The art of sewing, tailoring and/or designing ones own clothing is not prevalent in our age of manufactured and off-the-rack ready to wear. Many of our youths are lacking the basic skills of sewing or repairing their own garments. It has been documented that some students from financially challenged households have opted to forgo attending classes or even their proms due to a lack of suitable attire.
Fortunately there is, The Detroit Fashion Team a unique school in the Detroit metro area specifically established to teach every aspect of planning, creating and designing your own fashions. The Detroit Fashion Team has been featured on Good Morning America as a gifted school that has a passion for helping people of all ages and stages of life learn the joy of crafting the wardrobe of their dreams.
I recently visited The Detroit Fashion Team, which is located on 28820 Southfield Rd., near 12 Mile in the city of Lathrup Village. I was delighted to have met Mrs.Odie King, CEO and husband (retired engineer) Elbert King, VP of Sales & Marketing. Touring the second story facility, I was impressed at the myriads of awards and accolades that have been bestowed on The Detroit Fashion Team. Mr. and Mrs. King expressed their hopes to collaborate with public and private schools throughout the metro Detroit area to assist in preparing students with self-sufficiency skill sets, such as sewing. There is also a special program in the works to provide scholarships and grants to students who require financial assistance.
I remember being concerned when I was a graduating high school senior that I would not be able to afford the prom dress of my dreams. However, my loving but frugal father promised me that he would make sure that I had any designer prom dress that I desired. Although suspicious of my father's promise, I knew that he always kept his word, so I gleefully shopped at the most expensive retailers for my ideal prom dress. I found a glorious gown that befitted a royal celebration; of course the price was just as stunning. I then took my father to buy my perfect prom dress, my dad took his camera and seemed just as excited; once fitted in my dress he snapped photos at every angle. My father then asked me if the dress was the color I desired, I replied, not exactly, but it was the only color available. Dad said, I promised that you would have exactly what you wanted! To my surprise, he took me to a seamstress and paid her to teach me how to make the dress in the photos, but the color of my choice. Initially, I was furious that I was expected to make my own prom dress, but after I completed my gown, words could not express how proud I was to have made such a magnificent creation with my own hands.
The seamstress whom was my teacher always said, "Regardless to how expensive a garment may be, if it does not fit your body properly, it will look like trash, and the only way to ensure a proper fit is custom made". The escalating cost of quality clothing and the near impossibility of locating exactly what you envision when shopping should be enough to pique one's interest in learning the art of sewing. Imagine having the ability to create any garment you see or conceive; from a simple accessory to your very own wedding dress. The Detroit Fashion Team has the expertise to teach a complete range of sewing skills, from the very basic to the most advance, as well as commerically consulting designers, manufacturers and the textile industry.
Some of the classes and services offered at the Detroit Fashion Team:
- Basic 1, 2
- Advance
- Alteration 1, 2
- Tailoring
- Pattern Detailing/Making 1, 2
- Illustrative Art 1, 2
- Draping
Most of their classes run ten (10) weeks; two (2) days per week; and three (3) hours per session. Those successfully finishing these sessions are awarded a Certificate of completion. Classes are ongoing and scheduled Monday thru Saturday both day and evenings.
The Detroit Fashion Team Contact Information:
28820 Southfield Rd., Suite 220, Lathrup Village, Michigan
Phone No.: 248-327-7603
Fax: 248-327-7609
Email: detroitfashionteam@gmail.com
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