Problem solving is a natural and essential part of running a business, The Design & Sewing Studio is lucky to have at the helm not only an experienced designer but a life-coach who not only teaching others to find their own solutions but is able to be both pragmatic and ambitious when designing solutions to our business. Compromise may be necessary but with creativity and communication you can ensure the vision is not lost in translation when compromises need to be incorporated to achieve a result. This is part of why we offer advice and run courses for start up fashion and clothing businesses, because in this industry you have to be creative and able to embrace change as you build your vision into a business. Fashion design business support is available at The Design and Sewing Studio.

The design and sewing studio based in Mossley, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester is a fashion design studio offering studio hire, CMT and couture tailoring. We have expanded our facility to include a beautiful new fashion design studio, you can hire or rent as a member to develop or manufacture your own collection. Or you can employ us to do it for you. 2022 was a great year, we took it one step at a time and made it count.

Vivienne Westwood, part of the establishment on her terms. She knew her worth as a human being transcended anything she became known for. Her self expression, freedom of mind and desire to live her life through thoughtful creative expression means she has left a legacy for us to enjoy. Before you can create something from your heart, you have to know your heart. Loving one another, the planet and yourself is fashion if you write it on a t-shirt, it is transformative if you put it into practice.

A remarkably ordinary woman in an extraordinary role. RIP Queen Elizabeth II

The Design and Sewing Studio offers sampling, CMT and short run manufacturing to designers and businesses looking for high end finishes to represent and promote their brand and reputation.

The Design and Sewing Studio supports and promotes Made in UK, a day that marks the anniversary of Made in Britain founded by Kate Hills in 2011. Kate Hills is a modern day pioneer of Made in Britain, considering our history it is remarkable that in the 21st Century we need people like Kate Hills (founder of Made in Britain) to revive our manufacturing industry. Well done Kate, your work and voice for a much neglected sector is appreciated.

I was raised by a single mother, a remarkable woman and like so many of her generation bereft of the support and protection she needed. My mother was a quite stalwart, she kept her opinions to herself, for the main, but her actions spoke volumes. She was a surviver of domestic abuse, a single parent in the early 60’s where the wrath of women was as convicted as that of men. She had two young girls to raise in a system that did not recognise women as independent entities. My mother, like so many women before and after her, kept placing one foot in front of the other until the paths they walked were laid open for us to tread. Progress is not enough until it is complete so we must keep placing one foot firmly in front of the other to make the path for those who follow wider, more defined and leading to peace, love and happiness for all women. Happy International Women’s day. Love, Annie -x-

When you want something done…do it yourself is probably the best advice I could give someone. Like a very clever person, I am taking my own advice. The Design and Sewing Studio is going into short-run manufacture and tuition so we can do it ourselves and helps others to do it themselves.

Recently completed piece by Katie as part of her course of study. Inspired by elements from Lewis Carol’s timeless classic Through the Looking-Glass

Horizontality and Verticality is a 1951 thesis by twentieth century textile design Joan Charnley, whose archive has become part of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Special Collections Museum. Joan is patron of The Weavers Factory, Uppermill.

Sewing courses from beginners to experienced, designed and delivered by highly skilled and trained tutors who as independent practitioners in the high end clothing world are able to teach with the passion they bring to their own work and teach you all the tricks employed by professional tailors.

I source the finest cloth from trusted merchants who work closely with local fabric mills in West Yorkshire, just a short drive from my atelier. I am proud to be able to combine truly British materials in an entirely bespoke garment for my customers.

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Every garment is created in-house from my Manchester based Atelier, staying true to the heritage of traditional tailoring. I am very fortunate to have received full training in all aspects of the bespoke tailoring process, enabling me to make your garment from beginning to end myself, starting with your exclusive pattern, to meticulously finishing every hand stitched detail.

The new limited edition couture children’s collection is available in May 2021, if you want to be the first to see it and place your order sign up now. We will respectful the planet and take the slow fashion route, this means we will be manufacturing based on received orders. This is a collection designed for individuals, to promote confidence in the wearer and ensure your personality shines.

Running your own business means making your own rules. Rules that allow you to achieve all your ambitions for the business while having a balance between work and life. It is a balance people will increasing realise is essential if you are to succeed at either.

Sometimes slowing down, stepping back and taking time to contemplate things is the fast lane to success.

The Design & Sewing Studio offers courses in fashion design and garment manufacturing. Taking you through the whole process of designing, adapting and making your idea. Learning to choose the right materials, to respect their innate properties and to use their natural tendencies as part of your thinking means you will quickly learn not to fight nature but to embrace it.

Ultimately whatever you design if it is fashion and you are going to actually construct it you will need to decide what to make it from. It can be anything material you can manipulate to perform the way you want to produce your vision. I personally love natural, high quality fibres that behave in predictable way when handled with skill and understanding.

Knitting is such a lovely craft, often overlooked and under valued. I love hand knitted garments, I learnt to knit as a very young girl, my mum taught me. I remember the frustration of starting with 10 stitches and ending up with 40 or 4! Like everything else, the more you do it the better you get. I did get good and managed to fund my way through college knitting jumpers. I was the only student sitting in the bar with my knitting. Today I love it just as much and include it in my work, always completely unique pieces, often not following a pattern and just allowing the piece to emerge. People still love the uniqueness of a hand knitted piece. I love working on very fine needles with the finest yarns so the price of the final jumper can be impractical, but eventually just the right person comes into the studio and just cannot leave without it. I love that so continue to indulge my love of knitting with couture pieces that can look very ordinary but have a certain exquisiteness about them. These lovely little knitted pixie hats with a padded heart are hand knitted by people who love to knit and worn by little heads who dream of Pixies, what a lovely combination.