A GROUP of women – many of whom “had never touched a sewing machine before” – have shown off their own designs in Bradford.
Ramatallahi Abubakar, a self-taught fashion designer and founder of Ramatporsche design, guided the way with free weekly sewing training at Café West Healthy Living Centre in Allerton.
She offers free hands-on sewing training to women of all ages and backgrounds.
After crafting their own outfits that can be worn in the runway of everyday life, the project is set to return later this year.
The next free course will start on October 1, 2025, and run for 15 weeks.
The course is held every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm.
Members of the sewing project getting to grips with the sewing machine(Image: )
Speaking about how it felt to see the women at the end of their sewing journey, Ramat said: “It was such a proud and emotional moment for me. Most of the women had never touched a sewing machine before, and within just 22 hours of learning spread across 12 weeks, they were able to create beautiful, wearable outfits unsupervised.
“Watching them walk into the final class with smiles on their faces, holding up clothes they made with their own hands, was truly rewarding.
“It felt like we had all gone on the journey together, and seeing their confidence grow was the best part of it all.”
She added: “The women were very creative. They made a range of outfits, including gowns, skirts, tops and trousers, shirt dresses, and blouses. Each person brought their own personality into the pieces, added their own creative touch to each piece which made every design unique. It was inspiring to see how much they achieved in such a short time.
The sewing project has been so successful it will return in October (Image: )
“They were amazed. Many of them said they never believed they could sew something from start to finish, but the sense of accomplishment on their faces said it all. They left the class not just with new skills, but with confidence, pride, and excitement to continue sewing at home.
“There has been so much interest from the community, and I believe this is just the beginning of something bigger empowering more women with practical skills they can use for themselves, their families, or even as a small business opportunity.”
Example of the sewing workshop’s activities(Image: )
Each class begins with basic demonstrations such as how to take body measurements, interpret simple patterns, and cut fabrics to shape. From there, students gradually build their skills week by week. They learn how to use everyday tools like scissors, chalk, measuring tapes, and hand-sewing needles, alongside occasional machine work.
The aim is to give participants real, usable skills they can apply immediately, whether to save money, create custom outfits for themselves and family, or begin a small home-based business.
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