Angela Davis T. (KM Stitchery)
The clothing industry can often be an unethical place. Unfriendly manufacturing, sizing that doesn’t reflect actual markets or bodies, and emotionally damaging advertising campaigns create a culture of feminist disenchantment with what we wear and where we buy it. Even American Apparel, a cultural icon positively known for its lack of sweatshop labour, has a CEO who has been known to perpetuate a sexual environment within the company, including having sex with his staff and creating borderline pornographic shoots for advertising (see “Living On The Edge At American Apparel” ).
Needless to say, it’s refreshing to see cool, eco-friendly, feminist clothing like KMStitchery’s, the feminist stenciling of herstory! The premise of her clothing is that it’s ethical clothing for feministing in.
“I think it’s important to remember the womyn who paved the way for us. I am excited to get womyn excited about feminism! Or just to get them excited about political fems! I am disgruntled with how you see mostly male revolutionaries on t-shirts but not fems…I am here to focus on the great womyn of our past.”
Every month KMStitchery cuts a new feminist stencil and to date they range from Angela Davis (above) to bell hooks, Emma Goldman, and Gloria Steinem. All of the stencils are printed on recycled or reclaimed clothes and a variety of articles and styles are present, from t-shirts to skirts to hoodies. In the words of KMStitchery, “Represent! With these powerful ladies!”



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10 comments
Is that Alexis O'Hara in the photo, or just someone who looks exactly like her?
Posted by Anna
August 5, 2008, 6:14 PM
I have no idea, I couldn't find personal info on the etsy site. xo
Posted by Diandra
August 5, 2008, 7:51 PM
Hi all!
Thank you so much for posting about me! I'm so flattered! My name is Lindsay Keating-Moore. Although Alexis O'Hara seems pretty cool I googled her :)
Posted by Lindsay
August 5, 2008, 9:29 PM
Hey Lindsay! Sorry to mistake you for someone else. It's an uncanny resemblance, though. And yes, Alexis is awesome. I'd be mistaken for her any day.
Posted by Anna
August 5, 2008, 9:56 PM
Isn't her work great!
You can find more cool
famous-women-in-history fashion by checking her stuff out, just go to:
kmstitchery.etsy.com
I'm her mother...a very proud one!!
Posted by Loretta
August 6, 2008, 9:54 AM
Interesting, but the subject choices are too USAmerican-centred with a few notable exceptions. At least the Che wasn't from the US!
Why no Rosa Luxemburg or Clara Zetkin? Or Rigoberta Menchu?
I'ld also like to see more about the fabric content and quality, and while I assume the garments are ethically-sourced, I'd like to see more information.
Congratulations on going up to XL - and later one, even bigger. Lots of women's t-shirt lines end at a very skimpy L (and men's shirts fit a lot of women funny). Also congrats on making men's t-shirts - for MEN to show that there were progressive women too (though I certainly wouldn't call Steinhem a revolutionary) and also for those women who do prefer a boxier men's fit. (Not me!)
Posted by lagatta
August 6, 2008, 10:47 AM
Lagatta, don't you think you're bing a little nit-picky? We don't need to play the "I know more about feminism than you" card here. I think what KM Stitchery is doing is AWESOME! She's bringing feminism to many places that need it. Besides, it states that she cuts one new stencil a month so who knows, next month's stencil may be Rosa Luxemburg or Clara Zetkin. Or maybe you could be more productive and suggest some womyn to her instead of posting what seems to be a negative comment.
Also, I don't understand what you're asking about with the fabric being ethically sourced... its recycled and repurposed, meaning she finds these shirts at thrift stores and prints on them.
Support a sister, don't hate!!!
Posted by Kristen
August 6, 2008, 3:17 PM
Wow, thanks for all the comments. I didn't mention this in the post because I thought it was obvious, but KM Stitchery does honour a variety of women from different backgrounds, both social, economic, educational, physical, and national.
Also, I hear you about the lack of "plus-sized" fashions in the world, but also know that thrifting nice, good to print on, good fitting plus size clothes is extremely difficult (!!).
Posted by diandra
August 6, 2008, 7:20 PM
Hi Diandra! Great find--I will be checking out this Etsy shop.
Posted by Melinda
August 6, 2008, 8:16 PM
Whoa...
Yes, I second the don't hate message. We all strive to be creative in our own ways and its a growth process. Today I may use upcycled material, tomorrow - who knows. Hopefully I'll learn something in the process.
Marilyn
Posted by marilyn
August 11, 2008, 1:09 PM
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