Black Girls Sew
Black Girls Sew is more than just a creative initiative — it’s a movement dedicated to empowering young Black girls through the art of sewing, fashion design, and entrepreneurship. Founded by Hekima Hapa and co-led by Tameka McFarlane, the organization provides a space where girls can not only learn practical skills but also explore self-expression, cultural pride, and economic independence.
The organization began in Brooklyn, New York, and has since grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit. Its core mission is to address the lack of representation and access for young Black girls in the fashion industry, while simultaneously providing tools to help them thrive as creators and innovators. Through sewing, the organization teaches more than technique — it teaches confidence.
At the heart of Black Girls Sew is a belief in hands-on learning. Their summer camps and year-round workshops blend traditional sewing instruction with lessons in fashion history, textile science, pattern-making, and sustainability. Students don’t just make clothes — they understand the process from idea to runway, gaining insight into how the fashion world really works.
One of the most exciting aspects of the program is its focus on entrepreneurship. Girls are encouraged to think beyond creating for fun and instead imagine themselves as business owners, fashion designers, and brand builders. They learn how to market their creations, manage inventory, price products, and pitch ideas — all while still in their teens.
This emphasis on self-sufficiency is especially powerful in a world where Black creativity is often appropriated but under-recognized. By giving these girls the skills and language to own their work and tell their stories, Black Girls Sew helps reclaim cultural narratives and push back against systemic erasure in the fashion industry.
The program is also deeply rooted in community. Instructors and mentors are often Black women designers, tailors, and artists who bring not only technical expertise but also lived experience. These role models reinforce the idea that success in fashion is possible without compromising identity or integrity.
Black Girls Sew also prioritizes sustainability. In a time when the fashion industry contributes heavily to global waste, the organization promotes upcycling, fabric reuse, and thoughtful consumption. Students learn how to transform old garments into new creations, encouraging a mindset of creativity that also cares for the planet.
Cultural heritage is another key element of the curriculum. Students explore African textiles, traditional dress, and diasporic influences in fashion, connecting the stitches they sew today with centuries of style, resistance, and innovation. This grounding in cultural legacy helps them see fashion as not just aesthetic, but historical and political as well.
Success stories from the program are plentiful. Many alumni go on to launch their own clothing lines, attend fashion schools, or work in creative industries. But even those who don’t pursue fashion professionally leave the program with an invaluable sense of self-worth, agency, and possibility.
In media appearances and fashion showcases, the girls shine — not just because of their talent, but because of the intention behind their work. Every garment they create is a statement: “I am here, I have a voice, and I can shape the world.” That kind of confidence can’t be bought — but it can be taught, nurtured, and sewn into every seam.
Black Girls Sew is a powerful reminder that when young people — especially young Black girls — are given the tools, mentorship, and space to create, they can transform not just fabric, but the future. It’s a revolution stitched in beauty, skill, and pride.
As the organization continues to grow, its impact ripples outward — empowering the next generation of designers, leaders, and changemakers to create boldly, claim space, and never forget the power of their own hands.
