OUR PROUD PARTNERS
Sew & Sew equips remote community schools with sewing labs, including quality sewing machines and supplies, so they can teach a valuable life skill through traditional projects in the school setting.
Your support enables us to equip classrooms and provide direct coaching and educational support to teachers and students.
2024 Spring fabric collection : Now ON!
Recipient schools:
Many factors are involved in selecting a qualifying school for the installation of a Sew & Sew Skills Lab. Namely, we look at school infrastructure, existing sewing programs and teaching resources, prior collaboration with the school or community, as well as our ability to create longterm partnerships with transporters for the recipient community.
In 2024, recipient schools are:
Janome Canada Ltd. contributes 60 quality sewing machines! Read all about it here:
APTN SPECIAL REPORT
Click the image to view the report.
In 2022, the Canadian Quilter's Association published an in-depth article about the Sew & Sew program. We were also invited to their annual quilter's convention in Vancouver, as their "show" project! Click the image to read the article.
MEET RUTH
We are so proud to work with Ruth Dukas as official ambassador of the Sew & Sew Skills Lab program!
Ruth is a retired, award-winning Canadian fashion designer who in the 1960s was celebrated across North America for her evening wear designs with their luxurious beading and embroidery. She employed Indigenous women for some of the bead work and recalls how Indian Affairs at the time made the process extremely difficult; buried in red tape and endless paperwork, she was forced to abandon her employment strategy, but always hoped that someday she would be able to continue supporting Indigenous women and communities.
In 2017, Ruth joined I Love First People as a chapter leader for Kingston. Each year since, she mobilizes her network in support of our projects. What’s even more amazing is that Ruth has reignited her passion for knitting through ILFP, as each year she knits dozens of hats and scarfs for children in remote communities – the kids who receive her creations love them, and are always so happy to hear the story of the wonderful woman who made them! (Ruth was also a knitwear designer, working alongside other greats like Alfred Sung).
Today, at a youthful 92, Ruth is asking all Canadians, especially all businesses and groups involved in textile arts, to join her in helping young students to learn sewing through traditional projects.
Together, we can help elevate a new generation of Indigenous creators and designers who are all very eager to get started…
