05/15/2026
Sewing: Redefining the Modern Form of Success by Alissa Dockery-English Class
Creating something with your own hands has been a key to life for many generations. It is the sense of self one feels within their soul, yet does not always receive the satisfaction society has labeled it with. For centuries, hands were the instruments of human purpose and helped shape survival into beauty and art later in life. In an article by Maxwell Christian, he talks about how the second most expressive body part is not just the face, but your hands. “Hands, in their truest form, are universal and genderless…they are well understood in their various forms and play a large role in both communication and creation” (Christian). The hands of mankind have helped create some of the most iconic standpoints in our history. The Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, and even the Colosseum were things that could never have been built without endless effort, showcasing the hard labor that came with it. These efforts and hard labor created history that will forever show others how those structures shaped not just society but oneself. These monuments were not just a result of civilization’s advancement, but they represented something bigger and personal, the desire within humankind to create. That hard labor and discipline one must have gone through was never truly about the end product, but the transformation of the whole process. While creation has taken many forms throughout our history, sewing stands as an example of how meaningful, hands-on work can challenge society’s definition of success. Creation has never been about the last and final product, but the internal changes within someone during that process. It ties one to their identity, their self, and their purpose in life. Whether that be in creating ancient buildings, art, or sewing, it has never truly been about creating an object, but shaping a sense of self and understanding from within. In order to create, your hands become one of your finest tools. One can’t sew or build buildings without their hands. But what of it if our society has labeled it nothing more than just a hobby? As society moved forward in history, the value of creation has changed with different definitions.
One’s success is not about the hopes and dreams they create with their hands, but it is now shaped by those around us, socially and economically. Civilization has moved from eras ruled by kings to a society dominated by economic growth and technology. Success has been labeled differently, no longer a standpoint in our generation, simply just a place for tourists to visit. Historical pieces of creativity have been left behind in a society that seems to be moving faster every day. Social status, wealth, and power drive today’s generation in hopes of reaching bigger success. It has been studied by many in this generation, including a group of women studying this at The University of Cambridge, “The way that success is defined shapes our working lives. It affects how organizations perform, who progresses within them, and how power is exercised” (Bostock). Yet even when it seems as if one has reached their full potential and gained that social status they dreamed about so often, does that truly give that person meaning? How does an eight-hour shift and dissatisfaction make one believe they have reached their best simply because they get higher pay in the end? I believe that society has pushed us to think that wealth is the only thing in life that will make one feel valued. It is as though we have forgotten that validation can be so much more than just numbers on paper. Income and professional titles have taken such a hold on us, so much so that we forget the need to search for more outside of those traditional values of success. That external validation, the praise and acceptance from others, only lies within one’s academic achievements or career paths. It is when creating something with our hands that it stands as a subtle yet powerful significance. I believe that sewing is not a talent or hobby, but it is something that gives people that satisfaction within their own work, instead of searching for outside validation from others. Sewing has demonstrated that true accomplishment can emerge from the process itself. Sewing has transformed the traditional values of success into something deeper, reminding us that success is not just about wealth and power. True accomplishment can not lie within external values but in what we create with intention and care. Sewing shows that success is not measured by money, titles, or recognition, but by meaning, purpose, and personal growth. Sewing has the power to give someone purpose without seeking it in an everyday job and income. It challenges society’s narrow definitions of success by showing how true, meaningful accomplishments come from personal growth and creativity.
By defining success just through income and recognition at work or in social status, society takes a major risk of disconnecting individuals from meaning, fulfillment, and personal growth. In today’s world, our generation is motivated by achievements and goals. Generation Z, which was born between the years 1997 and 2012 are usually characterized by these common traits and the values they hold (Yunissov). A study done by a researcher called Yersin Yunissov, which was done with 160 students in Kazakhstan, helped show how kids of their age defined and related concepts of life success and moral qualities. Among these students, half studied and specialized in economics, and the other half in humanities. The researchers in this study believed that students who studied economics were most likely to associate success with socioeconomic status and attitudes toward activity and work (Yunissov). The students who studied humanities were more likely to be focused on the qualities of their moral consciousness and the attitude to the other people around them at work, not just themselves and their personal goals. That raises the question of whether it is one’s education that changes the perspective many have on success and goals, or whether it is simply how this generation took it. “Young people born in the age of virtual reality are marked by a transformation of values, lifestyle, and skills” (Yunissov). Gen Z was the first generation to be influenced by technology and social media. About 60% of people on social media feel their own achievements and success are poor compared to social media influencers they see online (McCally). Values such as simple satisfaction or relationships have been easily replaced by money and higher status for just about anything.
The shift from personal success to outside validation did not just happen out of the blue, but it has been advancing even more with social media. Social media has changed the perception of success, shifting the ideals of those who are constantly online. It only takes a few scrolls until you’re stuck in an endless loop of watching influencers dote around their money and high status, enjoying their seemingly unattainable lifestyles. Yet these lifestyles try to influence others into thinking that is the ultimate end goal of life. That “perfection” comes from false expectations. “It’s almost impossible to feel satisfied when everyone else on social media seems to be five steps ahead. This constant comparison, which is made incredibly easy through social media platforms, shifts students’ focus away from achieving personal goals and into a specific mold they feel they must fit into to be successful in the future” (McCally). While social media gives a version of success that is based on status and appearance, sewing is the alternative, providing self-driven and personal satisfaction as success, not public approval. If success is molded by those around us, then can our own perspective on success ever truly be authentic to ourselves? What would even be the point of success if it all meant the same to everyone? Our world would be a copy-and-paste version of itself with no identity. In a world that seems to revolve around the success of others, that cycle needs to be broken. To challenge and break this cycle, one needs to understand how success is defined beyond society’s standards.
It starts with asking ourselves whether the version of success we are chasing is truly our own. In an article written by Cyndi Bennett, a leader and advocate for those who have struggled with trauma in the workplace, she questions why we seek more than we truly want in the workforce. “Most people define success as an outcome: a title, a salary number, a level of recognition. It’s always a destination — something you arrive at, check off, and then… what?” (Bennett). Research suggests that the feeling of success is not rooted in external rewards, but in the internal experiences of purpose. Yet today it seems so hard to focus on ourselves, as if we are always trying to prove to others that we have gained success. We hold the validation of others more closely to us than our own feelings towards it. The need for external approval has shifted success from an internal experience to a public performance. Success is more visible in measures that are able to be celebrated by others, but we do not see the fulfillment behind it that is much quieter, more personal, and is harder to capture (Hounslow). Instead of asking whether we feel fulfilled, we usually ask those around us if they are impressed. As time goes on, those moments when it seems like you’ve achieved something to be triumphant about turn into something hollow, something not worth celebrating as much anymore. The achievements one has done become less valued by themselves, seeing it as something ordinary. The psychology behind this has helped many understand why one starts to feel that way and why the disconnect from happiness occurs. “The pursuit of success can become self-perpetuating. Each time someone achieves a goal, the reward system in the brain releases dopamine, creating a short burst of satisfaction” (Hounslow). As this cycle continues daily, whether at work or at school, knowing what the rewards are afterwards can become normal, and the subconscious search for that dopamine can soon feel more hollow. To actually feel something from an achievement, one’s goal needs to have three needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Goals that do not follow these needs tend to look impressive to others, but they feel empty to that person within (Hounslow). One might ask why we feel hollow after achieving something that was important to us, but psychology does not lie. Psychological emptiness has been studied in relation to happiness and the well-being of an individual. Studies have shown that daily life satisfaction is the overall happiness shaped less by someone’s public achievements and more by the quality of their everyday experiences (Tadic). This can help explain why activities like sewing can feel so fulfilling. It naturally provides personal meaning without having to rely on outside validation. “Research on subjective well-being investigates how an individual judges the quality of his or her life: thus, subjective well-being is considered to be one of the important indicators of successful aging” (Tadic). In a study done by several researchers, they aimed to examine the role of work status and the relations between time-use and momentary happiness. The researchers used monthly assessments throughout the day to check their levels of happiness and fulfillment for over three years with 579 older adults (Tadic). After three years, they learned that subjective well-being helped judge the quality of their lives, which depended on emotional experiences. By the end of their study, they found that the quality of one’s life is shaped more by emotional experiences, and true success is rooted in the process of living to your fullest, not by the performance of achieving. For me, sewing embraces that. Sewing is so much more than just a hobby; it amplifies the need for fulfillment and, at the same time, forms a way of success that is personal.
In a society that is so obsessed with external measures of success, sewing can provide the achievements that create personal satisfaction that is measured by its mastery and skills. Each completed project brings a sense of personal satisfaction that develops one’s abilities, strengthening their patience and focus. “Whether you’re stitching a quilt, mending clothes, or creating a handmade gift, the act of sewing can have profound effects on mental, emotional, and even physical well-being” (Leah). Sewing has been around for what seems like centuries, and its importance is overlooked in today’s society. Usually seen as a time-consuming task, people forget that sewing has always been a way for individuals to express themselves, their creativity, and to be able to take pride in their own hard-earned work. “In a world that often feels chaotic and uncontrollable, sewing allows individuals to regain a sense of mastery and control. When life feels unpredictable, having the ability to create something from scratch can be incredibly empowering” (Leah). That sense of control that one has while sewing challenges the modern definition of success that focuses so much on outside validation. Sewing helps see one’s own progress in real time, right in front of them, and that alone is worth the hours and patience that it takes to create a project. All the skills that are put into making something with your very own hands are all worth it, for they provide a sense of self and purpose. If it is a project for yourself, a gift for another, or even just making something for fun, that is the art of sewing. Knowing that your version of creation can bring joy to others, so that one can create a sense of satisfaction and success. “Creative activities help individuals process life experiences and build identity, showing that success and fulfillment can come from internal meaning rather than external measures” (Amendoeira). This shows that the idea of sewing can be more than just a simple skill to learn, but that it is a way for individuals to come up with their own meaning and identity. Learning to sew is not just about stitching fabrics together; it is, in a sense, stitching together one’s own being. It strengthens emotions, the sense of control and purpose, and shows those around them their sense of self and self-expression. For many accomplishments, they tend to lose their lasting fulfillment, and they rely heavily on the applause of others. Yet for sewing, it is the opposite. It is a certain kind of confidence that grows within one, one that shows their efforts and growth, a satisfaction that does not go unnoticed. What starts with just fabric and a simple line of thread can transform into something deeper. A meaning that makes one strive to choose to create and to reflect that within their sewing.
On the other hand, many like to believe that sewing is just another simple craft, that it holds no real value to success. Some might argue that sewing lacks the financial and professional value needed in order to see it as “successful”. Yet this perspective of sewing fails to show how much craft in general can change one both emotionally and psychologically. Research done by Addie Martindale and Ellen McKinney explored the emotional, psychological, and personal reasons why women like to create their own clothing (Martindale and McKinney). Martindale and McKinney would survey fifteen women who sewed as a hobby to observe their experiences. As the surveys were collected, they showed that these women were motivated by personal satisfaction rather than it being a chore or for professional success. Many of those women described sewing as a source of joy, creativity, and peacefulness. “Sewing provided these women a source of happiness that was completely their own. The positive sense of well-being provided by sewing offered participants an escape from reality that personally benefited them” (Martindale and McKinney). This showed many that the personal fulfillment achieved by sewing allowed these women to express themselves, and that provided a positive impact in their lives (Martindale and McKinney). To further confirm this, a study was done on a prison sewing program in a Chinese all-women’s correctional facility. Yilan Wu used survey data collected from 492 inmates to see how this sewing program could connect with the inmates’ psychological and behavioral adjustment in prison, using sewing as a stress reliever. “Vocational training programs are often promoted as key components of prison rehabilitation, offering inmates structured routines, marketable skills, and a sense of purpose” (Wu). The sewing program was seen as a vocational training that would help the women in the facility gain independence and help them gain a new sense of purpose while in the facility. Most of the inmates viewed it as a way to reform themselves. Sewing, no matter the environment or time, holds a powerful meaning. From helping women find meaning and a new purpose, sewing can bring forth a new perspective on anyone’s life. In a life that ties almost everyone into a busy everyday routine, sewing can create a safe and meaningful space in one’s life.
If I have learned anything from gaining a hobby with sewing, it is that it truly changes your perspective. It has shown me that my accomplishments can include so much more than just academics and sports. Sewing has taught me patience, focus, and pride in myself. Feeling pride over my own small projects is a different sense of accomplishment than I gain when completing an assignment at school. It brings a sort of accomplishment within me that I never thought I could do. To be able to create a bag, a design on a crewneck, and even start my own quilt, it’s a skill I never thought I would develop as a hobby. I see my value in myself growing every day, and I see that transformation in others at my work. As I started working at Good Life Fabrics, a sewing and fabric store, I get to see how every person walks in with a new sense of self that revolves around sewing. I see mothers, aunts, and grandmothers walk in with the same quiet determination to create a piece for their loved ones. Whether that be a quilt or a simple, small project, they show their love for them through their creations. I watch as they leave the store with a new sense of confidence, identity, and joy, and how sewing can give them a purpose to show their love. Sewing offers something worth more than a trophy or money. I feel as though I can share that with them, even if I do not know them personally, but it connects us through the enjoyment of sewing that we hold close to us. Each project that has been crafted into perfection holds a story. Every stitch is a reminder that the value of our work lies not in what others see but in the care we put into it. It carries a piece of the maker’s heart in a way that puts a piece of themselves within it. I may not be the best sewer out there, but I hope to continue sharing my personality, character, and identity through my work. With every little stitch I make, I am reminded that the most meaningful achievements are not the ones that are measured by grades, money, and recognition, but by the care, patience, and heart that lie within someone. True success is found in the love, care, and stories woven into what is created, shaping who someone becomes stitch by stitch.
