NOT SHORT ON STYLE

Talented sewists who are 5ft 2in and under share the challenges - and joys- of sewing as a petite person

- Michelle Grady

Trouser hems trailing along the floor; sleeves that need to be rolled up to be wearable; maxis so long you feel like the dress is wearing you, not the other way around - these are all issues that those on the petite end of the height spectrum have likely faced when trying to find clothes that fit.

So, it's no surprise that so many people under 5ft 2in have taken up dressmaking. After all, if you're getting the sewing machine out to hem trousers, skirts and dresses anyway, you might as well go one step further and make the whole garment. It's a struggle I know all too well myself (@eclecticthreads) - I grew tired of altering shop-bought clothes to suit my 4ft 8in frame, and realised that sewing my own from scratch was not only a practical solution to achieving a well-fitting wardrobe but a creative outlet, too.

I discovered an inspiring community of petite sewists online who share their makes, fitting tips and pattern recommendations using hashtags like #PetiteSewing, #SewXXS #SewingForPetites and #PetiteSewist. More broadly, tags such as #ShortPeopleProblems take a light-hearted look at the difficulties short people face on a daily basis (hello, climbing to reach the top shelf at the shops!).

BREAKING THE MOULD

While it can be affirming to embrace the more humorous sides of being petite, the lack of representation and visibility for short-stature people in the fashion and sewing industry is a very real issue. Hoping to change this for the better, Chamiah Dewey (@chamiahdewey fashion) launched her eponymous, groundbreaking fashion brand for short stature women of 4ft 10in and under in 2021.