Tag: Ambassador

JUKI Posts

Meet JUKI Ambassador Amanda Gerard

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Today, we’re excited to introduce our newest JUKI Ambassador, Amanda Gerard, the talented founder and owner of SewBestie LLC, located in the heart of Oceanside, California! With over 20 years of sewing experience, Amanda has turned her passion for textile art into a thriving business that serves the San Diego and North County communities. SewBestie LLC offers a variety of classes designed with beginners in mind, making the art of sewing accessible and enjoyable for both children and adults.

Amanda’s journey began at 11 when she first noticed her mother repairing and hemming clothing on her sewing machine. Though her mother was not an expert sewist, Amanda’s curiosity was piqued, and she asked to learn more. With a simple introduction to the basics from her mother —how to turn on the machine and thread it—Amanda’s started learning through trial and error! Her first major project, a Renaissance Noble costume, proved to be both a challenge and a revelation. Despite the difficulties of working with upholstery, satin, boning, and grommets, Amanda finished the costume and discovered her love for textile art.

 “I have been lucky my entire life to have a very vivid imagination, so I can look at a fabric and immediately see in my head where it’s going to go and how it is going to match specific patterns and placement in a design.”

Creativity is at the core of Amanda’s work! She deeply loves bright colors and high-contrast designs, often gravitating toward rainbow palettes that bring her strong imagination to life. When designing custom garments and accessories for clients, Her favorite projects are those where clients give her creative freedom! With a theme and budget, Amanda can explore new techniques and push the boundaries of her craft. In recent years, vinyl has become one of her preferred materials, particularly in bag-making, where she enjoys experimenting with clear and smooth varieties. Collaborating with independent designers has been especially fulfilling for Amanda, as she’s loved helping bring their unique visions to life.

When asked about the fabrics and patterns she enjoys most, Amanda shouted out her love for vinyl! Transitioning from clothing to bag-making was a significant shift in her creative journey, but one that she was excited to embrace. Working with vinyl, particularly in the form of backpacks or makeup bags, has opened up new avenues for her creativity.

To further enhance her skills, Amanda has attended various workshops over the years, with one class elevating her journey to new levels she hadn’t touched before. A few years ago, she attended an industrial machine workshop with Ann Benvenuto of Simple Artful Stuff in Dallas, Texas. This experience introduced her to the world of industrial straight stitch machines, specifically geared towards bag making! The workshop, which focused on crafting leather bags, provided Amanda with invaluable knowledge about working with leather and the tools and machines required for the process. This experience led her to invest in JUKI’s Industrial 1541 and 1341 machines, which have become essential in her leather crafting and larger vinyl projects. Since then, Ann has continued to be a mentor and source of inspiration for Amanda, whose skills and passion for sewing have continued to grow since that pivotal workshop.

Amanda’s love for sewing goes beyond creating, and now she shares her knowledge of the hobby she loves. Opening her first sewing classroom in 2018 was an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for Amanda. In discussing her plans with her husband, she realized there were no similar classes or workshops available in their area of South Carolina. While her husband worried that this indicated a lack of interest, Amanda believed it was because no one had yet filled the gap. And her instincts proved correct!

The community’s response was overwhelmingly positive, with children and adults eager to participate in her classes. Today, SewBestie’s classes boast a roughly even split between kids and adults, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm for sewing that Amanda has helped cultivate. However, some challenges came with tackling this new venture.  

“I didn’t think that I had enough knowledge to share with other people… Once I started sharing my knowledge and walking people through the basics, I realized how much I knew.”

One challenge Amanda faced when she first started SewBestie LLC was imposter syndrome and questioning whether she had enough knowledge to share with others. Amanda pushed forward, even with these doubts, and surprised herself with the knowledge she had accumulated over the years of sewing. She’s gone on to develop foundation projects for her students, designed to build their skills progressively. Each project builds upon the last, allowing students to grow confidently as they learn.

While Amanda’s classes have continued to succeed, she admits that she still contends with imposter syndrome and believes it’s important to remain humble and open to learning every day.

In the long run, teaching others to sew has become one of the most rewarding aspects of Amanda’s career. She thrives when watching her students, particularly adults, overcome their fear of trying something new. Children, she notes, tend to be fearless, while adults are often more cautious. Seeing the moment when a student has a breakthrough—when something finally clicks—it’s that light bulb moment she loves to witness. She consistently encourages her students to trust the process, even if they’re unsure how everything will come together.

Since opening her classes, Amanda’s most memorable teaching moment has been with a student named Ryan, who has been a student at SewBestie for a few years. Ryan, a young student, once brought in a hand-drawn picture of an animal monster and, with Amanda’s guidance, turned it into a stuffed animal within two hours, impressing her with his passion! Because of his passion, Amanda has helped Ryan explore the world of heavier fabrics with the JUKI TL.

As Amanda looks to the future for SewBestie, she is excited about expanding their lessons by including retreats and events and continuing to work on their YouTube channel. With a goal of reaching 10,000 subscribers, Amanda is eager to continue sharing her love for sewing with an even wider audience! You can learn more about SewBestie’s YouTube by visiting here.

For aspiring sewists and entrepreneurs, Amanda’s advice is simple: Don’t stop learning and always keep your passion at the forefront. She says, “When you enjoy your passion, it shows, and the business will come.”

Amanda Gerard’s journey from self-taught sewist to successful entrepreneur and JUKI Ambassador is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and creativity. We’re thrilled to have her as part of the JUKI family and can’t wait to see how she continues to inspire and teach others in the years to come!

“Don’t stop! Learning is not something that happens overnight; it’s a process that takes time and practice.”

JUKI Posts, JUKI Spotlight

Behind the Collection with Mah-Jing Wong, JUKI Designer Ambassador

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on Behind the Collection with Mah-Jing Wong, JUKI Designer Ambassador

Join us today as we go behind the collection with JUKI Design Ambassador Mah-Jing Wong! Inspired by Marvel and Anime, we get to see his studio and discuss his designs and looks.

Follow below for a transcribed version of our look behind the collection with Mah-Jing Wong.

JUKI: What inspired you to create a collection based on the anime ‘Sailor Moon?

Mah-Jing Wong: Alright, so this time around it wasn’t just Sailor Moon that inspired the collection. I did a little bit of Sailor Moon and Marvel X-Men. I blended the two together and created my own cartoon which is GALAXIA X and she is the powerful superhero from the sailorverse. So this time around I kind of created my own thing, you know?

JUKI: How did you decide what style and cut to create the fashion pieces?

Mah-Jing Wong: Well, this time around I wanted to keep the same silhouette and just kind of build on there. Because it’s our fall collection it’s a little more coverage, it’s a little colder outside we have jackets, skirts, some joggers, and oversized tops. We still have our sheer dresses, but they have a little more coverage within them.

JUKI: What was your favorite outfit to design and create for this collection?

Mah-Jing Wong: Now my favorite outfit, that is so hard to choose! Kinda like picking your favorite child is hard to do! I guess, maybe our GALAXIA dress which is the color block dress with the green patch over the breast. Awe man that one was super sick and it was very sexy to you know?

JUKI: Let’s talk about the modeling! How do the models bring your work to life? What vision did you see when creating this collection?

Well this time around our house model, which is my wife Stacy, she’s just absolutely amazing. We really want to channel LAness pose, high fashion pose. So we did bleached brows on some of the photos, really sleek and wet hair. She did some really out-of-this-world-like poses, I mean I’m not her so I can’t go do poses, but she’s absolutely amazing, and she really helps to bring the clothes to life.

She is GALAXIA X you know?

JUKI: What future plans do you have in store for the Anime collection?

Mah-Jing Wong: Well, just to continue to push to the masses and get some really cool placement and you know, drop our own cartoon which is something I really want to work on. Maybe a comic book. I mean the sky is the limit with fashion and Mah-jing Wong because the good thing about us is we’re so multi-fashionst, and multi-talented, that I really want to touch all areas especially when it comes to animation.

So you never know what you may see from us.

To learn more about Mah-Jing Wong join us here!

Interested in Mah-Jing Wong’s machine? Check it out here!

To find a JUKI dealer near you visit us here.

JUKI Posts, JUKI Spotlight

JUKI Designer Ambassador: Adolfo Sanchez

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Introducing Adolfo Sanchez, designer, and owner of the Adolfo Sanchez brand. Based in Los Angeles and focused on creating luxury designs, he founded his brand in June 2015. His fashion and style take you on a journey to a world of freedom where women dare to be strong and different. Understanding how saturated the fashion world has become, he shows people that there are still unique options available and his creations are one of them. 

Adolfo’s career started in 2006, where he began to grow his business into a brand that offers custom, ready-to-wear, accessories, bridal, and couture. His gowns are different from those commonly found in the Los Angeles area, focusing on luxury wear. Focusing on the intricacy and hand-beaded designs that need unique craftsmanship when creating his pieces, his gowns are bold and unique, perfect for those wishing to be different.

“I would have never thought that I would have ended up in this industry, but it just feels so right that I know it was meant to be,”

Getting to his current position in the fashion industry by taking risks and learning new techniques, Adolfo is constantly pushing his brand to the next level. By staying true to his passions and fighting for his final vision when creating, he’s able to present pieces he’s proud of. Thankful to his team, including seamstresses, pattern makers, and factory workers, he wouldn’t be where he is today without the support he received along the way and his motivation to create awe-inspiring pieces.

“I’m inspired by everything – people, places, music, and there is so much more to do that I sometimes wonder if I have become obsessed with this industry.”

We are so excited to have Adolfo on board. Follow along with our social media as we continue to update you on Adolfo and our other ambassadors! Learn more about Adolfo and our Ambassador team here https://jukiquilting.com/ambassadors today.

JUKI Posts, JUKI Spotlight

JUKI Designer Ambassador: Kiki Kitty

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Introducing Kiki Kitty, owner, and designer of K. Milele, as one of our new JUKI Designer Ambassadors! A member of the fashion industry since the ’90s, where she started off with FUBU’s womenswear, Kiki Kitty is a force to be reckoned with.

One of five siblings, Kiki grew up in a home where she and her family would focus on creating everyday items to stay entertained. Creating projects like ragdolls, pillows, and slippers, she was inspired by her mother, who found art in everything. Taught by her mother, Kiki would create using natural pieces like pinecones and other found items to create projects like home décor whenever inspiration struck. Through these small projects that Kiki learned how to build her creative eye, assisting her for years to come when it was time for her to design fashion.

Finding sewing as another art medium, her first lesson was thanks to her mother. A fun activity for her and her siblings, Kiki would complete little projects to train herself on the machine and work her way up on project size and complexity. One of her favorite parts about sewing has been the freedom to explore new techniques and concepts. Through her excitement to learn, she sees each mistake as an opportunity to learn something new.

“I love when a mistake turns into the greatest thing about a garment because it forced me to have to look at it in a new way.”

Kiki’s love for the hobby has grown, leading her into the fashion industry in the ’90s as a designer for FUBU, a women’s streetwear fashion line. Motivated by her need to artistically express herself, she finds the process to be therapeutic. Seeing this as a way to express her thoughts was her first step in learning to express herself. “It took me a very long time to find my voice, to verbally express myself, and to stand up for myself. Expression through art was always my outlet. And even now that I’ve discovered my voice, creating remains to be my most powerful expression.”

While her time at FUBU led to her first brand K.A.Kitties, a venture she’s proud and fond of, her most tremendous success was only recently accomplished in her latest fashion collection K.Milele, “This is My Protest.” Using her JUKI machines, our MO-20000QVP, and HZL-NX7, she states she was finally able to create a collection that is 100% her self-expression. With the opportunity to explore prints, patterns, and textures, she hopes to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces representing her and those she designs for.

Her newest collection has trends like gathering, a favorite of Kiki’s since the ’90s. Loving how the final product looks, she finds it’s a simple technique that elevates the simple styles into sexy numbers, something her line embodies. Loving anything that creates fabric manipulation is her favorite trend in sewing. A must-have tool she keeps on hand for these projects is her tweezers. Allowing her told the fabric in place and keeping her fingers away from the machine after one terrible accident in her time at Pratt University when she first began sewing on industrial machines, she finds this tool to be a finger saver.

From FUBU to her current collection, Kiki’s journey in sewing is far from over. We hope you enjoyed getting to know our ambassador today and that you keep up with her future projects! Kiki’s new collection can be found on her socials here, and we’re so excited to see her projects come to life! Kiki’s final note to you JUKI lovers is this, “When you’re trying it [sewing] out, don’t get frustrated about making mistakes. Often mistakes make way for the opportunity to be creative and discover that there’s more than one way to achieve a great outcome. Even if it’s not the idea, you started with. Be flexible. See the beauty in what’s in front of you.”

JUKI Posts, JUKI Spotlight

JUKI Designer Ambassador: Kovid Kapoor

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Today we’re introducing a new addition to the JUKI team, Kovid Kapoor, one of our new JUKI Designer Ambassadors! Based in Brooklyn, New York, Kapoor is an Indian fashion designer that focuses on the luxury and high-end fashion market. Holding an impressive background in fashion, Kapoor has won the National Textile Corporation’s Young Designer Hunt competition in India, completed his master’s in fashion design from the Academy of Art University, and was a contestant on the 17th season of Project Runway. So it’s no surprise his work has gone on to be featured in well-known fashion titles like Elle USA, Elle India, and Vogue Italia. Follow along as we share more about Kovid and his life in fashion below!

Photo Credit: Kovid Kapoor

Starting at a very young age, Kovid learned how to hand sew from his grandmother. Finding love for art, he continued to be passionate about the hobby through his teenage years and adult life. During the foundation years of his bachelor’s degree, Kovid started using sewing machines in his work. As Kovid shares, “It was one of the most crucial subjects and essential skills to develop a successful garment.”

Kovid’s brand is a small-scale brand that believes in creating dynamic clothing to find a healthy balance between art and viable commercial product. Inspired by tales and stories that celebrate feminine and LGBTQ stories, he believes fashion should represent an individual’s identity and be used as a form of self-expression. Focusing on contemporized pieces with a traditional twist, his line is relaxed yet helps buyers feel confident in their look. His motivation for creating his pieces is a therapeutic process, “What motivates me to create is to project and express my thoughts and creative aspirations through fashion and clothing. It’s a therapeutic process of self-reflection, and every collection helps me evolve not just in my creative space but also my emotional space.”

Besides his fashion brand, Kovid has accomplished great success in the art world of fashion. His favorite art piece to date was a conceptual art wear garment inspired by the Mask Project Series, in collaboration-with Akshit Bhardwaj. This art piece was an enlarged garment version of a mask, designed with three-dimensional details. Enjoying the organic process of the garment creation and the carefree approach with which they followed, the final pieces reflected their experience in the creative process. Another art piece, one he claims as his greatest success, was for an installation in the Asian Art Museum vault. A 12-foot tall saree dress tent made for art directors Adrienne Pao and Robin Lasser, designed with bright colors and traditional style. Click here to view the art piece!

Photo Credit: Kovid Kapoor

Currently, Kovid is working on his upcoming collection all constructed on his trusted Juki machine. A must-have tool, Kovid shares a good sewing machine is worth the investment because of its importance in elevating the speed and efficiency of his work. Describing the upcoming collection as something new and fresh, he’s beyond thrilled to showcase the new line once completed. With a passion for his work, Kovid’s love for sewing comes from the process of creating. “There is something very rewarding about constructing something yourself. It adds a personal touch to an otherwise store-bought world.”

As we finished getting to know Kovid, he had one final tidbit of advice for new sewers in the community, “The key to success in sewing is consistency and practice. Sewing is a skill that is finessed with practice and time so it’s completely fine if the initial projects don’t work the important thing is to keep practicing.”

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Kovid Kapoor! Follow along as we continue to join Kovid in his fashion journey, and visit us here to learn more about Kovid and our other designers!