Not just a ‘woman’s hobby’ – why more men are picking up sewing, and why you should too |
Men have started sewing up a storm, driving a culture shift that challenges the traditional notion of sewing as a “women’s hobby”.
The COVID pandemic drove a resurgence in home economics, with many people – including many men – picking up skills such as sewing and knitting.
This trend has since grown, even as lockdowns have ended. And it disrupts the dominant narrative that men stick to stereotypical masculine identities – particularly in rural Australia, where social pressure to behave a certain way can feel amplified.
The term “performative male” has been used to describe a sub-group of men who try really hard to appear “non-masculine” – usually for the purpose of attracting women. Is picking up the sewing just another performative male trick?
The research suggests not. Instead, it reveals a subculture of men who are genuine fashion enthusiasts taking up the skill.
Globally, men’s sewing groups have also been established as a way to foster community and improve mental........