The Master Sewing and Design Professional Certification Program was created to fill a gap in our industry. Many of our members are very talented dressmakers and alteration specialists who became proficient without the benefit of a college degree. Very likely, they had a natural ability in these areas. Often they learned the basics from a mother or aunt and continued to explore and experiment on their own as well as taking an occasional sewing class. As time went by, others recognized their talent through the beautiful work they did and often this was the springboard for a rewarding business.
I have spoken with many who began in this way and often I hear how they lacked confidence in spite of the evidence in their work that they are truly a professional. This was the gap that MSDP was designed to fill. It was created to validate those who became a professional in an unconventional way. Certification is a way to prove clearly to oneself that you really know what you are doing! It also lets new clients see that you are recognized by a professional organization as being a Master Sewing and Design Professional or a Master Alteration Specialist.
If this sounds like you, consider participating in one of these certification Programs. You can sign up now for the Master Sewing and Design Professional Certification program or the new Master Alteration Specialist Certification Program when it is launched later this year. Check us out on the ASDP website.
Written by Linda Macke
MSDP is proud to announce their first scholarship recipient, Blondell Howard. Here is her winning essay.
My name is Blondell Howard and I have been a member of ASDP since 2007. I own the Sassy SEWer- Sewing Lounge in Baltimore, MD. I learned to sew at the ripe old age of 22, LMBO! My mother sewed and I have an aunt who worked in the garment industry in New York and Connecticut. However, neither had time to teach me, so I decided to teach myself. I can honestly say it was a slow and sometimes painful process, but I persevered. In 1999, I took a part-time job with Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines. My primary job was to sell sewing machines. My primary goal was to develop my sewing skills. Viking provided me the opportunity to teach sewing machine/serger operation and creative classes. I loved that job and met some amazing seamstresses. However, most of the classes offered were geared towards quilting and machine embroidery. I wanted to sew apparel. After Viking, I began teaching various sewing classes for Joann Fabrics.
To gauge whether what I had taught myself was correct, I enrolled part-time in Baltimore City Community College’s (BCCC) Fashion Design Program, all while working a full time job. I successfully completed classes in Garment Construction, Advanced Garment Construction, Flat Pattern Design, Fashion Illustration, Draping, and Textiles. BCCC’s goal was to prepare students to work in the fashion industry. My goal was to develop my sewing and fashion design skills.
In 2007, my employer was purchased by a national bank. Therefore, my accounting position was eliminated. I wasn’t worried because I knew how to sew and wanted to teach others fashion sewing. The time was ripe to open a sewing lounge. Project Runway had created a renewed interest in garment sewing.
Fast forward to today. I’m still in business, but need to take it to the next level. Finally, this year I attended my first ASDP convention and fell in love. It was the best sewing conference I had ever attended. I left inspired, challenged and in admiration of the members of ASDP. These were my kind of gals, garment sewers. The skill level of ASDP members was outstanding. I knew that this is what I wanted to do in my second career. Most members I had never met before, but they embraced and encouraged me to pursue custom sewing. Before the 2012 conference I was adamant about not sewing for people. After the conference I knew I could do custom sewing.
I believe that the ASDP Master Certification will benefit me in various ways. Master certification will validate my sewing and fashion design skills. Most importantly, Master certification will allow me to offer custom sewing with confidence. Master certification will announce to the public that I am a skilled professional who will deliver superior custom clothing. Master certification will further develop my sewing and design skills. Master certification will allow me to mentor, encourage, and attract sewers who want a career in fashion sewing. Lastly, Master certification will allow me to grow the ASDP membership.
