Charity Fashion - a 100% hands-on event - Tailoring for tots in Haiti

Welcome to the 8th event of its kind. It again offers an opportunity to exercise hands-on Individual Social Responsibility.

The day following our event will mark the 10th anniversary of the Haiti earthquake.

No matter if your desire is to …

• fine-tune your fashion design or sewing skills
• learn how a garment is made from start-to-finish, or
• if you just wish to exercise hands-on social entrepreneurship
  ---> this action-packed workshop is for you!

We will be fabricating fashionable Chicago-style garments for little girls and boys in Haiti, ranging in age from 2–5 years. For many of them it is their very first dress or pants they ever owned. By now some 900+ dresses and 300+ pants (britches) had been made by our group.

Expect some 70+ compassionate volunteers. At past events our attendees ranged in age from 12 to 84 years. It never mattered that most of the attendees are ‘want-to-be dressmakers’ when they march into the room. At the end of the session all of them are very proud of what they had accomplished.

Luckily we can count again on the help of a number of professionals: seasoned fashion designers, dress makers and sewers. Many of them are returning for the 3rd and 4th time. They will all freely offer a helping hand to any novice dressmaker or sewer, who might need a little help with either fabric cutting, working with patterns, ironing, colored fabric sorting & pinning, or even sewing.

Rest assured, we will have duties assigned for every attendee. Obviously there are many tasks besides operating a sewing machine to get the job done. In short, you don't need to be a tailor to participate, whereas you may depart as one!

As with all our 'Haiti-help' events, the workshop is NOT a monetary fundraiser!. However please accept the mandatory entry fee PER attendee:

Participation fee A:
(5) gently-used & washed pillowcases and/or
(5) gently-used & washed T-shirts (NOT white please !)

Participation fee B:
$9.97 (cash) at the door in case you missed bringing with you either (5) gently-used pillowcases or
(5) gently-used T-shirts (Not in white and light colors please. Logos and text is NO problem !)
In exchange for the payment you will receive (2) new pillowcases to be used at the workshop

It is appreciated that you bring with you any item such as: It is appreciated that you bring with you any item such as:
• sewing machine with loaded bobbin. (If an electric machine, kindly bring an extension cord)
• steam iron with iron board
• pair of dressmaker scissors, sewing shears or rotary cutter
• self-healing cutting mat
• ruler
• bias tape [7/8" wide, single folded (any color)]

If you so happen to have, don't mind donating:
• gently-used French language books for toddlers and elementary school students
• 2nd-hand brass and string instruments. The later can be even broken. A Haiti-based music repair technical will take care of it. The organizer makes sure they will be delivered to Haiti.

Co-organizers of the event are:
..Rotary Club of Chicago
..The Jesse White Foundation
..Chicago Park District
..Index Angels

Parallel to the Charity Fashion event is a Mini-Desktop Exhibition. (12) not-for-profits will showcase their services of how to help Haiti.