The Sewing Cooperative
The Sewing Cooperative creates economic opportunities for refugee artisans in Rome, Italy, through collaboration and artisanal products. They produce stunningly beautiful creations using African wax print and naturally dyed organic cotton from Burkina Faso.
Lydia, Dawda and Kara welcome custom orders and work with clients to co-design their own made to measure garments. They also offer a selection of ready made clothing and housewares created by their team.
The Sewing Cooperative additionally hosts a 2 hour fashion experience with Airbnb, that connects clients with refugee artisans and dressmakers in Rome, Italy. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about dressmaking and natural dying in West Africa, and then to co-design a custom garment, choose their fabric, and receive their bespoke fashion piece. Not only do clients go home with unique items but also with a unique experience. They meet local merchants, encounter the colorful vivacity and personalities of the Piazza Vittorio market and discover local gems like the merceria run by a Roman couple who have been married and running the shop together for 50 years.
In 2015, while collecting testimonies of refugees at a mobile clinic in Rome, Lydia observed how displaced people were seeking opportunities to form community and to build new lives for themselves in Italy. Many of these newcomers shared with her how difficult it is to find acceptance and a sense of belonging and normalcy. These are critical but missing components for many refugees, who want to move beyond struggling for basic human needs to realizing their personal potential, developing meaningful relationships and finding fulfilling work utilizing their existing skill sets.
Lydia, a Fulbright Grantee to Italy in 2016-2017, is using her expertise in dressmaking and background in International Education to develop The Sewing Cooperative for people in this community. She hopes it will help shed light on how best to serve their needs, while validating their past work experience, and giving them a real chance to enter the Italian job market and to find community.
You can visit The Sewing Cooperative in the dreamlike atmosphere of Sala 1 (Piazza di Porta San Giovanni, 10 – 00185 – Roma) an unfinished church from the 16th century, through September 15th from 10A to 6P or contact Lydia for an appointment at Lydia.witt@gmail.com. For those of you unable to make it in person you can check out their Etsy Shop.
