From Fabric Scraps to a Shopping Bag: A Tailoring Experience for American Students

Spazio 3R is a meeting place for people from many different backgrounds, and this time, our visitors came from the United States. For two mornings, we welcomed thirty young students who joined us in the workshop to create their own shopper bag.

A Long Journey to Discover the Art of Tailoring

Pieces of fabric, colorful ribbons, thread, needles, buttons, and scissors were laid out on the worktables when the students entered the workshop. Two hours later, those simple materials had been transformed into unique shopping bags.

On the mornings of Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, two groups of 14 students aged 15 to 17 visited us for a tailoring workshop. The project was part of a program organized by CIEE, an agency that arranges international experiences for American participants. It was the Milan office that contacted us to host a four-day sewing workshop, two days in June and two in July.

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Creativity in Action

The students arrived a bit overheated from the summer weather, but that did not stop them from experimenting with needle, thread, and scissors. Each person chose their favorite piece of fabric and immediately began personalizing their bag with ribbons, lace, or buttons. Some even tried embroidery or added hand-drawn designs. The Spazio 3R seamstresses, Rania, Halima, Surma, and Martin, were invaluable guides, patiently explaining sewing techniques and demonstrating how to use the tools.

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Spazio 3R as a Place of Exchange

A warm and welcoming atmosphere quickly took shape. The young participants, who had arrived in Italy at the beginning of June, came from different parts of the United States. Once again, the tailoring workshop became a space where cultures and worlds could meet. The two hours flew by but were enough to create small masterpieces. Remarkably, some of the students had never even used a needle before coming to Spazio 3R.

At the end, we asked them to leave us a message. Many wrote that they had so much fun they could not wait to try sewing again once their experience in Italy was over. One especially thoughtful note read: “It was a beautiful way to let creativity flow. You are truly a wonderful organization, and the seamstresses are very kind.”

We look forward to welcoming the next groups arriving in July and discovering the new creative ideas they will bring with them.