The Social Outfit: sewing confidence and community

Three years ago, Kobra was having a difficult time. “When my son started school I felt really lonely,” she explains. “We recently moved to a new house, the condition wasn’t good and I felt really depressed.”

Kobra’s GP spoke to her about finding a way to connect with other people. “When I found out about the sewing class and the teacher speaking Farsi I felt really comfortable to come and join,” she says. “After that I find a purpose in my life, each Friday I drop my son to school then I come here.”

Stitching connections

The Social Outfit received a $20,000 Community Grant to run its Community Sewing Program, which brings people from refugee and migrant backgrounds together to learn sewing and craft skills, make new friends, and practise conversational English. Hosted at the House of Welcome in South Granville, the classes are led by two highly skilled refugee women who once trained with The Social Outfit and are now guiding others.

Each 10-week term ends with a session at The Social Outfit’s Marrickville workroom, where students are introduced to industrial sewing before receiving their certificate.

For many, these classes mark significant firsts: the first time stepping outside their neighbourhood, the first time speaking with people beyond their own cultural group, or even the first time leaving the house. Through sewing and learning, the program helps foster a sense of belonging and community.

“The first term we made a smock top,” says Kobra. “The teacher taught us how to read the pattern, then how to measure our body and find the perfect size. We cut the fabric, the teacher goes through step-by-step how to connect different parts of pattern fabric together. I was proud of myself because it was a really nice feeling after I finished and I wore it.

“Then I bought pattern paper, copied the pattern in different sizes, and my sister and I bought fabric in Cabramatta and made more tops.”

Kobra attended three terms of the Community Sewing Program, making a bag, skirt, pants and various other items. She then worked up the courage to travel to Marrickville to do the beginner’s training program in industrial sewing.

“Some days I took a wrong train,” she laughs. “Now that I’m looking back I really enjoyed those days.”

Developing a sense of community

“The program provides people with an opportunity to build connections with others, to build confidence as well as skills and knowledge,” says The Social Outfit Programs & Employment Transitions Manager Sonya Price-Kelly. “We often see really strong friendships forming between women who have never met each other before, it’s really nice when we see cross-cultural connections between people from different backgrounds. Those relationships continue well past their involvement with us.”

Today Kobra works for The Social Outfit as a Community Coordinator, looking after new student enrolments, keeping track of attendance, making sure participants have the equipment they need, and assisting with teaching and translation. She has been employed for two years and loves sewing more than ever.

“I have a lot of friends,” she says. “Before when I walk through the neighbourhood I didn’t know anybody but now there are a lot of ladies saying hi to me.”

Pathways to employment

The Community Sewing Program has been running since 2022, and although the majority of participants have been Afghani women, there have also been people from Iraq, Colombia, Venezuela, Nigeria and China.

“Because sewing is a very visual, hands-on medium we can overcome language barriers,” Sonya explains. “If they have some English Kobra can translate, we also use Google translate a lot.”

The program presents an opportunity for participants to learn about The Social Outfit’s various training and employment pathways.

“The majority of women who attend continue on with our other programs,” says Sonya. “Industrial Sewing Training is next, then the Earn and Learn program which is paid training. They’re taught to make a garment and trained in the various processes, they’re paid for the time they’re in production to get the quality to the level it needs to be.

“It’s an opportunity to practise paid work experience. It’s about being at the workroom on time, learning soft skills like team work, listening and following instructions. We’re trying to instil those transferable employable skills.”

About the Community Grants Program

Every year the Sisters of Charity Foundation provides grants to small not-for-profits across Australia, like The Social Outfit, that use clever ways to fight disadvantage, loneliness, suffering and oppression. Learn more at Community Grants Program.

The Social Outfit is a fashion label with a difference. The social enterprise charity provides employment and training to people from refugee and new migrant communities via its ethical manufacturing studio and retail store.

Main photo: sewing teacher Fezeh with Kobra (right).