What a tremendous to do! I'm in the camp of those who enjoyed the article when it first came out. I couldn't quite put my finger on it at the time, but I think it was the absolute freedom of Brook's creativity. I've gone back to that article several time since it was published.
Yes, I am taken back by the apparent lack of construction skills exhibited in the article, but I admire how Brook plunged right in, creating without the okey-dokey of the sewing world! After viewing her web site, I see that she has already come a long way, and is selling clothes for others to wear.
I teach sewing, and I judge sewing. Yes I use conventional standards to judge, that's what's expected in state fair competition.
However, the measure of how much joy a soul derives from creation is usually found well beyond a perfectly turned seam. My job as a teacher is to pass on valuable skills, but in no way does that entitle me to prevent the exploration of trends I don't deem valuable.
Just a few days ago, while sifting through my disorganized pile of sewing information and notes, I came across color photo-copies of two little scrap-dolls sewn together by a a 6 or 7 year old child during free sewing time at summer sewing-camp. I am still overwhelmed by her use of color, form, and ragged bits of left-over fabric to make such beautiful, compelling objects.
Yes, I strongly believe that clothes should both fit well and hold together well. I don't think I'd like to wear a loosely-constructed garment that looked as if it were about to fall off my body. But, I always enjoy getting a glimpse inside of someone else's creative process.