After several attempts at writing books, Amaryah deGroot began making books and in 2003, she weaves!, a one-woman book binding press, was born. Designing the book covers quickly took precedence since they offered more opportunities to experiment with printing and transferring techniques and all kinds of fibre arts. Fibre eventually won Amaryah’s heart and, after learning more about sewing, weaving, felting, and spinning, she began making and selling reconstructed clothing. In 2008, she weaves! was reborn as sew oiseau, a workshop based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, creating and custom-making women’s and children’s clothing, silkscreen prints, hand-cut stamps, and hand-bound books.
Every sew oiseau design is an original.
Materials
The best part about the Reconstructed Clothing is that every new item consists of more than 90% recycled fibre pieces. Each item begins in the remnants of recycled clothing of wool, cotton, and synthetic fibres, which are then pieced together with an industrial serger, and reinforced with either machine or hand sewing. The sew oiseau and she weaves clothing collections are made with care and attention to detail for a long life and possibly even reincarnation. The clothing is intended for everyday wear and regular laundering; however line drying, rather than dryer use, is strongly encouraged.
sew oiseau accepts used clothing, particularly that with a high percentage of wool content. Please email amaryah@sewoiseau.com if you have items to donate.
Silkscreen Images are designed by hand, transferred to a screen using photo sensitive emulsion, and printed with water-based inks. Once dried, each print is reinforced with heat. All screen-printed clothing should be washed inside out.
sew oiseau Books are made with new or found papers, hand-bound with traditional bookbinding thread, glued with non-toxic wheat paste, and designed for daily, flexible use. Covers may combine different fibres depending on the custom order.
sew oiseau also produces Printing Stamps which are hand-cut from rubber and linoleum, and are available through custom order.
Custom Orders
We welcome your requests for custom-made clothing. If you have something in mind, please visit the gallery for similar pieces or email us with your request.
Hand-bound books and hand-cut prints are only available through custom orders. Silkscreen prints, incorporated into our reconstructed cotton clothing, may also be individually made to order.
