INTERVIEW #59 THIVIYA SIVAPALAN
Based in: Bergen, Norway
Occupation: Economic student
Get inspired by: Cottagecore fashion, but also from other creative accounts on Instagram. Eg. @ungesyere
Instagram: @by.thiv
Why we love her: Thiviya is beyond inspiring. She makes the absolute cutest dresses and knits amazingly. Can we have everything, please? Without any doubt she creates a demand for people to start DIY:ing and that’s what we call a true change maker.
“Since I was a little girl I liked to draw design sketches for clothes, but I never realised that making them myself was an option until summer 2020.”
Tell us about yourself?
I am originally from Hareid in Møre og Romsdal (Norway). In 2017 I moved to Bergen to study economics. I recently finished my bachelor’s degree and I will be starting my master’s degree this fall. My passion for knitting started in december 2019, where my first product was a hat. Before this I tried to knit a couple of times on my own, but it didn't go well. I persisted and eventually I managed to create my first piece of clothing and after that I was hooked. Since I was a little girl I liked to draw design sketches for clothes, but I never realised that making them myself was an option until summer 2020. So of course I had to try it out, and oh wooooow I made my first dress.
What’s your relationship with clothes?
For me clothes are a way to express myself to the outside world, but it also determines how I feel about myself. As the saying goes “If you look good, you feel good”. Since I love to dress up, I use every small occasion to do so. But at home I like to wear an oversized sweater with sweatpants, who does not?
My perspective and understanding for clothes changed drastically when I started to make them myself. It also sparked my interest in sustainable fashion and environmental life choices such as buying used and giving away clothes I no longer use. When I see clothing in a shop now, I think so much about the story behind it. Who made it? How much did they get paid for it? What material is it? Etc. Before my entire thinking process was about if I liked the clothing and if it looked good on me.
“When I see clothing in a shop now, I think so much about the story behind it. Who made it? How much did they get paid for it? What material is it?”
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as cute and bubbly. I love to use colour, especially pastel. My style isn’t complete without accessories. Most often a hat or bag, sometimes even both. This summer I tried crocheting my own bucket hat, which was so fun. At the same time I asked my friend, who is a skilled crocheter, for a matching crochet bag. Now I think I have to make some by myself in other colours too!
Any favorite items?
Tough question… My favorit knitwear must be the April Cardigan. I love the colour, the design and the bling buttons!! What is there to not love? It is so perfect to wear over dresses when it gets a bit colder. I have to mention another favorite of mine, which is the royalblue Christmas dress I made for my sister. I find dresses with puffy sleeves so beautiful, and the colour and how it perfectly fit my sister gave me so much joy.
How would you describe your closet?
My closet is beginning to fill up with homemade clothings, since I am working toward the goal to just have handmade and second hand clothing. I like to have the clothes I made myself visible as I am very proud of them. I hang my tops and dresses on clothing racks and underneath these I store my sweaters.
What is a sustainable closet for you?
For me a sustainable closet means to avoid buying new clothes so often, and to actually wear the clothes as much as possible. If there are some clothes that I know are not being worn properly, I donate them or try to find a new owner for them. Making the clothes myself is another way for me to gain a sustainable closet. Since every single piece of clothing requires a lot of time and passion to make, I use a lot of time beforehand to decide if I really want to wear it. Because it’s crucial that I use the clothes many times and not just for a period of time.
As I began to make more and more clothes by myself, my care and knowledge for the material evolved. Now I mostly try to sew my clothes from second hand material. There are so many beautiful second hand fabrics to use. Besides, I find it so exciting to look for special fabric second hand, rather than buying it from a store. It’s like going on a treasure hunt. Last summer I found the most stunning skirt from a vintage thrift shop, but since I just started to sew I didn’t have the nerve to sew anything out of it and potentially ruin it. But now I feel ready, and I am planning to make a bag out of it!
“For me a sustainable closet means to avoid buying new clothes so often, and to actually wear the clothes as much as possible.”
What do you think about the fashion industry?
I believe the fashion industry creates a lot of pressure for everyday people. This combined with “fast fashion”, makes it so people always are on the lookout for new trends and new clothes. This in itself creates a standard of unsustainability.
Just earlier today I read that Norwegian people are at the top of the world when it comes to spending money on hiking equipment, this was speculated to be because of the fashion industry always launching new and “better” equipment. I find this sad because hiking is supposed to be about enjoying the outside, not the fact that you have the newest and best gear.
“Just earlier today I read that Norwegian people are at the top of the world when it comes to spending money on hiking equipment, this was speculated to be because of the fashion industry always launching new and “better” equipment. I find this sad because hiking is supposed to be about enjoying the outside, not the fact that you have the newest and best gear.”
What do you believe needs to change?
I believe that seasonal trends for clothes are a problem when it comes to sustainability. Along with fast fashion trends, this creates an enormous amount of waste. I also think they should be better at informing consumers where the products they sell actually come from. Greenwashing is very common in this industry as you can go to most websites and they will say their clothes are made sustainable and ethical, but rarely do they supply any actual information or proof that this is actually true. The climate report recently released showed that we are way past the point of no return, and changes need to happen now if we want to slow down the climate crisis.
“Greenwashing is very common in this industry as you can go to most websites and they will say their clothes are made sustainable and ethical, but rarely do they supply any actual information or proof that this is actually true.”
What can one do that seeks to create a more sustainable closet?
Buy your clothes second hand. It is important to take good care of your clothes and repair them if needed instead of throwing them out.
One of my friends arranged a swap-night, where we brought clothes we don’t use anymore and swapped them around in our friend group. This was a good way to clean out my own closet while still getting new pieces of clothing essentially for free. You can also rent clothes or borrow from friends and family if you need them for a special occasion instead of buying a dress for one evening and not using it after.
While I understand creating clothes and being creative is not for everyone. I strongly implore everyone to at least give it a chance, you might end up surprised how fun and simple it really is. There are many good “tutors” and examples on instagram eg. @Jointhefæbrik and @flid.