Meet Jae!

Jae (they/them) is a 4th generation sewist.

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, some of my first memories are of sewing. I still have the tiny ragdoll that I made in elementary school. 

I learned by doing, and dove headfirst into creating bags and clothes from second hand pieces in middle and high school. Some of my favorite projects were a skirt made of neckties, and a patchwork bag that included fabric from pajamas, a scarf, and leftovers from curtains, lined with a towel. I called it "Frankenfabric" until I learned what upcycling meant!

In college, I started quilting and creating garments from patterns. I worked in the costume shop of the theatre department while getting my BA in Theatre Arts from UC Santa Cruz.  I would often embroider backstage in the dressing rooms during the downtime of rehearsals.

One of my favorite parts of mending is helping someone prolong the life of a garment they already own.