Save a fortune by making your summer clothes from second-hand bed linen, like this new mum

After becoming a mum and leaving her career and life in London, Rachael Ballard wasn’t sure what to do next. But her thrifty approach to shopping this summer led to unexpected results. She managed to save a small fortune and, what’s more important, found her calling for the years to come.

What did she do?

Rachel Ballard did what so many of us wish we could do too – created her own summer outfits using second-hand bed sheets and duvet covers. They were all sourced from the local charity shops costing her less than £1 / $1,15.

Since becoming a mum, Ballard struggled to find clothes comfortable enough to breastfeed. She said to Grazia:

I've found getting dressed (and feeling good in what I wear) really difficult and I'm still breastfeeding so it's a challenge. My headspace and time are minimal, so I need easy-to-throw-on, easy-to-access clothes that also make me feel like me again.

Ballard admits that clothing has always been a huge part of her life, but motherhood and breastfeeding changed the way she dressed. Most of her outfits were no longer practical.

As with every worthy deed, this woman's clothes-making path wasn’t exactly strewn with roses. She did some research and found a pattern-cutting course at a local college where she went for 8 weeks, sharing her time between caring for her baby and studying.

She also found her calling

The results were worth it. Not only did Ballard save about £600 / $700, but she also found her calling.

At the beginning of her journey, this new mum felt that her ‘whole identity was up in the air’. But, through hard work and dedication, she now knew exactly what she wanted to do: help new mums preserve our planet for future generations.

Ballard decided to create her own label, Rita, Again. The brand will make breastfeeding-suitable clothes using organic materials. She has already started working on the SS23 collection, finding her stunning vintage prints in unwanted bed linen.

The new creative entrepreneur said:

Whenever I pass a charity shop, I pop in to see if they have any bed linen. I’m always on the lookout for bold '70s floral print or '80s/'90s ditsy styles. And from just 50p you can end up making multiple outfits.

According to Ballard, ‘life is difficult in many ways, but getting dressed shouldn't be'. And when it comes to her future, she hopes she’s ‘cracked it for a good few years to come’.

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