Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Griffin.
Nikki, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I love to sew!
When I was eight years old, my Granny knew I wanted to learn to sew but her sewing machine was broken. So she taught me how to make a triangle halter top sewn by hand and after making about 10 of them that summer, I was hooked. Over the next five years, I dismantled my old clothes and made new styles by hand. I got my first sewing machine at age 12 and have been sewing the past 40 years. The fashion industry grabbed my attention and after 30 years of fashion retail, merchandising and sales and making clothing for myself and others, today I’m still in sales, providing technology solutions to IT organizations and freelancing in my first love: fashion and sewing.
A desire to collaborate with other sewists and designers in the metro Atlanta area, led me to create Atlanta Sewing Style, the social community of sewists and designers – male and female – that love to sew, making clothing for themselves and others. This effort grew like wildfire and today there are over 100 men and women committed to the community. We gather for group sewing events, group photoshoots, fabric store field trips and hanging out socially. The vision is that our phone rings from magazines and industry partners wanting us to showcase our brand with theirs, but ultimately showing the beauty and skill that exists in our sewing rooms. Sewing and dressmaking is in our DNA from when our ancestors sewed out of necessity and service. We learn this history from each other every day – and it’s all the same: Granny taught me, or my mother or I’m self-taught because I wanted to be more creative with my personal fashion. Whatever the reason or however we started, it’s our responsibility to nurture this craft and keep it going… and that’s what Atlanta Sewing Style is about.
Has it been a smooth road?
The main struggle is making decisions to sew for a living or sew as a hobby. When I married in the 80s, I told my husband I wanted to sew for hire fulltime. He reluctantly agreed and I did this for several years. Sewing was no longer my fun, creative passion – it became a job, working with customers and mothers during prom season and brides planning their wedding. When the obstacles of working this business as a young married couple with two children, the money starts to be affected and getting a job looks really good.
Today, my passion is about building a brand and contributing to others in my community and teach my craft. Now, the challenge is how do I fund this passion, and what does this hungry audience want and how to I give it to them. Just as any other blogger or teacher in any industry, it’s about the content and how it’s delivered to my audience. Challenges will exist and my passion is the driving force of overcoming the challenges each day.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sewing My Style – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Sewing My Style is my brand name across all platforms, teaching others how to sew from a beginner new to the machine to advanced sewists wanting to elevate their skills.
– I showcase my work on social media, including my own blog site
– I provide educational content to beginners
– I teach private lessons and group classes at TopStitch Studio in Ponce City Market
– I design and produce garments to sell (new venture Sept 2019)
I specialize in educating others –
What sets me apart is the level of education I keep for myself. I continue my education with top sewists like Kenneth King of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. Students know I’m trained by Kenneth King and I can pass along many techniques from beginner to expert.
I’m most proud of myself for coming back to sewing.
When my son was born disabled, I kept my sewing business open as long as I could. I closed because his disability became more apparent as he got older and I could do both. After 20 years of not sewing, I decided to return to the sewing room and began teaching right away to build up my skills – I began teaching kids. I laughed at this because it really helped me get going.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Ouch!
The story is… I just returned to Atlanta after ten years in DC/Maryland and four years in Charlotte, NC. Loved both cities and wouldn’t trade those years for anything. My daughter decided to give me two beautiful grandbabies and I wouldn’t think of being anyplace else.
Atlanta is my home and I love all that it offers – art, entertainment, diversity. THE. PEOPLE. and there’s so much of it all.
Maybe this is the thing I least like – the fact that there’s so much available to so many, it’s challenging to find what you want – lots of trial and error. But, I guess that should be the fun about it – trying on some of everything and deciding what fits your life.
Pricing:
- Private Sewing Lesson $75-$100 2-3 hour session
- Group Classes $55 (2hr class)
- Advanced Classes $100 – $600
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sewingmystyle.com
- Email: nkygee@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sewingmystyle; @atlantasewingstyle
- Facebook: @sewingmystyle
- Twitter: @SMSbyNKYG
Image Credit:
Photographers: Shawn Dowdell Photography and Michael Bruce Photography
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