Suit made with FS Chocolate Signature Finish linen

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into sewing?

When I was about seven years old I learned to sew from my day-care provider who was a
phenomenal sewist. As a little girl I loved to sit in her sewing room and watch her make clothes,
accessories, dog toys, quilts, and even interior upholstery. She was a wonderful and patient
teacher as my little hands learned how to use a sewing machine, use patterns, and pair the right
fabrics with projects. To this day I still feel so lucky to have had such a talented and kind person
introduce me to the world of sewing.

Suit made with FS Chocolate Signature Finish linen

Why do you sew?

At this point, I’ve been sewing for so long that it would feel wrong not to! Of course, over the
years the reason I sew has changed with the seasons of life. In my early sewing days, just turning
a flat piece of fabric into something dimensional and usable was enough. After getting
comfortable with patterns and construction, I started to play with fabric, draping and pinning on
myself to determine where to cut the fabric. These explorations improved my skills and
confidence, transforming sewing into a creative outlet and form of self-expression as I entered
my teens. While I would sometimes sew garments for myself, most of my sewing at this time
was trying new techniques or materials.
Nowadays I sew to create and curate a wardrobe that allows me to best present myself in the
hustle and bustle of my daily life. I never imagined I would have such a personalized closet full
of high quality garments that compliment my lifestyle and taste. The slow practices of sewing,
like pattern-matching or using french seams, steps I would rush through before, I now appreciate
as a meditative practice and time to slow down.

Hong Kong

Where is home and how does it affect your creative practice?

Home is Hong Kong, where the weather is hot and humid most of the year. To battle the weather,
I prefer wearing natural materials, mainly linen, silk, cotton, and tropical or merino wool. In
ready-to-wear, these materials can be hard to find affordably and without poor labor or
environmental practices. Making my own clothes allows me to comfortably incorporate these
materials in my closet.
Living in a dense city and a frequent traveler also influences my decisions of what to make,
requiring comfort, versatility, and elevated basics. Anything I add to my closet needs to ‘play
well with others’, both in silhouette and color/print.

As a child, what was your first encounter and memory of beauty?

My first memory of beauty must have been my grandmother’s hands. At some point, something
clicked that these wrinkled, scarred, arthritis-ridden hands were terribly beautiful. Looking at
them as she cooked, solved Sudoku puzzles, or worked in the garden, I saw her hands held more than just things. They also held memories, love, hardship, and hope. Until then I had only known traditional beauty like a painting or sunset, but this was a recognition of a richer, deeper beauty.

Shorts made with FS Chocolate Signature Finish linen

Has your sewing practice changed your relationship to your body image and self-
acceptance?

Coming to a place of acceptance with my body took time. Like any relationship, I think my
relationship with my body fluctuates and requires attention to maintain. As I’ve gotten older and
sewn more for myself, I have found it uniquely empowering to put on something I made, that fits
well, and helps me emulate whatever it is I feel or want to feel that day.

What are your seven favourite sewing patterns?

My favorite sewing patterns are tried-and-true, go-to, classic pieces in my closet. So, in no
particular order…

1. Blackbird Patterns – Nicole Top/Dress
2. Vogue Sport 2821 – Trousers/Shorts
3. Fabrics Store – Sara Trouser
4. Pattern Line – Crosby Bias Dress
5. Megan Nielsen – Dawn Jeans
6. Closet Core – Jenna Shirt
7. Paradise Patterns – Hallon Dress

Hong Kong

Do you have a community of makers around you or do you find you are on your own?

I am the only person in my immediate community who sews their own clothes, but I do have
three friends who knit or crochet in the city. We try and meet once a month on a video call or in-
person. It’s been important to me to be a member of a community, small it may be, whose
relationships are founded on creation. I find these friendships have become some of my most
intimate and vulnerable ones.
During COVID I made an Instagram account, intending to use it as a visual diary for my makes
and unaware there was a whole community of sewists, knitters, and indie pattern makers online.
It was a wonderful surprise to be able to connect with other like-minded makers online, and
some even offline! Making doesn’t have to be a solo sport.

How important is it to make something with your hands?

Making with my hands is foundational to my identity. Sewing has been such a substantial part of
my life for so long now that it is probably the biggest constant in my life outside of family. It has
gotten me through some of my hardest days and has clothed me for some of my happiest
moments. I take pride in being able to create with my hands, while also understanding the
privilege that comes with being physically and financially capable to nurture and fund the craft
for so many years.

Suit made with FS Chocolate Signature Finish linen

What has been the most rewarding sewing project you’ve completed so far and why?

My most rewarding sewing project was a close friend’s wedding dress. Herself a talent behind
the sewing machine and even stronger patternmaker, I was so flattered and touched that she
asked me to both pattern and sew the dress for her big day. Working on the dress up until the
wedding was a special connection we shared as she prepared for the next chapter of her life,
including moving countries. Her dress was so customized, that even on her wedding we made a
last minute decision to cut the hem a further 5cm while the dress was already on her!

What is more important to you – the process or the final product (ie your garment)?

The finished product is most important to me. That being said, if I don’t enjoy the process, I am
extremely unlikely to enjoy the finished garment.

What does success mean to you?

“What is success? It is being able to go to bed each night with your soul at peace” – Paulo Coelho

Shorts made with FS Chocolate Signature Finish linen

What have you chosen to make out of FS linen and why?

Since seeing a double-breasted jacket and shorts suit from the brand Alex Mill last May, I
haven’t been able to get the idea of it out of my head! The suit can easily be dressed up (block
heels, silk camisole, chic handbag), dressed down (flat sandals or trainers, jersey tee or tank), or
styled as separates; it’s the definition of versatile and modern.
In preparation to make the suit, I sourced two vintage patterns: Simplicty’s Connoisseur
Collection 6584 for the jacket and Vogue Sport 2821 for the shorts. Linen was an absolute must
for the fabric. It needed to be breathable in the heat and humidity, while having enough weight to
hold the structure of a suit, and have a refined yet relaxed appearance. The FS Premier Finish in
this delicious Chocolate colorway was just the right combination of color, weight, and quality.

What is it like working with fabrics-store linen?

Working with the FS Premier Finish was exactly the experience I hoped it to be. After pre-
washing and ironing, the fabric maintained the delicious balance of ‘refined yet relaxed’ that I
love so much about linen. Visually, the color was the gentle and grounding brown that I expected
based on the website images, while the rustic texture and natural slub of the linen bounces light
off of beautifully in the way that only quality natural fibers do.
The finished garments are exactly what I was dreaming up: a polished set perfect for meetings
and events when I want to look sharp and stylish all the while keeping cool in summer’s heat and
humidity.