Bringing Sewing Back into Schools and Communities, Help and Support this Campaign

Bringing Sewing Back into Schools and Communities

• Made In USA manufacturing faces a major stumbling block.

  Many of the people who used to make America’s factories and workshops hum retired and their knowledge is lost stateside, manufacturing leaders say.

  Los Angeles designer Lillian Raven hopes to do her part to bring manufacturing and the art of sewing back. She made a curriculum for youth that teaches sewing and fashion design. Raven recently started a crowdsourcing campaign on Indiegogo for her venture,” I Am therefore I Sew.” Funds will help purchase sewing machines for her classes, cutting tables and other materials for the venture. Visit Raven’s indiegogo campaign page here.

  

  A class from I Am Therefore I Sew. Courtesy Lillian Raven.

  Lillian Raven: Bring Back Sewing!

  By Andrew Asch | Friday, October 31, 2014

I am Therefore I Sew – Kickstarter

I am Therefore I Sew – Kickstarter.So it is my dream to reunite sewing classes and children by bringing it back into the school system.  When I was growing up sewing was taught in school as part of the curriculum. When I was growing up sewing, was done in the home by parents or grandparents. As a child I would look over my mothers shoulder, transfixed as she would create, fresh off the press clothing, that was original, fresh, fly and sometimes downright embarrassing, lol as this was her choice, but my point was that I got to see garment construction first hand, and that piqued my interest. At school I was able to further that interest.  I want to preserve the dying art of sewing and teach it to children. Why should I care. The reason is sewing saved me from a self destructive life. (Pause) I cry as I write. Teardrops bounce off my keypad. (Pause).  Because as children there are not many things that we have control of in our lives. Circumstances that we face as kids can be so overwhelming emotionally and physically wounding, recovery can be hard and can go undetected, only to resurface later on in life. As a child I was a burns survivor at 4 years old, I witnessed a brutal marriage and a violent divorce. Many home moves later. My soul was hurt, my self esteem was damaged, but creating something out of nothing, constructing, ordering, commanding a mere piece of fabric, into being what I wanted it to be. Made me the author and the finisher. It empowered me. It helped me take my mind off my problems and gave me a creative outlet. There are children out there that too can be saved from self destruction. I am doing my part to give back into the lives of others and to use my talents to empower our youth. Do what you can. The minimum pledge is $1. That’s all. S1 You can donate yours at  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2021205489/i-am-therefore-i-sew