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In an age of fast fashion and fleeting trends, there’s something wonderfully grounding about learning to make your own clothes. That’s exactly the experience offered by The Sewing Club, the creative sister brand to Dear Dawn. The focus is on slowing down, learning practical skills and rediscovering the simple joy of making something by hand.
We recently joined one of their once-off sewing workshops – a relaxed, beginner-friendly class designed to show just how accessible sewing can be. The concept is refreshingly simple: arrive with curiosity and leave with something you made yourself.
There is something empowering about answering the question “Your skirt is so cute, where did you get it?” with “Thanks, I made it myself!”
Our heart is to make sewing cool again. We also want to break the stigma that sewing is only for old people. Anyone can sew, and that is what we want to show people.
A Warm Welcome for Beginners:
From the moment we sat down at our machines, the atmosphere felt warm and encouraging. We were provided with all the necessary materials, from fabric and thread to sewing machines, meaning there was no need to arrive with any prior knowledge or equipment. For many of us, it was the first time sitting behind a sewing machine – but that quickly stopped feeling intimidating.
Before diving into the project, the team guided us through the basics: how the machine works, how to thread it properly, and the essential techniques needed to get started. What could have been overwhelming was instead broken down into clear, approachable steps.
The Task: A Skirt in an Hour
Our task for the afternoon was to create a patternless skirt in about an hour – a concept that initially sounded ambitious but quickly proved surprisingly achievable. With careful guidance and a few helpful sewing tips along the way, fabric panels began transforming into real garments.
There was something deeply satisfying about watching a flat piece of fabric take shape, seam by seam. The room quickly filled with laughter, encouragement and the quiet hum of sewing machines, as everyone discovered that sewing is far less intimidating than it first appears.
By the end of the session, each of us walked away with our own handmade skirt – a tangible reminder of what can happen when creativity meets a little guidance.
The Sisterhood Between Dear Dawn & The Sewing Club:
The Sewing Club celebrates their sixth birthday this year, after being christened in 2020 into something permanent and offerable. The concept evolved from inviting a few friends to learn how to make a skirt to offering this class to the public in a relaxed but formal setting.
Dear Dawn is the sister company of The Sewing Club, a fashion label started by Cindy Maree. She is the mastermind behind the two companies, building something out of love but also to fill a gap in the market.
“The Sewing Club boomed out of nowhere. Girls just want to learn how to sew,” says Cindy. “Our heart is to make sewing cool again. We also want to break the stigma that sewing is only for old people. Anyone can sew, and that is what we want to show people.”
Where To Join The Sewing Club:
Due to an overwhelming demand, girls can find The Sewing Club in six locations across South Africa: Stellenbosch, Bloemfontein, Parys, Pretoria, Potchefstroom and of course, Johannesburg. With two locations in Joburg already, there is a plan in place to offer a third location too. All in all, “The Sewing Club is pumping, and girls just want more, like Level 2 and Level 3 courses.”
The Sewing Club’s classes are designed for everyone, from complete beginners who’ve never threaded a needle to those looking to refine their techniques. “In our small groups of six, each person will receive personalisedattention while enjoying the fun of being surrounded by fellow sewing enthusiasts.”
For anyone looking to move from “complete beginner” to someone capable of making their own wardrobe staples, these classes provide the perfect next step.
Current courses include:
Level 1 (Beginner friendly):
Level 2 (Intermediate):
Once-off classes (Beginner friendly):
Brand Partnerships to be Proud Of:
“We have also just signed a partnership deal with Bernina South Africa which is crazy incredible,” explains Cindy. “They gave us a full distribution deal, an input of a whole lot of machines, and a certain amount at a very goodprice to sell to our customers. The machines on Takealot or something would be about R4,000 but we get to sell it to our girls for R2,700. We don’t just want to give someone a fish, but also give them a fishing rod.”
What makes the experience stand out is that it’s not just about learning a technical skill. It’s about building confidence, embracing creativity and rediscovering the satisfaction that comes from making something with your own hands.
After an hour, we didn’t just leave with a skirt – we left with a new appreciation for the craft behind the clothes we wear every day.
And perhaps the most surprising takeaway of all? Sewing might just be the next hobby you didn’t know you needed.
In an age of fast fashion and fleeting trends, there’s something wonderfully grounding about learning to make your own clothes. That’s exactly the experience offered
In a city defined by ambition and ever-evolving skylines, a new development is preparing to claim its place at the very top – quite literally.
In an age of fast fashion and fleeting trends, there’s something wonderfully grounding about learning to make your own clothes. That’s exactly the experience offered
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