a sewing machine plus the time and money spent on sewing classes, botched practice projects, etc.—sewing is an expensive hobby; let’s not kid ourselves.

It works out for kids’ clothes, though: I have four kids (2 girls and 2 boys) who pass down their hand-me-downs. In that sense, it’s definitely “worth it” here ;). But I’ve never really done the math. And I can hardly compete with the prices at SSV—I can’t sew a T-shirt for €3.99!

Best regards,
Sonja

Well, it’s definitely not cheaper. I spend a lot more on my materials than I do on ready-made clothes from the store, since I don’t buy brand-name clothes. But these days, making your own clothes isn’t really about saving money anymore—it’s more about the process, being creative, and making something with your own hands. And good-quality materials come at a price. It’s definitely sustainable, though store-bought clothing can be too.