Introducing SFW Hub: Chorley
Introducing our Hub partner in Chorley, led by Dawn Elliott of Create and Sew Studio.
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey into the fashion world?
Dawn:
“In 2019, I left the corporate world to turn my lifelong love of sewing and crafting into a
business, I successfully worked as a franchisee for Sew Confident for 5 years before opening
Create and Sew Studio in the vibrant town of Chorley in 2024. What began as a hobby has now
grown into a welcoming, creative space where I share my passion and skills with others –
my true happy place.
Over 18 months ago, I began my preloved journey – and I haven’t looked back. I now either
make my own clothes or buy second-hand and rework them. It brings me so much satisfaction
and saves me a fortune too! I love a creative challenge, and I'm passionate about sharing these
skills with others. Hopefully I can inspire more people to have a go at reclaiming their fashion,
one stitch at a time.
Why take part in Sustainable Fashion Week?
I absolutely love the sewing community we have here in Lancashire. Over the years, I’ve hosted
several charity sew days, where we made mastectomy pillows and syringe driver bags for local
hospices. Being part of something bigger and using sewing for good has been so rewarding. In
2024 I also got involved with Jane Dixon and her Bereavement cafe in Bolton, where we
brought women and men together to create a hand sewn square which then was made by me
into a quilt. Each square on the quilt represented a loved one no longer with us. It then went on
display and helped to get others to talk more openly about grief.
For Sustainable Fashion Week, I hope to bring our community together again – this time to
explore how we can be more sustainable and thoughtful with our clothing. We’ll be running
workshops to help people repurpose old clothes and fabric, learn visible mending and upcycling
skills, and embrace a slower, more creative approach to fashion. I'm really excited to be a host
this year and to share classes and events that are not only practical, but also great for your
wellbeing.
Last year my studio was featured on the BBC One Show which was a fantastic
experience. They filmed the full 2.5 hour class where an adult and child learn to sew. It was so
much fun and shows how sewing is for all generations and is such a valuable skill to help us
reclaim fashion and learn to repair and alter to extend the life of clothing.
What piece of advice would you recommend to someone trying to change their fashion habits for the better?
Move away from fast fashion, it may be cheap but it really is not sustainable. Shopping pre-loved and charity shops is the way forward especially if combined with learning to sew. You can find some lovely items sometimes with tags on and with a few simple tweaks you can create a completely different item of clothing. Like changing a dress into a two piece or a large mens shirt into a top or dress, the possibilities are endless if you have some basic sewing skills.
Are there anything you’d recommend for someone who is looking to change their perspective or educate themselves on the topic of fashion sustainability?
The latest series of The Great British sewing bee on BBC One has just started this month and it is a great program for all ages and looks at making clothing, various challenges for the contestants and repurposing items. It is full of inspiration and is definitely worth a watch.”
You can learn more about Create and Sew Studio via their website, Facebook and Instagram here.