Hi, I'm Sheila Wong Cuyugan! Back in October 2009 I left a corporate fashion design job to pursue what you know as Sheila Wong Studios. I had no idea what the studio would eventually evolve into, but I wholeheartedly knew it would be an inspiring space for a creative community. You make up this community. My start-up business plan stated that the studio would provide a space for new designers to rent by the hour to complete tasks that otherwise would be difficult at home. This would include having access to a variety of machines, space to fit, client meetings, take photos, sample making, independently produce small scale manufacturing and so much more. All of this did happen and to this day local designers still use the studio.
What I did not foresee was me being an instructor and creating a team to facilitate learning for so many of you. It just took a handful of you to put your trust in me to teach. Instructing took over quickly as the primary service. This led to teaching regular one on one lessons, group courses, private parties, digital lessons, workshops at tradeshows, and even teaching on the morning local news. I took time to teach at Blanche Macdonald Center and Vancouver Community College in their Fashion Design programs. The studio also worked with Maiwa School of Textiles to offer intensive workshops for several years.
This February 2024 will mark 14 years in business. The studio has provided over 25,000 hours of instruction. We have instructed you through areas of garment construction, drafting, draping, couture sewing, reverse pattern drafting, fitting, and more. The number of inspiring projects that you brought through the doors has been remarkable. There is not enough time to list out the unique personal projects that the studio helped become reality.
When I am not with you, I spend my extra time in the studio refining my skills as a designer. Teaching has motivated me over the years to become a better designer. I may have been teaching, but what you, my clients might not realize is that you were teaching me as well. I have had the ability to work successfully with a variety of beautiful body shapes, understand deeper our emotional connection to clothing, and experiment with drafting and constructing design elements I could have never imagined. This will come of no surprise to most of you, but it has inspired me to finally create my own thoughtful clothing label.
This means some big welcoming changes are happening for the studio. In February 2024, I will retire from instructing, and our Yaletown studio will be closing. My primary focus going forward will be on my clothing label. This may be the end of instructing for me, but I have always seen this as a continuation in the design path I am on.
What does this mean for the website? The extensive library of learning material on our Sewing Blog will still be available. I will even make it a point to post periodically when possible. You will also notice a new shop area where you can purchase, sewing and drafting tools- new and used. I am also taking the time to go through our archive of studio samples and sell them right here.
What I did not foresee was me being an instructor and creating a team to facilitate learning for so many of you. It just took a handful of you to put your trust in me to teach. Instructing took over quickly as the primary service. This led to teaching regular one on one lessons, group courses, private parties, digital lessons, workshops at tradeshows, and even teaching on the morning local news. I took time to teach at Blanche Macdonald Center and Vancouver Community College in their Fashion Design programs. The studio also worked with Maiwa School of Textiles to offer intensive workshops for several years.
This February 2024 will mark 14 years in business. The studio has provided over 25,000 hours of instruction. We have instructed you through areas of garment construction, drafting, draping, couture sewing, reverse pattern drafting, fitting, and more. The number of inspiring projects that you brought through the doors has been remarkable. There is not enough time to list out the unique personal projects that the studio helped become reality.
When I am not with you, I spend my extra time in the studio refining my skills as a designer. Teaching has motivated me over the years to become a better designer. I may have been teaching, but what you, my clients might not realize is that you were teaching me as well. I have had the ability to work successfully with a variety of beautiful body shapes, understand deeper our emotional connection to clothing, and experiment with drafting and constructing design elements I could have never imagined. This will come of no surprise to most of you, but it has inspired me to finally create my own thoughtful clothing label.
This means some big welcoming changes are happening for the studio. In February 2024, I will retire from instructing, and our Yaletown studio will be closing. My primary focus going forward will be on my clothing label. This may be the end of instructing for me, but I have always seen this as a continuation in the design path I am on.
What does this mean for the website? The extensive library of learning material on our Sewing Blog will still be available. I will even make it a point to post periodically when possible. You will also notice a new shop area where you can purchase, sewing and drafting tools- new and used. I am also taking the time to go through our archive of studio samples and sell them right here.