About Sew Fabulous
Sew Fabulous Community Interest Company is based in Brighton Open Market, a busy covered market in central Brighton.
We are based in a warm, welcoming and professionally equipped sewing studio in Brighton’s historic Open Market.
We have been here since the market’s refurbishment in 2014.
Our equipment includes a range of Janome sewing machines and overlockers, an industrial straight stitch machine, large cutting tables and everything necessary for our classes and workshops.
From our studio we run weekly classes and regular workshops for all ages, from kids and teens after school classes to regular adult classes catering for a range of abilities.
We host and create bespoke craft parties, perfect for hen parties, baby showers and birthdays.
Local textiles artists regularly join us as guest tutors to run workshops.
Dear Sew Fabulous followers we have a survey that we would LOVE you to fill in, it’ll only take a few minutes and we stand to gain so much from your participation. We are going to enter all of the names into a hat at the end of the three week period and pick a LUCKY PRIZE WINNER. The prize is a free workshop place to the value of £30. Thanks so much. x
The aims of Sew Fabulous are:
- To provide sewing classes and workshops to the local community.
- To promote the reuse and recycling of fabrics and clothing as an antidote to fast fashion.
- To be a positive force for change in our city and to promote an inclusive environment for all.
The aims of our outreach program are:
- Sew Fabulous Outreach Programme aims to provide affordable, accessible beginners sewing class for adults who are experiencing social and economic disadvantage in Brighton & Hove (or neighbourhood specific).
- Sew Fabulous aims to support participants to develop life skills and confidence through the provision of a structured learning programme and support.
About us
Susie Deadman
Executive Director and tutor
Throughout my life I have had a strong urge to be creative. When my children were small I went to college to learn dressmaking and pattern cutting. I continue to learn and recently completed a historical costume design course in London. I have been working in arts education since 2009. I freelanced as an artist educator, and still do for organisations such as Towner Gallery Eastbourne and Gladrags.
In 2013 I started working with Sue and suggested we open a studio together. Sew Fabulous was incorporated in 2014 and we opened in the Open Market.
I am passionate about living a creative life and my wish is to enable others to do the same. I particularly love working with kids and young people in the studio.
Sue McFarlane
Executive Director and tutor
I began sewing as a young mum in 1991 accessing a beginners sewing course at an adult learning centre. Since then I have worked as a freelance seamstress on a huge variety of projects, from fashion collections to theatre costumes and props and everything in between. I began teaching in 2012 and am PTTLS qualified to teach adults in the lifelong learning sector.
Establishing the C.I.C with Susie in 2014 meant that we could offer low cost accessible learning to those that would benefit most from these creative and sustainable life changing skills.
Judith Cousins
Director
I have many years experience of leadership, management, training and facilitation in the voluntary, social enterprise, public and private sectors. Many of my roles in the public sector have involved evaluating tenders and funding bids; supporting service providers to develop strategy, measure their performance and report their outcomes. As CEO of two not-for-profit organisations I bring experience of bidding for funding, managing contracts and finances. Over the past 10 years I have been developing a framework for the not-for-profit and public sector to support strategy development and measure social, economic and environmental impact called Social Value Made Real. I have been a keen sewer and knitter since an early age and welcome this opportunity to support Sew Fabulous bringing together my work skills with my personal love for sewing and creating.
Charlotte Amery
Director
Charlotte is our specialist pattern cutting tutor and a valuable member of our team.
Johnny Denis
Director
Johnny Denis has a long history of founding, managing and supporting community and co-operative enterprises and is proud to be a director of Sew Fabulous
“it’s all about bringing us together around sewing, giving us the skills and confidence to be resourceful when money is tight”
Johnny is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, runs a co-operative helping people in rural areas keep warm, is a director of three other social enterprises and is a Parish Councillor in Lewes District