The Sewing Labs

What The Sewing Labs does

The Sewing Labs is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 81-1057714) headquartered in the lower level of the Don Bosco Community Center at 526 Campbell St, Kansas City, Missouri. The organization teaches sewing skills as a vehicle for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community enrichment. Its core offering is the Sewing Salon Training Program, which combines 15 weeks of domestic sewing instruction, 15 weeks of industrial sewing machine training, an entrepreneurial small-business course, and apprenticeship mentorship to prepare participants for employment in the garment industry. Adjacent programming includes public sewing classes, quilting instruction with longarm rental, art-therapy classes, youth summer camps (Stitch Camp for ages 8–12, Threadventures for ages 9–14), wide-format pattern printing, and volunteer-driven community projects such as KC Navigation Bags and St. Luke's walker/activity bags. The underlying technology is largely physical — domestic and industrial sewing machines, notions, and tools — augmented by standard e-commerce/registration (Corsizio), fundraising (Givebutter), and social-media channels.

Revenue mechanics are those of a nonprofit: financial donations across multiple tiers ($25 tool kit through $4,500 full-tuition scholarship), class and workshop fees (e.g., $15 for Open Sew Studio Time), an annual portfolio of fundraising events (Stitching Futures Gala, Quilt Auction, Greater KC Stitch Off, Black Friday Sewing Machine Markdown, Fabric Grab), in-kind donations of fabric and equipment, and fee-for-service revenue from wide-format printing. The 2025 Stitching Futures Gala raised $72,041 against a $75,000 goal from 168 supporters; the organization also logged 18,023 classroom hours, 4,200 volunteer hours, 1,865 community projects donated, and 19,365 lbs of fabric redirected from landfills in the same year. Customer segments span job seekers and career changers, hobbyists and community members, and youth/families, with strategic partners including AmeriCorps, St. Luke's Hospital, FashionTECH KC, Climate Council Greater Kansas City, and manufacturers Singer and LDH Scissors.

Name

The Sewing Labs

Legal name

The Sewing Labs

Website

https://thesewinglabs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sewing Labs is a Kansas City 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers sewing skills training for workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community enrichment, serving job seekers, hobbyists, and youth through classes, apprenticeships, and youth camps.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Sewing Training

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB)

Keywords

• Sewing skills training
• Workforce development programs
• Nonprofit sewing education
• Industrial sewing training
• Community textile workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 81-1057714), The Sewing Labs relies heavily on financial donations from individuals and organizations. Donation tiers range from $25 for tool kits to $4,500 for full program scholarships. Sponsorships and program sponsorships are also available.
2. Class and Workshop Fees: Revenue from educational programming including Open Sew Studio Time ($15 per session), classes, and workshops. Classes offered through Corsizio registration platform.
3. Fundraising Events: Annual events including the Stitching Futures Gala, Quilt Auction, Black Friday Sewing Machine Markdown auction, and Fabric Grab sales generate funds through ticket sales, auction bids, and donations.
4. Wide Format Printing Services: Pattern printing services offered as a program revenue stream.
5. In-Kind Donations of Materials: Accepts donations of fabrics, sewing machines, notions, and other supplies which support programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Sewing Labs is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on sewing instruction and workforce development programs. Its flagship Sewing Salon Training Program provides 15 weeks of domestic sewing training, 15 weeks of industrial sewing machine training, an entrepreneurial small business course, and apprenticeship mentorship to prepare individuals for sewing-industry employment. The organization also runs public sewing classes, art therapy classes, quilting services with longarm rental, wide format printing, youth summer camps, and volunteer-driven community projects.

Product overview

The Sewing Labs is a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of workforce development and community education programs centered on sewing arts. Its core offerings include the Sewing Salon Training Program (providing 15 weeks domestic training, 15 weeks industrial training, small business coursework, and apprenticeship mentorship), public sewing classes, quilting programs with longarm rental, art therapy classes, wide format printing services, and scholarship programs. The organization also runs youth camps (Stitch Camp for ages 8-12 and Threadventures for ages 9-14), special events including The Greater KC Stitch Off competition and Black Friday machine auctions, open sew studio time, and various community service projects. The programs collectively serve to create jobs, build community, and teach the legacy of sewing for employment, entrepreneurship, and enrichment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sewing Salon Training Program Workforce development program providing 15 weeks of domestic sewing training, 15 weeks of industrial sewing machine training, an entrepreneurial small business course, and apprenticeship mentorship to prepare individuals for employment in the sewing industry.
• Public Sewing Classes General sewing instruction available to community members, offering open sew studio time and structured classes for various skill levels.
• Quilting with The Sewing Labs Quilting instruction, classes, events, longarm machine rental, and quilting services including finishing and quilting work performed by the organization.
• Wide Format Printing Large-format printing service for patterns and other creative materials, allowing customers to print their designs at larger scales.
• Stitch Camp: The Superhero in You! Summer day camp for children ages 8-12 where participants learn sewing skills while creating superhero-themed items including eye masks, shield pillows, soft swords, utility belts, and capes.
• Threadventures: Survive The Apocalypse Summer day camp for kids ages 9-14 teaching sewing skills through survival-themed projects including mending kits, utility patches, foraging pouches, drawstring backpacks, and protective hoods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,865 community projects donated in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and moderate.

• Singer Sewing MachinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSewing machine manufacturer partner providing equipment support for the organization.
• LDH ScissorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSewing scissors manufacturer providing tools and notions support.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational service program providing volunteer support and community development partnership.
• St. Luke's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner receiving handmade walker bags and children's activity bags for patients.
• Wide Awake FilmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm production company partner supporting organizational communications.
• Martha CreekminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting the mission.
• FashionTECH KCmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerKansas City fashion technology and textile industry network connecting workforce development to industry needs.
• Climate Council Greater Kansas CitymoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate organization partnership focused on fabric waste reduction and sustainability initiatives.
• Weave Gotcha Covered!minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTextile industry partner supporting quilting programs.
• Don Bosco Community CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost facility providing space for operations in lower level of the community center.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• JOANN: Largest U.S. fabric and sewing specialty retailer; offers in-store sewing classes and a broad product assortment that overlaps with the consumer learning and supplies segments The Sewing Labs addresses.
• Hobby Lobby: National craft retailer carrying fabric, notions, and sewing supplies with occasional in-store classes; comparable on the hobbyist-supplies and consumer-sewing segments.
• Singer: Heritage sewing-machine manufacturer and named partner of The Sewing Labs; operates consumer education content and machine-support programs that overlap the sewing skills and equipment training the nonprofit delivers.
• Mood Fabrics: Iconic NYC fabric retailer (Project Runway supplier) offering in-person sewing classes and a strong designer/small-business customer base, comparable to TSL's entrepreneur-track programming.
• Brother International: Sewing and embroidery machine manufacturer producing educational content and tutorials, overlapping with TSL's core sewing-skills curriculum and machine-based learning.
• BERNINA: Premium sewing-machine manufacturer with BERNINA University and dealer-based education programs, comparable to TSL's domestic/industrial sewing instruction.

Direct peers

• Maker's Row: U.S.-based marketplace and workforce-development platform connecting apparel designers with domestic manufacturers; addresses the same reshoring-and-sewing-workforce pipeline TSL's Sewing Salon Training Program targets.
• The New York Sewing Center: Sewing school offering classes and machine access to NYC-area hobbyists and aspiring small-business sewists, directly comparable to TSL's public classes and Open Sew Studio model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgS9cEd3fVsvh5cMcYzvOYw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSewingLabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-sewing-labs
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesewinglabs
• TikToktiktok.com/@thesewinglabs?lang=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Sewing Labs