TEXTILES.ORG
Fabric Forge has opened a 9,000-square-foot lab in Houston, Texas, providing community members with textile education and workforce training opportunities. An initiative of the nonprofit Connect Community, Fabric Forge allows children and adults to explore the tools and skills involved in producing soft goods, from patternmaking, designing and prototyping to final production.
The nonprofit gives back to the community by training and employing Houston residents, particularly women and mothers. The organization offers industrial sewing courses, English classes and digital literacy workshops, along with up to 15 hours of free on-site child care weekly. After training, participants can become employed at the organization’s more than 50 retail clients. So far, Fabric Forge has secured first-time employment for 30 moms. All employees are paid fair wages and accommodated with flexible working schedules.
For example, The Green Sling works in partnership with the organization to employ workers and produce its running belts made from upcycled leggings.
Monthly memberships are available for individuals and small businesses to access industrial sewing equipment, cutting tables and other workspaces. The organization also offers custom packing and fulfillment services for retail and e-commerce. In addition, Fabric Forge hosts summer day camps for students in fourth through 12th grade.
Fabric Forge was originally known as HTX Sewn Goods and was founded by a group of nonprofits in Houston in 2020 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Gethsemane. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofits produced more than 75,000 reusable masks for frontline workers and neighbors.
