Small Business Spotlight

Sewing is definitely having its moment. No longer spurred by necessity, sewing is now considered a hip, creative outlet. Jennifer Serr, owner of the Sewing Room in Alameda, has been ready for this moment since she started sewing at the age of seven.

After a decades-long career in the fashion industry, Jennifer launched the Sewing Room in 2008. A singular request from a friend to teach her daughter how to sew led to an avalanche of requests. Soon the demand outgrew Jennifer’s home studio.

Several moves later, the Sewing Room is now located in a large, airy space in the Park Street Plaza with a wide variety of daily classes for both adults, teens and children. In addition to instruction, the studio also stocks fabrics, patterns and notions.

The mission of the Sewing Room is to encourage the rewarding process of turning fabric into garments and accessories, as well as to keep textiles out of the landfill. In fact, their tag line is Sewing, Fashion and Sustainability.

From machine basics and hand sewing to open studio time and pattern making, the Sewing Room offers opportunities to be imaginative in an inclusive, nonjudgmental and welcoming space. As mending, repurposing and upcycling have gained steam, the studio has supported these efforts in their roster of classes.

Like yoga, sewing is a practice that can be calming, meditative and challenging. Check out The Sewing Room and when you do, tell them the Breathing Room sent you!