Sewing with Women and Young People: A Year of Creativity at Tommaso Grossi School

With the end of the school year came the conclusion of another season of sewing workshops for women and middle school students at Tommaso Grossi Comprehensive School. Over the past several months, participants spent time in the workshop learning new skills, working on creative projects, and sharing meaningful experiences along the way...

Inspiring young people through creativity…

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"Our program had a double purpose," explained Ilaria, who led the workshops for five boys and four girls from the middle school. "It created a space for socializing while also helping students develop technical and creative skills."

Throughout the course, students explored a variety of sewing techniques. They learned hand sewing by creating fabric keychains, practiced using sewing machines while making zippered pencil cases, personalized tote bags through fabric printing, and experimented with weaving.

According to Ilaria, each student approached the experience differently. Some saw it as a fun after-school activity, while others became deeply interested in sewing and challenged themselves with more advanced techniques and personalized projects.

"For some students," she shared, "this experience even became a real source of inspiration when choosing a high school, leading them to consider studying fashion."

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Taking time to create by hand…

For the past three years, Spazio 3R has partnered with Tommaso Grossi School to offer sewing workshops for students. Each year, we continue to be inspired by the positive impact these hands-on experiences have on young people.

"During the workshops, the value of craftsmanship really stands out in contrast to today's digital distractions," Ilaria explained. "Many students are used to the instant gratification of smartphones, so they often lose sight of the time, patience, and effort that go into creating something by hand. Working in the sewing workshop teaches them perseverance, determination, and the satisfaction that comes from making something themselves. It also helps them discover talents they didn't know they had and encourages them to imagine new possibilities for their future."

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Learning and growing together…

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Since October 2025, Spazio 3R has also continued its sewing course and morning coworking sessions for women. Led by instructor Maria Luisa, the program built on the previous year's lessons while also welcoming new participants by introducing the fundamentals of patternmaking and garment construction.

"The women made incredible progress," Maria Luisa shared. "Those who had participated before became wonderful examples and mentors for the newcomers, creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for everyone."

The coworking sessions gave participants the opportunity to put their new skills into practice by working on personal projects together. Among the pieces they created were kimonos and other handmade products, many of which were later sold during the school's end-of-year celebration.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in October for another year of learning, creativity, and new projects. Until then, we wish everyone a wonderful summer!