Historical fashion is more than what’s on the surface.

As a daily wearer of historical fashion, I am fascinated by the practicality of historical fashion and how it can be incorporated into everyday, contemporary life.

It tells us about the customs, lifestyles, interests, passions, attitudes, and more of people throughout history, and it weaves together a story far beyond face value.

My name is V. Birchwood and I’m a Volga Tatar as well as a multi-disciplinary artist (poet, filmmaker, colourist, hand sewer, singer, and storyteller). My YouTube channel and filmmaking focus on experimental archaeology and glimpse firsthand into what it may have been like for people historically, applied in a modern context. I also discuss historical fashion and hand sewing and how we can interact with fashion in a more compassionate, sustainable, and connected way. Beyond this, I’m passionate about covering themes such as the deeply meaningful (to me) reconstruction and research of my Indigenous clothing, as well as conscious consumption, humanity’s innate connection to nature, and the wisdom we each carry from our ancestors.

For my everyday clothing, I wear Ancient Greek, Viking, Medieval, Renaissance, Victorian, and other eras, as well as incorporating more of my Indigenous (Turkic) dress. All of the garments I sew for myself are 100% hand-stitched, and I don’t even own an electric sewing machine!

I find hand sewing to be an incredibly therapeutic and calming practice. Through this medium, I’m able to recreate historical garments using traditional methods, methods my ancestors would have used. By doing so, I feel as if their hands are working through mine and then I get to wear these garments in everyday life.