Help SIRENco go to Asheville Apparel Arts School

Help me pay for my first year at patternmaking school.

I am looking to raise money to help me go to Asheville School of Apparel Arts. I have been interested in clothing design since I was a young girl and I am hoping to go to the school to learn how to professionally make patterns that will be turned into unique, thoughtfully designed, well made clothing. I think learning this skill will be incredibly inspiring and help my business, SIRENco. grow. I have big dreams of turning SIREN co. into something that challenges the unethical ways of the current industry.

A brief history of textile interest.

I first became interested in sewing when my dad taught me how to use a sewing machine when I was 12. He liked to sew at the time and made my sister and I different things like our dresses on photo day, and, our matching cat woman costumes. My sister also learned how to sew and operates an inclusive and ethically run women's clothing company. You can say sewing runs in the family.

I mostly just made clothing and other little things for myself until I was about 21 and decided to take my skill a little more seriously. I started what is now SIREN co . and began taking steps into the world of outdoor gear design. I love making functional, durable items, and, want to expand that interest into clothing.

The textile industry is the 2nd largest polluter in the world, and I struggle with the fact that this is my field of interest. I dream of having a business large enough to make better choices, and challenge the industry standards. I want to design functional and versatile clothing that is meant to be taken care of, and mended. Things that wont be thrown away and forgotten about after a year. I want to teach people to value and appreciate the sewing arts and have classes on how to repair/recycle your own clothing.

My dreams are big, but, I believe in myself. I am dedicated, and passionate. A busy body who really likes to DO. I believe going to this school will help me reach my goals quicker, and grow my business into something I can share more widely, and hopefully hire some folks to have good, well paying, and creative jobs.

What I am asking for

I am asking for $3000 dollars and that will directly go to paying for my first year of pattern making school at Asheville School of Apparel Arts. I believe this school will be the perfect way for me to expand my knowledge, and help with motivation and inspiration... I like the way its set up which includes small classes limited to only 3 people, and a work at your own pace mantra. Anna (the owner) suggests that it takes between 1.5-2 years to complete the course. It is a really unique school and most people don't have access to that kind of thing. It seems crazy for me to not take advantage of this opportunity. I have been putting it off and waiting for a better financial situation before I enrolled, but, I am investing all the money I make into the business, mostly in the form of materials, and equipment. I've decided to give this a shot, and, if I don't make all the money I am asking for, whatever I do make will still get me enrolled and going, and, I will figure it out from there.



The Impact

I am an entrepreneur at my core. I started several "businesses" when I was 12/13 like a website design business and an online clothing store for punk rock girls like myself called "simply neurotic" ( haha) I dedicate myself, passionately, to what I am working on. I started SIREN BAGS when I was 22/23 and only stopped a few years later, because, I was having a hard time focusing and found a landscaping company to work with. I went full force into that business and took on more and more responsibility, almost moving to partner status. After 4 years, that ended suddenly and traumatically for me. I had a few soul searching months until I re-found my love and belief in art and design. It feels right this time, and I have learned important lessons involving work ethic and how to manage people.

I believe that learning patternmaking skill will really give me and my business a boost to grow faster. I am at a weird stuck spot where I can't quit my other jobs (I have 4 jobs/gigs total) because I need the financial stability, but, it stifles my progress on my business because I am mentally and physically exhausted. I believe working with a professional to learn these skills will motivate and inspire me and give me more energy, and, I believe clothing will sell more easily than bags, meaning I can grow the business faster.

I want to build a business that is more about people and the earth we live on rather than immense profit. I want to pay people well, treat them with respect and give them a job they can CARE about and be proud to have. I want to challenge industry standards and source as much ethical materials as possible (its really hard). I won't bore you with all my crazy big ideas and dreams, but, I know that If I had a chance to make a business, I could do something that actually effects our future in positive ways.