Dear Pattern Companies and Sewing Retailers,
Are you building a diverse and inclusive sewing community? Do you make sure that many sewists see themselves reflected in your products, websites, and social media? Do you have any steps in the works to become more inclusive and welcoming to all sewists?
These are big questions, but in 2018, I think surely many of you have already considered the topic. After all, if people feel welcome and represented, they are more likely to buy your products and recommend you to other makers! We here at the Sewcialists love rich discussions about identity, representation, and community, and we hope you’ll enjoy sharing how you approach those topics, too. None of us are perfect, but we’re learning together.
We hope you will reach out to us by email (sewcialists@gmail.com) and let us know how you are working towards a diverse and inclusive sewing community. We’d like to celebrate you in upcoming posts highlighting positive steps and proactive leaders in our community!
For example, maybe you are working on:
- models and pattern testers that reflect a range of ages, sizes, ethnicities, orientations and abilities
- highlighting and re-sharing projects from a diverse range of sewists in your social media and newsletters
- larger size ranges
- using gender-inclusive language
- sharing a clear mission statement that everyone is welcome
- collaborating with creators and businesses that share progressive ideals
- hiring diverse staff and consultants
- contributing to community projects or charities
We are excited to help you highlight what you are doing well, and what steps you hope to take next!
— The Sewcialists
p.s. Dear readers, please let us know in the comments which pattern designers and sewing retailers you would like us to contact in hopes of finding out more about their policies and goals … and tell us who you think is doing a great job at inclusion. Or perhaps you’ll ask your local sewing store/online retailer/favourite pattern maker yourself!
Love the letter! I was thinking about each bullet point and how I see or don’t see that in the big 4 companies. I have to give partial credit for some small improvements they have made in recent years. But the inclusivity just does not feel vast enough, yet! For example, I ordered a single pattern from McCall and with it came two poster sized glossy colored pictures of the new Vogue and McCall’s winter collections. Not one picture was of a person displaying their outfit from a wheel chair, or posed with their walking stick. Neither were there any men in the pictures. So, I would ask the obvious question, are patterns being targeted to the women in those pictures or who look like them?
I certainly don’t look like ANY of the models that were used. I am over 50, have a tummy, and my hair is silver. Now if they had models wearing the same outfits by someone who actually did look like me, maybe I wouldn’t have thrown it right into the recycling bin!
They need to do better!
I find this kind of thing disgustingly bossy. Let the companies run themselves; it’s really none of your business who they hire. If you don’t like it, buy from another company. Diversity is not a virtue by itself; who appointed y’all the arbiter of pattern companies? Surely there are enough indie companies out there to find your own niche w/out being so overbearing.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
I wouldn’t consider posting a series of questions on *her own blog* “disgustingly bossy”, but then again I don’t spend my time tone policing women online.
Dear Caroline,
Sadly, there are NOT enough indie pattern companies to fill the void. They are coming, but as a large percentage of our population is ageing and that creates a new chasm. Older woman who have sewn all their lives are now looking for close that fit and are fashionable. This is simple economics too. Who is buying all these big 4 patterns? They make the majority of new patterns per year. Is the younger generation picking up the torch and running with it? Maybe. But they also have their own agenda. They like many vintage patterns and make amazing YouTube videos on their creations. I don’t see the Big 4 benefiting from that group.
The disconnect is real. The times are changing and the entire sewing community is feeling the void. It really is a wonderful opportunity, YES opportunity for any company to embrace anyone who loves to sew. And that population is what has been talked by this very blog to be diverse, emerging and evolving. To stay with this passionate creative group of individuals, business must improve their practices to align them with the NEW sewist of the world!
Embracing diversity is not a shallow endeavor. It take authentic effort and legitimate action. That applies to all of us!
I agree. These are great points Gillian and Danita!
Thankyou so much for putting the call out. There has always been a rich diversity in how humans are formed but you wouldn’t have known it by looking at the representations put out there. To be given a space where your voice can be heard and listened to, where you can step up and say hello I’m here I’m not invisible I exist I’m worthy too! This is the shift I believe is happening right now and it’s long overdue. Yes pattern companies can choose who they hire and how to run their business. But no longer do we have to be silenced, to be dismissed as bossy and overbearing for example, just because we have chosen to step up and ask to be included. Nobody is forcing anyone, companies that wish to keep their white young female cisgendered able bodied tweeness will continue to do so. And let’s face it that is the predominant representation out there, indie patterns included. If that’s your thing there’s plenty out there to choose from, no judgement it’s just not me. I for one would love to know who is embracing a more inclusive diverse community, one that I can be a part of. Well done sewcialists for stepping up and giving us this platform of visibility! I look forward to the responses and hope to find many new pattern companies to follow.
So well said! Woo-Hoo! Spend your $$ where we are respected and seen!
Thanks for this post, Gillian, and especially for including people of all abilities. There is a large community of disabled and chronically ill sewists out there (as evinced by the participation in the hashtag #chronicallysewn), yet we aren’t necessarily reflected in pattern production. Tuesday Stitches is the only example I can think of who use PWD in their advertising.
I agree! I can so relate, myself, to Tuesday Stitches models! And sizes are great!
I receive each year about 10 surveys from pattern companies or persons who want to start one asking me what I would like to see and how. I’m probably and suppose not the only one. I’m just wondering if this feedback is used.
Interesting! I am NEVER asked and I buy a lot of patterns. (ugh- too many ;o)
I don’t know what their selection criteria’s are but I always send a reply and never hear from them afterwards. Nothing about results or what they will do with the suggestions.
Maybe the surveying company who contacts you needs to read this open letter with the backing of the Sewcialists followers? Just a thought.
That sounds like a goog idea. I’ll add the link in the question ‘is there anything else you want to share with us’.