PREPARING TO LAUNCH
RE:WEAR LAB
RE:WEAR LAB is a Black Sheep Alliance initiative bringing together circular fashion, paid skills development and an inclusive creative community. We are preparing a space where clothes gain a second life and newcomers can build skills, income and connections.
Create, repair, reimagine
Bring an item from home or choose from donated garments and materials. Learn to repair, alter and upcycle clothing with access to sewing tools and guidance from experienced makers.
RE:WEAR Skills
Our planned paid learning pathway combines sewing and repair with professional English, customer service, digital skills and supervised work experience for immigrants and newcomers.
RE:WEAR Community
An open creative space with dedicated activities for LGBTQ+ people, immigrants and others facing barriers to employment or belonging. Workshops, fashion swaps and shared projects will help people connect.
Build the lab with us
We welcome conversations with designers, sewing mentors, English tutors, employers, fashion brands and community partners. Help shape the pilot and contribute expertise, reusable materials or support.
A local studio with an international vision
Chicago is envisioned as a pilot for locally rooted RE:WEAR Labs that share knowledge across cities and countries. The project is preparing to launch; training cohorts, the showroom and the marketplace are planned components.
Global connection and collection
The longer-term vision connects local labs through cultural exchange, shared upcycled collections and fashion shows. Makers can reinterpret textile traditions and share the stories behind their work across borders. We plan to hold annual fashion shows, inviting designers from around the world who work with queer communities and upcycling. Our aim is to connect these designers in an international network for sharing knowledge, collaborative projects and mutual support.