At Make Mee Studio we have been teaching sewing and craft activities to children and adults in Lewisham for the past 3 years. We offer workshops that are as accessible, inclusive, and as environmentally and socially beneficial as possible. We don't think money should be a barrier to the arts, we are passionate about giving as many people as we can the chance to unlock their creative potential and experience the positive impact making can have on mental wellbeing. The environmental impact of fashion and textiles is also an important strand to our work, we believe connecting students with the process of making can change attitudes and lead to people keeping and caring for their clothes for longer.
Founders Tracey and Jaime have varied backgrounds in tailoring, costume and sustainable fashion; we have both been sewing teachers for almost 10 years. Through Make Mee Studio we have run a whole host of accessible community workshops in Lewisham from working with young children to older people as well as vulnerable groups. We have partnered with community organisations, schools, youth centres, housing associations and homeless charities.
The pandemic has meant a huge shift in our business with in person classes not being possible for a large proportion of the year and we have seen a growing need for mindful and engaging projects for all ages that people can do from home, especially those who are isolated.
We want to push the boundaries of what being a teacher/ facilitator means, trying to engage people who think crafting and creating 'isn't for them' and giving people all the tools they need to be creative without barriers. An important part of our work is creating an approachable and understanding teaching atmosphere and creating a peer to peer network where makers can learn from each other.
We feel strongly that work that has already been produced during the pilot programme deserves to be showcased in Lewisham to give the makers a sense of achievement and to show to others what can be done when a community comes together creatively.
We believe Patched Together can have a much longer lasting legacy for Lewisham residents beyond the pandemic, unlocking skills people didn't know they could have and using creativity to bring people together.