What You See is What We Sew

Take a minute to look around - at what you’re wearing, how your room is decorated, what you’re sitting on. Everywhere you look there is likely something that has been sewn. Did you ever stop to think about who made all of it?  Who stitched that cushion you’re sitting on, the shirt you’re wearing, the awning on your house, the pillowcase in your bed? Chances are they were made overseas somewhere. 

The Urban Manufacturing Alliance’s recent report, Sewn Trades Manufacturing in the United States, reminded us just how far this talent pool has declined: In 1973 there were more than 2.4 million textile and apparel workers in the United States.  By 2019 there were only 335,000.

But we’re changing that. The report identified steps that industry leaders – like ISAIC – are taking to reinvigorate the industry. We’re starting with training and rebuilding that diminished workforce. And we’re doing it in new ways.

Why ISAIC?

We’re a little biased, but simply put – we’re the best at it. In fact, we’re the only Industrial Sewing Apprenticeship program that is certified by the Department of Labor.  Our not-so-secret weapon is the industry guru who developed the program. Deborah Vandermar has decades of experience in the sewn trades. She’s the co-author of Beyond Design, the gold-standard textbook that has been used worldwide and is currently in production for its fifth edition. She’s too humble to admit it, but we know – and industry insiders agree - that Deborah is one of the masters. And the ISAIC curriculum, The Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Production (FISP), is her creation.

FISP isn’t only for individuals who are interested in a sewing job within manufacturing. Some of our previous students are entrepreneurs who have praised FISP for helping them understand how to design with manufacturing in mind, helping set them up for success with their brands. We also have students who have gone on to become Apprentices at ISAIC, setting their own course for a new career.

We’ll be using this blog to share tips and secrets from our FISP class teachers, student success stories and insights from Deborah, so we hope you’ll follow along.

Katie O’Connor provides an overview of FISP

For a quick overview of FISP, be sure to watch the short video and if you’re ready to join one of the classes, complete the online application. We hope to see you in class soon!

 Katie O’Connor is ISAIC’s Education and Training Manager. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram.

 

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