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Love of Fashion Love of Sewing Baby Lock partners with Designer Joi Mahon For over 40 years, Baby Lock has been dedicated to the love of sewing, and is always on the edge of new technologies and ideas. Baby Lock is also dedicated to educating dealers and customers through their educational series "Love of Sewing." This is evident by their longstanding relationship with National Spokespersons and two of Baby Lock's biggest fans, Nancy Zieman and Eleanor Burns. Sewing Celebrity Nancy Zeiman is the host of PBS Series Sewing with Nancy which places an emphasis on the Love of Sewing, while one of the biggest names in quilting, Eleanor Burns is the host of PBS series Quilt in a Day which focuses on the Love of Quilting. Adding to that repertoire, Baby Lock is partnering with up and coming design/sewing star Fashion Designer Joi Mahon to provide a New York Fashion Design Experience. Joi bridges the gap between the fashion industry and home sewing by bringing her enthusiasm, skill and experience to a new and exciting series Love of Fashion encouraging participants to incorporate a fashion design mindset in their sewing. According to President of Baby Lock USA Steve Jeffery, "Baby Lock is very excited about our new relationship with the very talented and creative Joi Mahon. I was already familiar with Joi from her wonderful articles in SQE Professional and was introduced to her after she won the Passion for Fashion Competition. We had the opportunity to meet in person at the CHA Show in Anaheim where we brought the Love of Fashion concept to life. I knew right away we would make a great team." Janet Pray, president of American Sewing Expo, remarked, "We were very lucky to have Joi as part of our Passion for Fashion competition in Novi, MI, last fall. It was apparent right away what a great eye and talent she has for fashion sewing. Her design won her some wonderful prizes, but I am most pleased that the experience has drawn more national attention to Joi and her work. This has led to some wonderful opportunities, such as her new partnership with Baby Lock, and I know she has an amazing future ahead of her." Joi started sewing at an early age, but her inherent natural ability and passion went beyond the basic pattern envelope, and in high school she found herself making fabulous designs while the rest of the class was struggling through the pillow project. As a sophomore in high school she taught her first sewing class to younger 4-Hers with a pattern she designed herself. She became apprentice for a tailor and learned how to run a sewing business while having the opportunity to practice fit on hundreds of people from all ages and sizes. This helped Joi to further develop her skills in sewing, styling and alterations. Joi studied fashion design at Iowa State University and currently serves on an advisory board for the design program. Joi always knew she would study fashion design and one day have her own design business. She leased a design office space immediately after graduation and has never looked back. Today she is a successful and popular fashion designer with an established business designing for clients all over the United States. She is the proud owner of clothing patent, a published author, award winning designer which includes Passion for Fashion, and now is offering her experience and skills to Baby Lock dealers and their customers. Jeffery also stated, "Fashion sewing is such an important part of our business and we are thrilled to have Joi join the Baby Lock family. Please check our Web site and look for Joi and her incredible fashion programs at a Baby Lock dealer near you." Unique to Baby Lock, Joi teaches students the exact design processes and techniques she uses when working with clients in her studio bringing her ideas from concept to fabric. Classes can be tailored -- no pun intended -- for individual dealers, special groups, all ages and location, in addition to being offered as one day seminars to three to four day design camps. Classes in the "Love of Fashion" Series include topics such as: Fashion Draping: Draping is the art of sculpting fabric on a form three dimensionally to create a design. Very popular with the aspiring sewing/designer and Project Runway devotee, this hands on class begins with draping basics. Students have the opportunity to develop basic designs and a foundation for creating more sloper patterns. A master class is available and students will receive their own draping form as a part of this more intensive class. Sewing as a business: Sewing as a business is truly a different mindset then hobby sewing. This class helps the prospective sewing business owner evaluate business issues unique to sewing such as business forms, pricing, working with a customer and work flow. Entertaining discussions such as how to determine family rates are also discussed. Fit and Measuring the Body: Garment sewers often wonder why their garments do not fit well and one simple reason is that bust, waist and hip measurements are not enough. Expanding on these measurements, Joi walks through the steps on how to evaluate body, how to take extensive measurements, and how to apply them to a commercial pattern or to draping, in addition to creating a test garment and how these factors affect fit. A very popular and informative class for fashion sewers wanting to improve their sewing. Trends and Design: In this intensive class students learn how to evaluate client or design ideas, add their own aesthetic, evaluate trends, source fabric, price a design and create a work plan. An optional fashion sketching program is available which provides the students their own croquet to sketch on. Joi is enthusiastic about the upcoming classes and the above is only a sampling of the exciting fashion topics taught in the Love of Fashion series. She said, "I look forward to sharing my design ideas and being progressive by continually coming up with new and intriguing class ideas as I partner with Baby Lock. This is such an exciting program and opportunity for all involved. With the popularity of Project Runway, fashion and sewing is popular again. I want to bring the two together, inspire and share my passion and Love of Fashion Design." To become a Baby Lock Authorized Retailer contact Tacony Corporation by calling 1-800-298-8810. Design Thoughts from Joi Design is collaborative and not always about pushing your ideas on someone. I love design consultations where I interact with my clients learning about their ideas. Although you should love what you design and you should develop your own aesthetic, a successful designer applies their own ideas and actually designs for the client and their preference. As a designer I love learning and trying new things. When I go to any class no matter how basic, I try to take something from it or from another participant. If you think you know every technique or skill, and no one does, then you stunt the creative process. When you open yourself to a learning mindset you free yourself to challenge your abilities and that is where new ideas bloom from.” Joi’s Upcoming Appearances & Classes: July: CHA Show Chicago promoting Baby Lock and National Sewing Council August: Baby Lock Tech St. Louis. Dealers can meet Joi, discuss classes and book for the next season. September: American Sewing Expo Novi, MI. As a past winner of Passion for Fashion Joi will present this year's winner, display a design collection and offer design classes for Baby Lock. To book Joi for your dealership You can also find Joi on... Reprinted from SQE Professional, April 2010 |