DIY: An Old or New Idea?

Today, we live in a world where it is a fad to “Do-it-Yourself.” This craze most likely was started by sites such as Pinterest or Etsy. There are countless numbers of people creating crafts, décor, clothes and many other items that they can enjoy themselves or sell for business purposes. In the fall, on any given Saturday you can find craft shows lining the streets full of people selling their DIY items. It is a craze I am very pleased to see making a comeback. Despite what you may think this isn’t the first time the DIY trend is coming back in fashion.

Like I had explained in my piece “Selfies Do Not Make Memories,” I have been using the magazine “Friends” from the 1950’s as inspiration for Vintage Feminist and this is where I learned that ‘doing-it-yourself’ was not such a new idea after all. It made me realize the phrase DIY itself is maybe a newer concept, but throughout history before there were superstores we could walk into and buy almost anything at the drop of the hat, people did everything for themselves. Think, using every part of the buffalo, is the perfect example of this. They made their own dishes, housing, clothes, silverware, tools…. there’s far too many to list. Even in the 1950’s the writers of my magazine companion realized this was something that seemed to be disappearing, but were happy to see becoming the norm once again.

Particularly, in the fifties they obviously did not have the internet to inspire their DIY projects, but fashion forward teenage girls were making their own comeback in sewing their own clothes. In the article, “It’s a Teen-Age Fashion to Sew-it-Yourself,” it explains how there has been a revival of an ‘old-time’ art of making your own clothes. Even in the fifties women were realizing we are already becoming less self-efficient and they were enjoying trying to change this. Girls would go to local department stores and buy patterns, fabric and make dresses that were completely their own. They wanted to be unique, but have the pride of saying “I made this!” when someone would ask.  Just like many of the people today, making something on Esty or pinning something to Pinterest, it gives us satisfaction trying something new.

Again, this is something that seems to be a fad now, but I would love to see young woman take hold of this and run with it. Make it a habit. Wouldn’t it be great for one day to have your daughters be more self-sufficient and have a skill that could better their lives forever? Whether that is making your own clothes or say making homemade bread for example, it will benefit their futures greatly.

Is there anything you ‘do yourself?’ Share in the comments of anything you have always done or recently learned to do yourself that you may be passing on to your children or use to save money. I would love to hear your ideas.