The Uniform Project

Well, I don’t know if one reader comment endorses my fabric-flower corsage , but you’re going to get a tutorial for it anyway. Just not today.

Today, I’m going to tell you about what I was supposed to say yesterday: the story tip from Spokane resident Cherie Kilillea about the woman helping poor kids in India get an education.

The woman, New York City resident Sheena Matheiken, pledged to wear the same dress every day for a year (her “uniform”) to raise awareness and funds to send kids to school in a country where 7.5 million children don’t get an education. Sheena is nine months into The Uniform Project and readers have donated $54,717 so far.

Her friend, Eliza Starbuck, designed a versatile, cotton dress/tunic that can be worn alone during summer or with layers during winter. There are actually seven dresses—one for each day of the week—that are identical.

It’s fun checking in on Sheen’s “dailies” each day to see how she’s accessorized the dress.

That’s how The Uniform Project came up during my conversation with Cherie. Designers like Cherie have been sending Sheena their creations, hoping she’ll wear them with her little black dress, thus bringing traffic to their own Web sites and stores.

Brilliant all around, if you ask me.

These are a few of my favorite looks Sheena has created:

Jan. 6

Oct. 4

Aug. 7

Aug. 30

She calls it an exercise in “sustainable fashion” and has plans to produce and sell the dress (made from organic cotton). Any accessories donated to the project will be auctioned off at the end, with the proceeds going to the fund that’s helping kids go to school.

There are  many ways creative people are helping those in need, not just in India, but in Haiti, in the U.S. and all around the world. Want to be a part of what’s called “craftivism”? A good place to start is at Craft Hope , where projects are announced regularly, whether you knit, sew, cut, paste or simply want to support those in need by purchasing a handmade item or two.