Why Sewing?

Provide the training and equipment that will enable under-resourced individuals to enjoy a flexible, livable means of employment through the textile trades.

Students will learn to create valuable products from thrifted machines and repurposed cloth.

In the same way, they will learn that God’s love can bring new purpose and restoration to their lives

Sewing is a very practical skill in any household. Until the mid ‘80s, sewing was taught in most Jr. Hi. And High Schools. Since that time, sewing has become a nearly lost skill and trade in America. According to an article in the SJ Sourcing Journal online, there is a labor shortage in the US for skilled sewers:

“In a twist of irony, the Made in the USA textile and apparel movement, largely begun to bring badly needed jobs back to the domestic economy, is being plagued by, of all things, a labor shortage. Since 1990, the American textile industry workforce has declined by 77 percent .The workforce with skills to cut and sew apparel is so scarce that some companies are worried they will have to turn down orders.”

After the student has completed the nine initial lessons, which should take approximately 40 class hours, the sewing focused student will be gifted a sewing machine and the needed notions to enable them to sew at home. They may choose to join the external labor force and/or to sew from home and sell their products.

If the student choses the entrepreneur route, the program will continue for the next 12 months, where the students will be offered some advanced sewing / upholstery classes and learn the professional skills needed to become entrepreneurs.

Since the training to become an entrepreneur is quite varied, we will recruit individuals such as interior designers, marketing professionals, business managers and “IT” experts who are retired, or still working and just want to help their community by mentoring and training our entrepreneur minded students.

The word “trades” implies that there is more than one trade being taught, which is true! There are quite a number of spin off trades that must be plied in order to become an entrepreneur. Fashion accessory creation, home décor design, sewing machine repair, marketing, and business management are but a few of the trades/skills needed to make the program a success! All of these can be taught to students willing to learn and apply their God given talents to the task!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Cor. 5:17 (ESV