These days, kids are bombarded by technology all day long. Kerri Quigley, owner of The Fashion Class of River Vale, has a better idea for something kids can do with their hands: sew. Using real sewing machines, kids can turn their ideas into clothing and accessories they want to wear.
At The Fashion Class, students learn to use real sewing machines. They develop patience, problem-solving abilities, fine-motor skills, and spatial thinking—all while putting their math skills to work. But don’t tell the kids that. They’re too busy having fun creating something all their own.
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Learning to Sew—& So Much More
“Kids spend so much of their day consuming things on screens,” Kerri explains. “Sewing asks them to do the opposite: slow down, focus, and create something tangible.”
The Fashion Class offers programs for preschoolers through teens, as well as adults. Of course, beginners of all ages are welcome. Their core kids’ sewing and fashion-design classes are the most popular. Students 7 to 12 particularly love it, as they are old enough to be independent on the sewing machine, but still have a willingness to experiment.
Students progress from learning to thread and operate a sewing machine to understanding seam allowances and reading patterns, then on to more challenging projects. “They’re learning an actual skill and becoming increasingly independent,” Kerri says. The Fashion Class even holds seasonal fashion shows so young designers can walk the runway in their creations.
There are also ways to make sewing a shared experience at The Fashion Class. Kids can sign up for a Playdate class with a friend, while Mommy/Daddy + Me classes give parents and children an opportunity to learn something new together.
About The Fashion Class
Kerri graduated from Parsons School of Design. “I’ve been sewing since I was 6 years old, and I loved the idea of sharing that experience with kids,” she says. “I started The Fashion Class in NYC in 2010 with the goal of creating the kind of place I would have loved as a child.”
Opening in River Vale gave her the opportunity to bring the program closer to home while she began expanding The Fashion Class nationally through franchising. “The NYC studios are now run by a franchisee so I can focus on being a local business owner and mom,” Kerri explains.
Kerri is most proud that her students can be creative without needing to be the best. “You don’t have to be the fastest, loudest, most athletic, or most outgoing kid in the room,” she explains. “What I hope they take with them is the feeling of ‘I made this, I figured it out. I can do hard things.’ That’s much bigger than sewing.”
Visit The Fashion Class of River Vale at 673 Westwood Ave, River Vale. (See them on Google Maps.) To learn more:
| Visit Their Website | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 908-382-8772 |
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All Photos: © The Fashion Class of River Vale
