THREADS OF CHANGE: INSIDE SIADEZIGNS’ MISSION TO MAKE SEWING ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
CAFETERIA SITS DOWN WITH FOUNDER NERISSIA FOR A CONVERSATION ON FAST FASHION AND THE ANTIDOTE
SiaDezigns began as a spark during the early days of the pandemic and has since grown into a vibrant sewing studio dedicated to accessibility, creativity and community. Founded by Nerissia who turned frustration into innovation, SiaDezigns offers a welcoming space where anyone, regardless of skill level, can learn how to sew. Rooted in Hartford, the studio provides an essential “third space” for hands-on learning, especially for youth often overlooked by traditional creative programming. With a mission to make sewing practical, empowering and inclusive, SiaDezigns redefines what it means to create, repair, and reconnect — one stitch at a time.
Continue scrolling to read the full interview below.
What inspired you to start SiaDezigns? Was there a particular moment that led to its inception?
SiaDezigns started back in 2020 as an idea during COVID when people started asking me to teach them how to sew masks. I got the idea in 2023 to create a studio and that was born out of a single moment of frustration where I had been sewing in my room for such a long time and I didn't have enough space to do anything. I figured if I'm going through this problem, there are probably other people going through the same thing. I needed to create a studio that has all the tools and all the resources you need to get started in sewing – SiaDezigns was born out of necessity.
What are some of the principles that guide SiaDezigns and what is its mission and ethos?
I always want to make fashion and sewing accessible to everyone. I was fortunate enough to have been able to go to school for fashion design, but it's also incredibly expensive. I don't want that to be a barrier for anyone. My goal is for people to be able to use the studio as a resource. If they have questions about fashion or sewing, I’m here to help them or provide them with the tools so that they can learn on their own. A beginner who knows nothing about sewing or fashion design can come into the studio and walk away knowing that that's an industry or a skill set that they can pick up if they just dedicate their time to it.
Can you speak to the importance of establishing third spaces centered around tactile arts in Hartford?
In an age when everything is becoming incredibly digital, it is so important to have a space where people can go into and make things with their hands. I work with teenagers and young kids and when they finish making something, they're so proud because it shows them that you can do amazing things with your hands. It’s particularly important for Hartford kids because it's a skill that gets pushed aside and needs to be encouraged more, so they don't think that Hartford doesn’t have anything cool to do.
What makes sewing special compared to other mediums?
I think sewing is very important because it’s not only practical, but it’s also creative. It's not just, “oh my God, I’m creating this beautiful dress,” but it's something like, “oh wow, my button is falling off and I can put it back together,” or “my pants are too long, I can make them shorter” – it's a very practical art form.
Even if people take up sewing and they have no intentions of becoming a fashion designer, I do believe it’s a good skill to have because we're surrounded by fabric every single day. If there’s a rip in your couch, you should be able to just whip out a needle and thread and fix it. It's a very practical skill to have, when you apply a bit of creativity to it, it just makes everything so much better. Recently, I fixed someone’s stuffed animal, so you're not only creating things that you can enjoy, you're creating things that other people can enjoy.
In a day and age where fast fashion and constant consumption are so rampant, what value do you think learning how to sew has?
One of the biggest questions I get is, “is it cheaper to sew my own clothes?” I always tell people it’s not cheaper up front to sew your own clothes, but the process of making clothes is not cheap to begin with. The reason we can get our clothing for so cheap is because someone is paying the price down the line. I think that if we could just bring back sewing classes or some sort of home economics class for students, more people would understand the amount of labor that goes into making a garment because we’re so used to getting clothes instantly.
What can first time students expect from your classes?
My policy whenever students come to my class is to know that there are no stupid questions here. First things first, we always go over a safety debrief because we are working with sharp objects. A lot of the students that come to my class for the first time, they're scared of the sewing machine and my response to them is “you have all the power, you can just unplug the machine” and they always love that. We go through just how the machine works and how to do a couple of basic stitches. For the first class we end with making a pouch because I find that it's very good for students to walk away with something that they've made. The first class is very beginner friendly. The majority of people who come to my class have never touched a sewing machine before and by then, they're just like “oh my God, I made something.” Yes, yes you did.
Are there any upcoming events that you’d like to share?
Every month we do an open show where people can come into the studio and work on finishing their projects. We also have our Beyond Basics class, which starts on June 21st and is the intermediate level. Our Sewing 101 class starts on June 25th and is for beginners who just want to learn. Everything is provided for all of the classes, so all you have to do is show up and make something fun for yourself or a loved one.