THE SEWING COOPERATIVE
Rome’s ethical fashion house, focused on creating jobs for refugees.
I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with social entrepreneur Lydia Witt and her growing non-profit organisation and, I can assure you, this project is heart-felt. The Sewing Cooperative utilises tailoring skills that many African refugees in Rome previously possessed, while also providing an opportunity to learn for those who aren’t experienced in the art of sewing. Shoppers collaborate with the team to customise their very own African-inspired products (hand-made, one-of-a-kind, top-quality stuff!) and profits go directly to the cause!
Guests, clients, and shoppers have the chance to opt for a full experience along with their tailor-made clothing. The process begins with shopping through local Roman markets for the perfect fabrics and patterns: where clients can choose from a wide variety of colours and patterns.
Once the fabrics have been selected, the garment style should be decided. The Sewing Cooperative has many sample items on hand allowing shoppers (both men and women) to browse and choose their ideal design – but the team is also open to new ideas and alterations! Clothing designs and pieces ranges from skirts and dresses to trousers and tops – and everything in between. They’re also skilled with a variety of accessories, including bags, bracelets, earrings, and more.
The Sewing Cooperative is currently based in Rome, but is expected to keep on growing! They currently work with clients in person, take online orders via Facebook or Instagram, and are also taking on long-distance collaborations with clients as far away as the US. While African style is their speciality, they are not limited. If you have a sewing project that needs to be put in motion, consider reaching out to this hard-working team to get the job done!
Photographer: April Nicole Creative
Models: Veronica Notturni, Gioia Loveth, Tahnee Rodriguez
African Patterned Clothing: The Sewing Cooperative
Make up and Hair: Martina Muscariello
Stylist: Ilaria Corsaro
Location: Sala 1 Gallery, Rome Italy
Wooden Sculpture: Tito Amodei
Miami fashion photographer April Nicole is currently based in Miami, Florida and serving all of South Florida with quality photo and video content. If you’re based in South Florida and in need of professional headshots, engagement portraits, branding content, fashion editorial shots, or a wedding photographer – get in touch for a free consultation!
2 Comments
Great project! Would love to learn more about it
It really is awesome! You should check them out on Instagram and Facebook 🙂