Sewing is undergoing quite a revival in Blackburn, but it’s not just about sewing, it’s about identity, heritage and being exclusive in your clothing 

Walking through the streets of Blackburn, you will find fabric shops bursting with colour, cultural elegance and tradition and more and more people are wanting to express their creativity through sewing…

At the core of Blackburn’s heart is the south Asian community. Shalwar Kameez, abayas, and Kurti’s are not just clothing, but a symbol of pride worn for Eid, weddings and everyday life. For many of us learning to sew these garments is a way to control how we dress and express ourselves 

‘I grew up watching my mother sew clothes for all of us, and now I am doing the same for my daughters’ 

The streets of Blackburn are home to a thriving selection of fabric and haberdashery stores, making sewing even more accessible than ever. From printed fabrics to plains, from embroideries to silks, not only is fabric easy to find, it’s actually inspiring. You cannot walk out of a fabric shop empty handed and this encourages more people to take up sewing as a hobby and skill. 

Furthermore, local institutions like Blackburn college and university are offering fashion and textile courses, helping students develop technical and creative design skills. It’s a sign that sewing that was once dismissed as just a domestic skill is being recognised as a work of art.

Blackburn also celebrates the festival of make annually. From sculpture to print to all walks of creativity including knitting crochet and sewing.  The festival really promotes all things handmade and creative. 

For women in Blackburn, sewing offers independence, (not relying on tailors) and most importantly confidence and the joy of saying ‘I made this ‘