Andrea Cheong on Sewing, Slowing Down & Reclaiming Fashion

By Slow Luxe Society

P.C: Alise Jane

As the founder of The Sewn Assembly and author of fashion bestseller Why Don’t I Have Anything to Wear?, Andrea Cheong is a leading voice in the movement for mindful consumption. Through her hands-on workshops, she invites people to reimagine their relationship with clothes—not just as consumers, but as makers and caretakers.

What inspired the creation of The Sewn Assembly?

Andrea: I had started moving my community from online to in real life, through monthly Mindful Mending Clubs, and I had taught myself how to make clothes from scratch in the last year. I saw that learning a new skill, being creative—but most of all, feeling empowered over our wardrobes and how we present ourselves—is so powerful. I knew then that this was how I could push forward the mission of changing society's attitudes towards the disposability of fashion.

What does “making your own clothes” mean to you personally?

Andrea: Like many kids, I would fashion dresses for my toys out of anything—scrap paper, loo roll, ribbon. As a teenager, I'd imagine outfits that didn’t exist. Making my own clothes is validating my inner child, giving her the chance to make those ideas come to life. I talk to my community, and they’ve thought about it too, but the barrier to entry is really high, and as adults, they felt like they had to leave it behind.

You’ve always advocated for mindful consumption. How do you see sewing influencing someone’s buying decisions?

Andrea: Learning how to sew really opens people’s eyes to the value of clothes, regardless of how much they cost.

What is the atmosphere like at a Sewn Assembly workshop?

Andrea: I start prepping for a Self-Made Studio workshop weeks in advance. All the pattern pieces (custom!) are cut, pressed, edges are overlocked, seams are marked out. We have quite a tight run of events on the day. It’s important to us that the experience is mindful, social, and that guests can indulge every question and idea they have around sewing. I’m Chinese and being a good host has always been ingrained in me. I know we’ve done a good job not just because people finish their projects, but because 25% of our guests come back to us—either for another garment workshop or to learn to mend and alter.

How do you source materials, and what role does fabric quality play in the experience?

Andrea: First and foremost, it has to be realistic to sew with. I did provide silk for a sewing class once and it went quite well actually, but the ratio was pretty much 1:1. So our fabrics are always 100% natural and of an appropriate quality for the garment. It would be irresponsible to bring out the most incredible fabric ever, but then require specialist knowledge to respectfully handle it.

What advice would you give to someone just beginning their slow fashion journey?

Andrea: Find creators and friends that support you with that! I learnt to knit by joining a knit club, and you stay on track, motivated, and inspired. Plus, you meet new friends, which is very hard to do in a big city.

What’s next for The Sewn Assembly?

Andrea: I have just completed my level 3 for wine, which you don’t need to run tastings. But I feel that I am seen as an influencer in most people’s eyes, so honestly, I have something to prove. Thanks to my team of co-hosts, we have built a community space that's super accessible: Mindful Mending Club. Here, you can learn to mend and alter for the price of a coffee in London. Then I have a premium garment-making workshop: Self Made Studio. In the next year, I am keen to see if I can extend this to a social space: Sip & Stitch, where you can sip, stitch, and maybe meet your new best friend.

Andrea’s next workshop, ‘The Sewn Assembly’, takes place on Sunday 27th July at Coal Drops Yard, London.

Guided by Andrea and her team, participants will transform reclaimed men’s shirts into custom unisex boxer shorts—learning tailoring techniques and reshaping their relationship with clothes in the process. Sign Up here: The Sewn Assembly

Follow Andrea Cheong on Instagram: @andreacheong_