It’s a place to learn and to create. To design and maybe even launch your own fashion-related business.
New Vestures, a fashion maker space established by Lowell fashion guru Diana Coluntino (formerly of the Revolving Museum), will hold an open house and membership/class sign up from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday August 22.
In the last few months, Coluntino has transformed the basement of 144 Merrimack St. into rooms filled with industrial sewing machines, computers, reams of fabric, books covering all aspects of design, and a hardware store-size tool collection.
Upcoming classes include: Introduction to Sewing, Millinery (hat making), a basic alterations class and my personal favorite — a Chainmail Workshop. Once used to protect the armor of warriors, today chainmail is used in a variety of ways including in belts, jewelry and costumes making.
Memberships are offered at several levels from $100/month for a resident user membership to $25 for a day pass. Resident users receive full access to the space, as well as discounted classes and free admission to events. There are special group rates available for clubs and after-school programs.
For more information contract Diana at dcoluntino@gmail.com or 617-697-9560.
“This is an incubator more than anything in a real way,” said Massachusetts Creative Economy Industry Director Helena Fruscio at an event at the space earlier this year, adding a maker-space of this caliber is an important economic development and business growth tool. “I can’t think of a better community to open up a fashion maker space and bring it to its full potential. I can’t wait to buy clothes here and see what is happening.”
Room 50 