the mission, idea and purpose:
Most young designers and students don’t have regular access to professional grade equipment or funds available to purchase adequate workspace to produce proper, sellable work. They are usually left with the alternative of sewing in restricted spaces with improper tools and equipment thus limiting their creative potential and success.
“Buzz & Growl” will give local designers and seamstress’s available space and resources to continue their design work and education where they might not otherwise be able. It will help stimulate the sewing industry in the Midwest as well as domestic manufacturing in the U.S. as a whole. There will also be opportunity for job creation for local sewers and contractors to provide samples and production runs for members.
There is a burgeoning group of artists, designers, students and seamstresses that come to Cleveland to study such skills but have no resource to continue their development post graduation. The Co-op will aid in facilitating such development by providing workshops, studio space and contract services at a low rate or no charge. Members can book time slots, work on projects, learn professional standards, network and collaborate with other designers and grow in their field at a healthy pace. There is a movement of DIY sewing manufacturers and entrepreneurs sweeping the continent. The more it's supported with projects such as this, the sooner we will see jobs created and the apparel industry revitalized.
why “buzz and growl”?
Industrial machines have character, a noisy character. When you press the start button, their motors "buzz" in anticipation as they warm up. Once you put fabric to foot, the machine growls like a beast. The goal of "buzz & growl" is to aid young designers in their career growth and development. It's a space where young designers who are just starting to create a "buzz" in the industry can grow to a resonant "growl" in their careers!
