A MESSAGE
FROM THE DIRECTOR
I am honored to have been with the founding leaders and volunteers beginning in early 2012 to found and launch Sew Loved programs. What started with a simple inner-city sewing club for at-risk women has blossomed into an ever growing program. Along with our initial and ongoing Open Sew sessions, we now teach industrial sewing, accept jobs from companies needing cut-and-sew production, offer commercial embroidery and sublimation, operate a longarm quilting service, and provide alterations to the public. Some of these programs pay students for their participation and also add support of our overhead costs.
Get involved! We have an ongoing need for volunteers in all the areas mentioned above. Additionally we are in need of volunteers with computer skills including bookkeeping, Adobe Illustrator, design digitizing, social media and more. We also need your monetary support. We are a 501(3)c and completely funded by your donations.
Join with us with your donations and participation so that Sew Loved can continue to serve the community and the women of our programs.
A MESSAGE
FROM THE DIRECTOR
I am honored to have been with the founding leaders and volunteers beginning in early 2012 to found and launch Sew Loved programs. What started with a simple inner-city sewing club for at-risk women has blossomed into an ever growing program. Along with our initial and ongoing Open Sew sessions, we now teach industrial sewing, accept jobs from companies needing cut-and-sew production, offer commercial embroidery and sublimation, operate a longarm quilting service, and provide alterations to the public. Some of these programs pay students for their participation and also add support of our overhead costs.
Get involved! We have an ongoing need for volunteers in all the areas mentioned above. Additionally we are in need of volunteers with computer skills including bookkeeping, Adobe Illustrator, design digitizing, social media and more. We also need your monetary support. We are a 501(3)c and completely funded by your donations.
Join with us with your donations and participation so that Sew Loved can continue to serve the community and the women of our programs.
OUR STORY
2012: Sew Loved began as a small group of volunteers gathering in a local community center, united by a shared love of sewing and a desire to uplift marginalized and underserved women in the surrounding inner-city neighborhood. Through our “Open Sew” sessions, we discovered that creating a space for learning, connection, and creativity had a powerful impact—boosting confidence and fostering lasting personal growth.
2014: As demand for our programs grew, Sew Loved officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and moved into its first dedicated facility. That same year, we expanded our reach to serve a new population: at-risk teens. In partnership with The Crossing Education Center, we launched a “Learn to Sew” class for high school students from its South Bend campus.
OUR STORY
2012: Sew Loved began as a small group of volunteers gathering in a local community center, united by a shared love of sewing and a desire to uplift marginalized and underserved women in the surrounding inner-city neighborhood. Through our “Open Sew” sessions, we discovered that creating a space for learning, connection, and creativity had a powerful impact—boosting confidence and fostering lasting personal growth.
2014: As demand for our programs grew, Sew Loved officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and moved into its first dedicated facility. That same year, we expanded our reach to serve a new population: at-risk teens. In partnership with The Crossing Education Center, we launched a “Learn to Sew” class for high school students from its South Bend campus.
2018: To continue our mission of empowering through textiles and meet the needs of a broader audience, we began laying the groundwork for an industrial sewing training program. Our original facility could no longer support our growing vision. In March, we moved into our current location at Vested Interest—a collaborative space developed by the Ziker family to support education and workforce training. With the support of generous partners including Goodwill Industries, Crossing Education, Work One, and local city and county organizations, we began offering special-order embroidery services using a commercial embroidery machine donated to Sew Loved.
2019: A major milestone came when Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a longtime supporter of Sew Loved, launched his presidential campaign. His team contracted with us to produce over 9,000 embroidered hats and beanies, prompting us to expand our embroidery capabilities thanks to another generous equipment donation.
2018: To continue our mission of empowering through textiles and meet the needs of a broader audience, we began laying the groundwork for an industrial sewing training program. Our original facility could no longer support our growing vision. In March, we moved into our current location at Vested Interest—a collaborative space developed by the Ziker family to support education and workforce training. With the support of generous partners including Goodwill Industries, Crossing Education, Work One, and local city and county organizations, we began offering special-order embroidery services using a commercial embroidery machine donated to Sew Loved.
2019: A major milestone came when Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a longtime supporter of Sew Loved, launched his presidential campaign. His team contracted with us to produce over 9,000 embroidered hats and beanies, prompting us to expand our embroidery capabilities thanks to another generous equipment donation.
2020: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected challenges. In March, we paused all in-person programs. But our spirit of service remained strong. Leveraging our community partnerships and industrial lab, we quickly pivoted to produce PPE—especially masks—to address critical shortages. This initiative activated our training lab in a powerful new way.
2021: As the mask project wound down, a new idea emerged: to provide cut-and-sew production services for local designers and small businesses. With a small team of skilled workers, we began producing goods for e-commerce clients—an initiative that continues today and remains central to our work.
2020: The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected challenges. In March, we paused all in-person programs. But our spirit of service remained strong. Leveraging our community partnerships and industrial lab, we quickly pivoted to produce PPE—especially masks—to address critical shortages. This initiative activated our training lab in a powerful new way.
2021: As the mask project wound down, a new idea emerged: to provide cut-and-sew production services for local designers and small businesses. With a small team of skilled workers, we began producing goods for e-commerce clients—an initiative that continues today and remains central to our work.
2022: We launched our Learner-to-Earner program in our custom sewing and alterations lab, giving participants hands-on experience while offering professional-level services. As COVID restrictions eased, we reopened our doors to volunteers and learners of all ages—including men—who were eager to explore sewing, quilting, and textile arts. This year also brought an expansion of services including longarm quilting, custom sewing, product R&D, and professional alterations.
2024: With the support of OrGreens, a sustainable PPE company, we welcomed even more Learner-to-Earner participants. Our industrial sewing training continues to grow, and we’ve launched a new professional sublimation printing service to further empower and equip our learners.
2022: We launched our Learner-to-Earner program in our custom sewing and alterations lab, giving participants hands-on experience while offering professional-level services. As COVID restrictions eased, we reopened our doors to volunteers and learners of all ages—including men—who were eager to explore sewing, quilting, and textile arts. This year also brought an expansion of services including longarm quilting, custom sewing, product R&D, and professional alterations.
2024: With the support of OrGreens, a sustainable PPE company, we welcomed even more Learner-to-Earner participants. Our industrial sewing training continues to grow, and we’ve launched a new professional sublimation printing service to further empower and equip our learners.
Join hands with us. Together, we can make Sew Loved not just a place — but a movement of love, learning, and lasting change.
Join hands with us. Together, we can make Sew Loved not just a place — but a movement of love, learning, and lasting change.
251 E Sample St, Suite 100
South Bend, IN 46601
Located in the historic
Ziker’s Dry Cleaning building
574-314-3464
info@sew-loved.org
574-314-3464
251 E Sample St, Suite 100
South Bend, IN 46601
Located in the historic
Ziker’s Dry Cleaning building