Make Do and Mend

In wartime Britain, clothes were on ration and shopping wasn’t an option. Instead, women were told to Make Do and Mend.

Now, in times of economic hardship and environmental concerns, this idea is being made current again. The reasons behind it, though, couldn’t be more different. The problem today, according to those promoting Make Do and Mend is not that there is too little, but too much.

In 2009, UK retail sales totalled £285 billion and high street brands have made the price of clothes lower than ever before. A disposable attitude towards clothes has developed, as cheap clothing makes people ask ‘why not?’ rather than ‘why?’

Those supporting Make Do and Mend believe that by sewing buttons back on, altering hemlines and refiguring old pieces,people can help to tackle clothing consumption. Nathalie Craik, founder of make-do-and-mend.org says:

“If people could start looking after their clothes a bit better, and consider what they are buying… then that would be a great start”.

Nathalie, 26, is originally from Hamburg, Germany. She now lives in London and works full time for a consultancy that helps companies to improve working conditions in their supply chains. She promotes Make Do and Mend in her spare time.

Nathalie became concerned with shopping habits after she began a masters degree in ethical fashion.

“I only really started to realise what a huge impact cheap clothes have on the workers making our clothes and the environment during my research for my masters.”

Her research led her to discover the truth behind supply chains.

“All of this experience inspired me to come up with something that tackles both environmental and social issues”, Nathalie explains.

The Make Do and Mend movement is based on basic sewing skills and garment care – skills that, although they may have dwindled over the years, are still around today.

“I think there are still people who know how to sew and enjoy sewing, knitting and all the other crafts.”

In today’s society, the need to mend clothes is, Nathalie admits, gone. But it doesn’t mean it can’t continue to be done.

Make Do and Mend can be about appreciating and caring for clothes while they are still in good shape. Nathalie advises: “Avoid tumble drying which can shrink clothes” and instead lay them on radiators to save them from the wear and tear of the machine.

Shopping wisely is the easiest way to incorporate the ideas behind Make Do and Mend into every day life. Considering alternatives to the high street, such as second hand shops and clothes-swap events, can all help to tackle clothing consumption when sewing and darning just won’t cut it.

The Sunday roast: A family feast

For the Cousans’, the Sunday roast marks the end of the weekend. A day for the family to get together and cook a traditional Sunday roast from scratch.

Their Sunday routine is long established; where they once used to go to Grandma’s for Sunday lunch, Mum has taken over the reigns and now cooks for her children and mother.The Cousans’ are conscious of healthy eating so have a lot of fresh vegetables accompanied by meat, roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings.

Mum, Sarah, likes to source things locally where she can.

“On a Saturday I make a trip to the butchers and greengrocers for the veg and meat. Anything I can’t get there I pick up at the supermarket.”

A family of Northerners, the Yorkshire pudding plays a main role in their sunday roast. Son, Tom, inparticular won’t accept anything less than 100% homemade from his Grandma’s recipe. He says,

“I can tell instantly if they’re not homemade – I won’t stand for an Aunt Bessies pud!”

Dinner dominates most of the afternoon in the Cousans’ home. Sarah can do little else as the food needs constant tending to, though she is happy to do it:

“I don’t mind cooking a large meal, I enjoy seeing everyone appreciate the food.”

The Ingredients

•Roast beef from Leo the butcher
•Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts from the local grocer
•Yorkshire puddings homemade according to a family recipe
•Roast potatoes homemade from supermarket potatoes
•Gravy made from meat juices

The Schedule

11.15: Sarah turns on the oven to heat whilst she prepares the beef and peels potatoes.

11.35: The beef goes into the oven and Sarah begins preparing the veg.

11.53: Sarah makes the Yorkshire pudding mixture according to her mum’s recipe.

12.00: Sarah spends 20 minutes cleaning up the mess made by making Yorkshire puddings and preparing the vegetables.

12.30: Potatoes are put on the stove to part boil.

12.45: Potatoes are transferred to the oven to roast.

12.59: The Yorkshire pudding mixture goes into the oven and the carrots are put on to boil.

1.05: The peas and brussel sprouts are add to a pre-boiled pan of water to cook for seven minutes.

1.10: The meat is taken out of the oven and its juices are mixed with instant gravy granules.

1.14: Exactly 15 minutes after they went in, the Yorkshire puddings are cooked to the satisfaction of Tom.

1.24: With everything out of the oven and the veg cooked and drained, dinner is served. The family eat at the table.

1.59: After dinner, Sarah spends 35 minutes clearing the table and cleaning the kitchen, before retiring to the lounge with a glass of wine. Three and a half hours after dinner was started, Sarah can relax.

Read part one of this feature ‘A quick fix meal’ here

The Sunday roast: A quick fix meal

Young couple Rachel and Rob Upton enjoy a Sunday dinner, and are happy to buy it ready made on the shelves of their local supermarket.

The ready prepared and freezable ingredients fit in with their lifestyle and mean that they don’t have to worry about finding time on the day to make a trip to the supermarket.

“I don’t think that cooking a Sunday roast should lead to any stress or inconvenience. It is a meal that should be enjoyed. There are enough things to worry about without getting stressed over cooking a Sunday dinner as well.”

Rob DJs at a club until four in the morning on a Sunday, so an early start for slow-roasting the meat is out of the question. Rachel says,

“If I had to spend all day doing it I would want Rob to help, which I know he wouldn’t because he is so tired…we would probably end up having an argument about it. Sunday’s are our only day off together, its not worth ruining for the sake of saying we made the meal from scratch!”

The Ingredients


•Birds Eye Traditional Beef with Homestyle Gravy
• Aunt Bessies 12 Irresistable Yorkshires
•Aunt Bessies Honey glazed roast parsnips
•Aunt Bessies Delicious Sage & Onion Stuffing Balls
•Aunt Bessies finest roast potatoes•
Freshlink Sausage and Bacon Rolls
•Sainsbury’s cauliflower cheese
•Sainsbury’s
prepared vegetables
• Bisto instant gravy

The Schedule


12.20: The oven is switched on to heat up while Rachel prepares all the elements of the meal – taking them from packets to baking trays.

12.30: The Parnsips, potatoes, stuffing, sausage and bacon rolls and cauliflower cheese are put out into the oven for 25-30 minutes at 190 degrees.

12.47: Rachel pops back to the kitchen to boil the water for the bags of beef.

12.53: The microwave is set for seven minutes to cook the bag of vegetables and the instant gravy is made.

1.03: Just over 40 minutes after the oven was first turned on, dinner is served. Rachel and Rob settle on to the sofa, dinner on their lap, to watch Formula One.

1.30: Plates and cutlery into the dishwasher,the clear up is done before the kettle is boiled for a cup of tea.

Read part two of the feature ‘A family feast’ here