This week in our Conversations in Colour series, we spoke to author, upcycler and winner of the BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee Annie Phillips. We discussed the role colour plays in her work, her passion for reimagining clothes and why a more thoughtful wardrobe doesn’t have to be a boring one.
Tell us about you, and how you got to where you are today?
Hey I’m Annie! I won BBC’s Sewing Bee in 2022 and now I’m a sewer, designer, author and content creator, and I spend my days encouraging people to get creative with the clothes they already own. Whether I’m working with brands to reuse deadstock, hosting a mending club or sharing sewing tutorials online, my goal is always the same: to help people see the value in making, mending and reimagining what they already have.
A lot of my time is spent focusing on upcycling, prolonging the life of clothes and helping people build a more mindful relationship with what they wear - which I absolutely love! I also champion a slower, more thoughtful approach to fashion, and showing that your wardrobe can be both joyful and responsible (not the boring “beige” stuff).
We love the idea of expressing ourselves through what we wear. How do you think upcycling encourages a more personal relationship with clothing?
I think upcycling completely changes the way we see our clothes. When you’ve spent time transforming a garment you become invested in its story. So much of fashion today is designed to be consumed quickly, but mending a hole or changing the fit of something encourages us to slow down and really look at what we already own. It makes us ask “How can I make this work for me?” rather than “What can I buy next?”
I also love that upcycled pieces become a reflection of your personality. Some of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe carry memories and a sense of pride that you just don’t get from buying something off a rail.
For me, upcycling turns clothing from something we simply wear into something we actively participate in creating, and that naturally leads to a much more personal relationship with our wardrobes.
When hunting for pre-loved treasures, are you drawn towards colour first, or the potential of the piece?
Oh, absolutely a colour-first gal! Although texture and print are usually right up there too. I’ll often spot a fabric before I even notice what the garment itself is.
More often than not, it’s the fabric that inspires the end result. A beautiful print, an unusual texture or a colour I love will instantly inspire me. I might not know exactly what I’m going to do with it straight away, but I can usually imagine how I want it to feel or fit into my wardrobe.
I think that’s one of the joys of shopping pre-loved - you start looking beyond what something is and instead focus on what it could become.
What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe and what’s the story behind it?
This one changes quite a bit depending on my mood and what I’m drawn to, but right now it has to be an old vintage Madonna jumper I “borrowed” from my mum when I was younger.
I’ve always been quite sentimental with clothes, and pieces like this carry so much more than just fabric and thread. Since my mum passed away last year, it’s become even more special to me and has quietly traded places with some of my old Sewing Bee makes as my most treasured items. I love that clothing can hold stories. Every time I wear it, it feels like a little connection back to her.
We love pairing unexpected colour combinations with our lingerie, what’s your favourite unlikely colour pairing?
Right now, pale blue and poppy red makes my heart sing! There’s something so fresh and playful about the combination, but it still feels really striking. I’m also obsessed with chocolate brown and turquoise. It's a little unexpected in the best possible way.
I’ve always been drawn to colour combinations that create a high contrast. Sometimes the pairings that shouldn’t work on paper end up being the most exciting. I think unexpected colours have a way of making each other shine even brighter.
What advice would you give someone who wants to give their clothes a second life through upcycling?
Start small! It can be so tempting to dive straight into a huge transformation project, but that can quickly become overwhelming and end up sitting in the back of your wardrobe forever more. Instead begin with something simple like a repair, shortening a hem, changing some buttons or adding a bit of embroidery to a piece you already love. Small projects are much more achievable, give you a quick sense of accomplishment and help build your confidence along the way.
I always think the goal at first is to create momentum. When you successfully finish one project and start wearing it again, it’s incredibly motivating to look at the rest of your wardrobe with fresh eyes. Suddenly, instead of seeing clothes you’re bored of, you start seeing possibilities.
What projects or plans do you have coming up for the rest of the year?
I'm focusing on community and growing my craft clubs for the rest of the year as they’ve really become a huge source of joy for me and connecting people! I’ll also be sharing more step-by-step sewing and upcycling content on Instagram and YouTube to help inspire people to try things at home, especially if they’re just starting out.
And then beyond that, I tend to work quite spontaneously, so I’m excited to see where things naturally lead next!
Shop Annie's edit here.
See Annies's Instagram here.
Visit Annie's website here.
