In late 2009 founder Sheila Wong left a corporate fashion design job to pursue what you know as Sheila Wong Studios. She had no idea what the studio would eventually evolve into, but wholeheartedly knew it would be an inspiring space for a creative community. You make up this community. Sheila’s’ 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!
What Sheila did not foresee was becoming 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 us 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. Sheila 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 five years specializing in couture hand sewing and pattern cutting.
February 2024 marked 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.
From Sheila: “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 may be the end of instructing for me, but I have always seen this as a continuation in the design path I am on.”
Big welcoming changes happened for the studio in February 2024. Sheila retired from educating, and our Yaletown studio closed. Our physical studio may be closed, but you can still shop a curated offering of sewing and drafting tools right here in our Online Shop. For a limited time, you can also snag pre-loved design supplies, fabric remnants, and studio samples our team has designed over the years. The extensive library of learning material on our Sewing Blog will still be available. With new content being posted periodically.
What Sheila did not foresee was becoming 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 us 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. Sheila 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 five years specializing in couture hand sewing and pattern cutting.
February 2024 marked 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.
From Sheila: “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 may be the end of instructing for me, but I have always seen this as a continuation in the design path I am on.”
Big welcoming changes happened for the studio in February 2024. Sheila retired from educating, and our Yaletown studio closed. Our physical studio may be closed, but you can still shop a curated offering of sewing and drafting tools right here in our Online Shop. For a limited time, you can also snag pre-loved design supplies, fabric remnants, and studio samples our team has designed over the years. The extensive library of learning material on our Sewing Blog will still be available. With new content being posted periodically.
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