Sewing Family
A community sewing charity · London

Stitching communities together.

Bringing people together through sewing, creativity and sustainable fashion. Because everyone deserves the chance to learn, make and belong.

Find out about classes →Volunteer with us
Learn ✳ Make & mend ✳ Support our community
Our mission & vision

Sewing can change lives.

Our purpose is to change lives through sustainable sewing practice and inclusion in our neighbourhoods. We work with local councils, organisations and businesses to provide safe sewing teaching and practical skills for people who face disadvantage.

INCLUSION

Sewing for everyone

We create welcoming opportunities to learn, make and connect through sewing.

SUSTAINABILITY

Make, mend & customise

We teach sewing, customisation and sustainable garment-making skills that help people make more of what they wear.

OPPORTUNITY

Skills for the future

Our teaching can help beneficiaries build skills and explore potential machinist employment in the fashion industry.

About our founder & director

Meet Caroline Gration.

Caroline founded and directs Sewing Family. She has 39 years of experience in the fashion industry and has also worked as a university lecturer and led The Fashion School CIC, a non-profit teaching sustainable and inclusive fashion to children.

Her work with councils, charities, schools and Cadogan Estate has included refugee, repair and children-in-care workshops. With support from designers and brands who have donated fabric and equipment, Caroline helps preserve cultural sewing techniques and create opportunities for families to connect.

Caroline on the right, with daughter Celeste on the left
Caroline on the right, with daughter Celeste on the left
Volunteer

Share your skills. Make a difference.

Volunteers help in many ways, from teaching or helping with sewing to gardening, painting, repairs, finance, bid writing and general support.

Are you working towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award? We also welcome young people looking for volunteering and skills opportunities.

Hands cutting yellow floral fabric with scissors

Would you like to volunteer?

How you can help us at Sewing Family

We have lots of opportunities below and you would be making a real change to people's lives - and it's a great way to meet people and have a lot of fun.

If you're at school doing your Duke of Edinburgh Award at any level, we have volunteering and skills opportunities for you!

Anything really, we'd love to meet you!

Email us about volunteering
Sewing workroom with fabric, sewing equipment and mannequins
A participant sewing at a machine with help from an instructor
A group gathered around sewing machines during a class
People taking part in a sewing class
Sewing machines set up in the Fashion School workroom
Young participants showing clothes they made in a sewing session
Sewing Family participants outside the studio
Young participants and an instructor together in the sewing workroom
A participant sewing a garment with sequined fabric
Participants modeling handmade clothes
An instructor working at a sewing machine
Participants working together at sewing machines
Sewing Family participants in handmade garments
Classes that support our work

Learn something new and help make a difference.

Classes now take place at The Fashion School. Fees from our paid sewing classes contribute to Sewing Family’s community work. Choose a project, build your skills and learn at your own pace.

Book a sewing class ↗
Contact us

We’d love to hear from you.

For questions about Sewing Family, classes or volunteering, get in touch.

Call us
+44 749090847
Visit us

Sewing Family

19 Ashburnham Road
London, SW10 0PG

The Fashion School

6 Burnsall Street
First Floor
London, SW3 3ST