This Black Friday, We're Breaking Up With Fast Fashion, And Here's Why

At Puff and Pencil, we’re all about sewing your own clothes and saying goodbye to the harmful habits of the fashion industry. And we believe you have a truly special gift as a sewist: You have the power to choose creating over consuming. 

So this Black Friday, we teamed up with Nordisk Ministerråd to make a challenge for you (and ourselves):

Instead of joining the frenzy of overconsumption, we’re inviting you to take on the challenge of breaking up with fast fashion by sewing something amazing using thrifted fabric.

Why? Because fast fashion isn’t just hurting your wallet—it’s hurting the planet too. 

As a treat to get you started (no matter if you participate in the challenge or not) you will:

GET A FREE “Why buy it when you can create it” label for your creation when you purchase printed patterns.

AND GET 15% OFF on all printed patterns

until December 2nd.

What’s the Real Cost of Your Clothes?

Over the last 20 years, we’ve all started buying more clothes than ever before. In the Nordic countries alone, textile consumption has shot up faster than the global average, with heaps of it ending up in the trash. It’s clear: we need to rethink our habits.

The Facts You Need to Know

• We buy too much: In Sweden, people are buying 40% more clothes per person compared to 2000. Meanwhile, Norwegians purchase a massive 70,000 tons of clothes every year—that’s a mountain of textiles.
• Big emissions: Making clothes produces 1.2 billion tons of CO2e annually—more than all international flights and shipping combined.
• Synthetic fibers = fossil fuels: Most new clothes are made from synthetic materials, which are derived from non-renewable fossil fuels and add to the climate crisis.
• Disposable culture: On average, Europeans throw away 11 kilograms of textiles per year, and only 1% of it is recycled into new clothes. Many unsold clothes are even burned or dumped in landfills.
• Water waste: Making one T-shirt uses 1,400 liters of water and releases harmful chemicals into rivers and oceans.
  *See sources below

It’s not just an environmental issue—it’s a mindset issue. Fast fashion encourages us to buy cheap, wear it once, and toss it. But we don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle. 

Let’s Do Things Differently This Black Friday:
Why Buy It When You Can Create It? 

This year, we’re challenging you to skip the fast fashion sales and get creative with us. Here’s how:

1. Thrift some fabric: Head to your local thrift store, find an old garment or some second-hand fabric, and give it a second life.
   
   
2. Make something you love: Grab one of our sewing patterns (or a sewing pattern of any other brand) and turn that fabric into a piece you’ll actually want to wear and cherish for years to come.
   
   
3. Share your creation: Show off your progress or final result on Instagram using the hashtag #BreakingUpWithFastFashion and #WhyBuyitWhenYouCanCreateIt and inspire others to join the movement.

It’s a fun way to rethink your relationship with clothes, get creative, and make something truly unique—without adding to the planet’s problems.

Ready to Join the Challenge? 

Let’s make this Black Friday about slowing down, reconnecting with our clothes, and making a positive change. 

 

We can't wait to see your creations <3