More Amish research

This information is from 'Amish Quilts', by Robert Bishop and Elizabeth Safanda:

'When these pieced quilts are displayed for sale, the crowd is impressed by their simple yet powerful geometric designs, and by the juxtaposition of intense solid colors. ...A close observer will notice that these deceptively simple, pieced bedcovers are hand-quilted with elaborate motifs-roses and tulips, wreaths, feathers, stars, diamonds and "fish scale", all executed with tiny precise stitches.' p.7
 

- so, it sounds like there is initial interest grabbed by the colour and overall unique design and then further discovery of the stitched design on the surface (that feeling of 'oh, I didn't notice that at first, that's nice!’) This seems like a nice, although literal, way incorporating Chapman's idea of layers of discovery. 

'These old Amish quilts have a dual appeal-their visual impact and their superior craftsmanship.' p.7.

I think it is important that sustainable fashion also has these above qualities; beautiful and well made.

Safanda describes womens' position as submissive, and Amish society as patriarchal. She writes that women tend to have a fixed routine of housework - cooking, cleaning etc, which she suggests might be satisfying, but, there is little to show for the effort - it will all need doing again. She believes that one of the reasons women quilt is because it is a:

'...creative activity that has enduring value, whose outcome will be a tangible and lasting evidence of her achievement.'p.14

Safanda also suggests that quilting is good for well-being:

'...it is highly conceivable that not all the emotional needs of the Amish woman are satisfied in a community that stresses-even demands-spiritual and material conformity. One can look at Amish quilts, in part, as an unconscious expression of the need for individual achievement, for differentiation.' p.14.

It seems as though the process of quilting meets the higher needs in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, such as creativity, individualisation and belonging. While the actual quilt, as a finished product, meets the lower needs, such as protection from the cold. (It could be argued that the quilt also meets higher needs depending on how it is used and who by). If the process of creativity is so important, I need to think about whether I want to include the user in the design process, or help people too create their own clothes rather than make them myself.