Soft Apocalypse Fashion: The Wonderful and Practical Creations of Rachael Gilbert-Burns

Going by the handle @minimalistmachinist on both Instagram and TikTok, Rachael Gilbert-Burns shares her various knitting and sewing creations with a large group of dedicated followers. The source of her popularity? Her so-called "soft apocalypse" fashion, a take on practical workwear that emphasizes use and re-use, as well as fantasy and futuristic elements that add a layer of imagination and joy to the ordinary. 

I first found Rachael through TikTok, where I watched her process of creating two knitted vests inspired by the film Ammonite, and then became further inspired as I watched her knit a sweater that had hidden layers of code worked into its intricate patterns of bobbles and lines. She states that every piece she makes has hidden messages in it, another layer of creativity added to the ordinary. 

A recent project of Rachael's has been a series of quilted vests, first with plain fabric, and then with a technique known as crumb quilting, where small scraps of fabric are sewn together randomly to create a colorful, textured piece. I've following these projects with a special interest, as I love quilting and I'm intrigued by this method of using up scraps. Using up scraps is a common practice in Rachael's work, and a constraint that she willingly puts on herself in order to ensure that her work is as sustainable as possible. In addition to these vests, Rachael also recently knitted a sweater made entirely from scraps of yarn from her previous project, and then the even smaller scraps generated by this sweater she then sewed onto a cardigan to create an interesting pattern around the hem. 

This constraint has allowed Rachael to stretch creative muscles and come up with new and interesting ways to piece together all the little bits and bobs that get left over at the end of any creative process. To me, this using up of scraps is far more interesting that the simple creation that comes with making a plain garment out of ready-bought fabric or yarn. I find these works especially beautiful, and even more so because I am able to peek into her process and see the careful thought behind each piece she makes. She's very open about her process, and it's so fun to watch her experiment with different ideas as she works to understand the best way to make sense of the materials she has to work with.

With her social media following, Rachael does fall under the little-c category of creativity, and I know for a fact that her creations have the power to influence individuals and communities. Through following Rachael, I've learned to appreciate what my clothing does for me. I've learned to repair my clothes as they wear out, and I've also been inspired to bring aspects of her imagination into my own fashion, as I make and wear my own clothes. I have also observed others who follow her post their own creations inspired by her work, and I've seen "soft apocalypse fashion" grow from a funny word to a semi-popular trend, at least within the social media circles that I frequent. I believe in Rachael's philosophy of making use of leftovers, mending and recreating what you already have, and bringing fun and imagination into the simple, common process of dressing yourself each day. I know that this can have a positive impact on people, because it has had a positive impact on me. I hope that looking through her work, if you choose to do so, can have a positive impact on you as well. 

Link to Rachael's Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/minimalistmachinist/