About Us
Our Story
StitchWorks was born to serve the community through trade skills development and manufacturing resources. What began as a coalition to support under-resourced fashion entrepreneurs evolved into educational programming to upskill talent in manufacturing. After producing 10,000 pieces of medical equipment for our community in the pandemic, the lucrative value of the sewing trade was amplified more than ever before. When we learned about the discrepancy in resources for students to learn these skills in the urban core, compared to suburban high school programs our purpose was transformed.
Did you know that at risk youth with access to creative learning are five times more likely to graduate from high school than those without? In Indianapolis, this reality is unfortunately demonstrated when comparing graduation rates in the urban center versus suburban communities. Although 5 out of 5 suburban public high school programs offer both fine arts and sewing-related courses, 4 out of 10 urban center programs offer fine arts and 0 out of 10 offer sewing-related courses. We know that trade skills and creative learning can transform lives. As we answer the call to fill the gaps in accessibility, we take a holistic approach to ensure our community can thrive in this industrial domain.
Our impact
StitchWorks programming serves our community by preparing students with the skills to thrive in industrial fashion careers. With 24% of companies bringing their production back to the United States by 2025, we train the next generation of innovators making up 10,000+ apparel supply chain workers in Central Indiana. We support our programming by offering full-service production that provides on the job training to certificate graduates and a membership program to local entrepreneurs in need of specialized equipment to grow their business.
