Today we’d like to introduce you to Reanna Edds.
Hi Reanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been sewing since high school but really dove into my craft in 2020. I was pregnant with my first baby during the height of the pandemic and decided to teach myself how to sew baby clothes. After making a tiny collection of adorable clothes, I ventured into sewing clothes for myself. I’ve now been sewing my own clothes for the last five years and discovered it to be such an incredible outlet for my mental health and creativity. I’ve really grown my craft and have enjoyed the slow process of curating a wardrobe that consists of high-quality handmade items that reflect my personal style and allow me to walk away from fast fashion.
Over the last few years and many “thanks, I made it” moments with friends and strangers, I realized that my community had a sincere interest in learning how to sew, but many didn’t know where to start. I saw this as a great opportunity to fill this niche need for the community, as well as embark on the journey of starting my own little business to see where it could take me.
I spent 2024 centered on building a website, running practice workshops with friends and family, and I was able to officially launch Sew Club in September 2024. Since then, it has taken off organically, with workshops selling out, returning students, and really amazing positive feedback from all who come to sew.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were so many challenges to work through, but I would say my biggest challenge has been sourcing fabric wholesale for my workshops. I spent many hours researching and sampling fabric, trying to find high-quality garment fabric from natural fibers. I’m currently working with some amazing fabric, but with all the recent changes in tariffs, I’m having to pivot and sourcing continues to be an obstacle.
Additionally, there has been a big learning curve to getting all the details right, like how much time to allocate for workshops and what types of patterns and projects will work well for workshops. I’m heading towards a full year under my belt, and I’m now starting to feel like I’m hitting my stride with planning and preparing for workshops.
Looking to the future of Sew Club, my biggest challenge is finding more time to grow my business while maintaining a healthy balance with family life.
We’ve been impressed with Sew Club , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sew Club is a modern sewing studio based in Grand Rapids. Our bread and butter is teaching you how to sew your own clothes using size-inclusive patterns from indie pattern designers. We offer all levels of sewing workshops, from total beginner to experienced sewist. We aim to cultivate confidence in your craft and empower you with the knowledge to build your own handmade wardrobe that fits beautifully and reflects your personal style.
What sets us apart is not only teaching this niche area of sewing, but all our workshops are fully inclusive. We provide sewing machines, sergers, sewing tools, fabric and notions for all our workshops. This allows you to just show up and enjoy the experience of a weekend of making something special with other local creatives.
Our workshops are small, limited to only six sewists at a time, so they are intimate with lots of opportunities for hands-on guidance and connection. This also means they tend to fill up quickly!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Sew Club wouldn’t be possible without my cousin, Ryan, who generously lets me hold workshops at his beautiful creative studio space (for his local production company, Oswald West). When I approached him with the idea, he was so supportive and has been a great mentor in helping me get my business off the ground.
Also a huge shout-out to my husband who has been a huge support, help, and cheerleader. From helping me with building my website, brainstorming ideas, setting up at the studio, and just encouraging me to go for it, I wouldn’t be where I am without his support.
Lastly, the amazing local creatives make this possible. I seriously jump for joy every time someone signs up for a workshop, follows up with stories of what they have gone on to create, or share that they went out and bought their first sewing machine, it truly brings me so much joy!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sewclubgr.com
- Instagram: sewclub.gr
