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The Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant hits back at the ‘constant pressure’ to buy new clothes and says the BBC show has encouraged viewers to make their own outfits

The Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant hits back at the ‘constant pressure’ to buy new clothes and says the BBC show has encouraged viewers to make their own outfits

Alex 

Alex is passionate about sustainability in the world of sewing and creating garments 

Alex – who lives in Derbyshire – is currently involved in the realm of writing and holds a job as a copywriter and editor.

But Alex is no stranger to sewing, as she learnt the skill at a young age and while many children would buy their stuffed toys from a store, she chose to make her own.

Alex is passionate about sustainability in the world of sewing and creating goods and believes ‘comfort is key’.

Janet 

Janet loves to make 'formal, glamorous dresses for holidays and dancing classes' and outside of sewing

Janet loves to make ‘formal, glamorous dresses for holidays and dancing classes’ and outside of sewing

Born and raised in Yorkshire, Janet is in her retirement and is passionate about art, specifically oil painting.

She loves to make ‘formal, glamorous dresses for holidays and dancing classes’ and outside of sewing.

Suzy 

Suzy, who is a fan of living environmentally friendly - often uses charity shop curtains and bedsheets as material

Suzy, who is a fan of living environmentally friendly – often uses charity shop curtains and bedsheets as material

Suzy currently lives in Liverpool and recently quit her corporate marketing job to return to working in the hospitality sector.

Also a fan of the environmentally friendly lifestyle and cutting down on waste, Suzy often uses charity shop curtains and bedsheets as material.

She particularly likes large ruffles and gigantic sleeves and likes to feature them in her designs.

Neil 

At 6ft 4in, Neil is usually one of the tallest individuals in the room and his height sparked his sewing journey

At 6ft 4in, Neil is usually one of the tallest individuals in the room and his height sparked his sewing journey 

Neil works as a woodwork instructor in Leicester, in the Midlands. When he’s not at work, he enjoys leading murder-themed bike tour.

At 6ft 4in, he is usually one of the tallest individuals in the room and learnt to sew when he couldn’t find vintage clothing to fit his frame.

Lauren 

Lauren enjoys sewing and is inspired specifically by the bright eighties fashion and adores the 'bold aspects' of the era

Lauren enjoys sewing and is inspired specifically by the bright eighties fashion and adores the ‘bold aspects’ of the era

Lauren works as a finance administrator up north in Manchester and has followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a talented singer.

She enjoys sewing and is inspired specifically by the bright eighties fashion and adores the ‘bold aspects’ of the era.

Georgie 

Contestant Georgie is not just a fan of sewing and equally enjoys knitting as well

Contestant Georgie is not just a fan of sewing and equally enjoys knitting as well 

Georgie is connected the realm of music, similarly to Lauren, and works as a club and festival DJ.

The DJ is also passionate about sustainability and often uses tablecloths and quilted blankets as material.

But Georgie is not just a fan of sewing and equally enjoys knitting designs also.

Don 

Don would describe himself as a perfectionist and enjoys creating 'unusual but simple garments'

Don would describe himself as a perfectionist and enjoys creating ‘unusual but simple garments’

Don was taught to sew more than 70 years ago by his mother on an old-school hand-cranked sewing machine.

He would describe himself as a perfectionist and enjoys creating ‘unusual but simple garments.’

Don has also had experiencing navigating the sea as he used to be a keen offshore sailor. He even sailed his own boat to La Rochelle in France.

Comfort 

Comfort enjoys batik - a method of decorating fabric by applying hot wax and dye - and designs her own fabrics

Comfort enjoys batik – a method of decorating fabric by applying hot wax and dye – and designs her own fabrics

Comfort is no stranger to the world of design as she spent her years training to become an architect.

Now a self-employed designer and business manager, she started sewing after she gave birth to her first child

She felt like she was ‘lacking creatively’ after having a child and looked to sewing to help her navigate her way back into the world of art.

Comfort enjoys batik – a method of decorating fabric by applying hot wax and dye – and designs her own fabrics.

Luke

Luke was taught to sew by their grandmother when they were just eight years old

Luke was taught to sew by their grandmother when they were just eight years old

Luke currently works as a diversity, equality and inclusion director and has a drag persona, Selma Skreams.

They were taught to sew by their grandmother when they were just eight years old.

Marcus 

Marcus, from London, describes his garments and designs as 'jarring, garish or kitsch'

Marcus, from London, describes his garments and designs as ‘jarring, garish or kitsch’ 

Marcus currently works as a teaching assistant and arts award coordinator in the capital city, London.

He describes his garments and designs as ‘jarring, garish or kitsch,’ and enjoys DJing, rollerblading, writing, art, building Lego and playing video games.

Pascha 

Pascha is one of the 12 contestants for this year and also once made a Marie Antoinette inspired silk ballgown

Pascha is one of the 12 contestants for this year and also once made a Marie Antoinette inspired silk ballgown 

Pascha is currently a student and is studying Psychology and Innovation and enjoys growing, foraging and fencing.

Pascha also once made a Marie Antoinette inspired silk ballgown.

She grew up in the Scottish Highlands and now lives in Glasgow.

Alisa 

Ailsa enjoys time out in the countryside and is particularly fond of wild swimming in Loch Lomond

Ailsa enjoys time out in the countryside and is particularly fond of wild swimming in Loch Lomond

Ailsa also enjoys time out in the countryside and is particularly fond of wild swimming in Loch Lomond.

She describes her sewing style as ‘contemporary, sustainable, modern and experimental.’