Slowing it Down: How StitchWorks Mission Challenges Fast Fashion
By now, you’ve probably heard the term fast fashion floating around social media. But you may not know what it is, what it means, or how it’s affecting the environment every day.
Here at StitchWorks, we are pushing back against the speed and waste of fast fashion by embracing something slower, more intentional, and deeply rooted in skill. Our mission is to empower people with industrial sewing knowledge—teaching them to make their own garments from scratch. We even offer a sewing certificate program, which provides hands-on training in industrial sewing techniques, pattern reading, and garment construction—equipping students with the skills needed for careers in fashion or manufacturing.
In a world where trends are designed to expire, we offer an alternative: clothing that takes time, carries personal meaning, and builds lasting value. By slowing down the process, we’re not just teaching a craft—we’re cultivating a mindset that challenges the culture of disposability.
Trends used to run on a 20-year cycle, but the dawn of social media and emerging popularity of online shopping shrunk the trend cycle into the current one we experience today—one that seemingly moves at lightning speed as fast fashion giants like Zara and H&M crank out new microtrends every couple of weeks. In fact, the number of new garments made per year has nearly doubled over the last two decades, and global consumption of fashion has increased by 400%.
Photo: Courtesy of Zoe Munger (2025)
StitchWorks’ mission is the antithesis of fast fashion. By teaching Indianapolis youth how to design and make clothes, we actively rebel against that industry. We offer a range of educational opportunities that each uniquely empower Indianapolis children and teens to learn the art of sewing. Our annual Summer Fashion Programs for Teens and year-round short term courses for all ages programs each contribute to the sustainability mission.
We understand that the fast fashion industry is operating at a dangerous level of overproduction with severe environmental consequences. It is now responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions—more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Producing cheap, disposable clothing requires enormous amounts of water and energy, pollutes waterways with toxic dyes, and generates millions of tons of textile waste each year. Most of these garments are made from synthetic fibers that don’t biodegrade, meaning they’ll sit in landfills for decades after they’re thrown away. This can have detrimental effects on the local level too—for example, local landfills lead to increased carbon emissions, microplastic leaching, and toxic dye contamination in our city.
In our ThriftFlip Summer Program, students don’t just sew, they utilize rejected pieces of fabrics from secondhand shops into their vision through creative transformation. By working with thrifted garments, they learn how to upcycle with purpose, reduce waste, and discover the creative potential in what already exists.
Since fast fashion isn’t slowing down anytime soon, now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the joys of slower consumption. You can even produce for a special cause—at Stitchworks, we create practical designs for clients with specific needs.
For students interested in sustainability, our ThriftFlip class introduces real-world practice through hands-on upcycling projects. These programs allow for more meaningful projects when we get to collaborate with local boutiques like Lux & Ivy. Through their donated garments, we’ve helped students rethink waste, explore ethical fashion, and design with intention, all while learning the value of creative reuse in today’s fashion landscape.
Whether you’re thrifting, upcycling your clothes, designing garments from scratch, or practicing a combination of all three—all are great ways of fighting against the grain of overconsumption and production waste. And if you’ve never sewn before, you want to get better, or you’re even looking to tap into the skill of industrial sewing—what better place to learn than Indy’s very own StitchWorks?
If you’re looking to be part of the change, Stitchworks offers a few ways to get involved. Start by subscribing to our newsletter where you’ll learn about all of our events, upcoming classes and new programs.
Follow us on social media for a closer look into our creative collaborations and the people making it all happen at StitchWorks. If you’d like to support our organization financially, you can contribute here to help students find their passion and entrepreneurs find their community.
StitchWorks encourages the support of fashion designers and entrepreneurs alike in the Indianapolis community, and you can join in by attending classes, mentoring youth, or learning how to make your own clothes. Every stitch is a step toward a slower, more sustainable future for fashion.
