Events
View our calendar for upcoming events, workshops, and fashion shows!
Curious what we’ve done before? Check out a list of past events.
The Business of Making Workshop: Turning Creativity into Income
A practical workshop for creatives: turn your ideas into products people want to buy and a business you can price, market, and sustain.
Being a great designer is only one part of building a business.
This workshop is a practical conversation about how a creative business actually works. We start with your idea and what you already have. Then, we'll talk through the fundamentals to make sound decisions, read your numbers, and take small steps toward steady income.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to know where to start!
Who this is for:
Entrepreneurs launching their own brands, fashion designers breaking into the industry, and any creative looking for scalable ways to monetize their work.
Spooky Season Clothing Swap
Ready to give up those clothes that have been haunting your closet?! Join our fall clothing swap. All genders and body types welcome!
Join Custom Collaborative for an evening of fashion, community, and creative reuse. Bring pieces you're ready to let go of and leave with something new to you. Maybe your fall style has fallen flat. Maybe you need the last pieces for a DIY Halloween costume. Either way, you'll find something fabulous! We'll have rare samples and designer finds. Light bites will be served.
All body types and genders are welcome. This swap is for all!
But this is more than a clothing swap. We'll also look at how small changes can transform the way we wear and think about our clothes.
Technical Fashion Design 3-Part Workshop Series
Day 3 of a 3-Part Series: From Sketch to Sample
Learn the fundamentals of turning your ideas into production-ready garments in this hands-on, three-session workshop.
By the end of this three-session workshop, you'll understand how to take a fashion concept and translate it into a clear, technically sound, production-ready garment. You'll walk away with hands-on skills in Technical Design and a Certificate of Completion to showcase your new abilities.
This beginner-friendly workshop introduces you to the essential skills and terminology used in the fashion industry. Over three days, you'll explore the role of a Technical Designer and learn how technical design connects design, patternmaking, sewing, fit, construction, and production.
Session Dates: This workshop meets for three in-person sessions, each from 5:00-7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 29
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, October 6
You must sign up for the entire workshop; individual sessions are not available. Must attend all classes to receive Certificate of Completion
Technical Fashion Design 3-Part Workshop Series
Day 2 of a 3-Part Series: From Sketch to Sample
Learn the fundamentals of turning your ideas into production-ready garments in this hands-on, three-session workshop.
By the end of this three-session workshop, you'll understand how to take a fashion concept and translate it into a clear, technically sound, production-ready garment. You'll walk away with hands-on skills in Technical Design and a Certificate of Completion to showcase your new abilities.
This beginner-friendly workshop introduces you to the essential skills and terminology used in the fashion industry. Over three days, you'll explore the role of a Technical Designer and learn how technical design connects design, patternmaking, sewing, fit, construction, and production.
Session Dates: This workshop meets for three in-person sessions, each from 5:00-7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 29
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, October 6
You must sign up for the entire workshop; individual sessions are not available. Must attend all classes to receive Certificate of Completion
Technical Fashion Design 3-Part Workshop Series
Day 1 of a 3-Part Series: From Sketch to Sample
Learn the fundamentals of turning your ideas into production-ready garments in this hands-on, three-session workshop.
By the end of this three-session workshop, you'll understand how to take a fashion concept and translate it into a clear, technically sound, production-ready garment. You'll walk away with hands-on skills in Technical Design and a Certificate of Completion to showcase your new abilities.
This beginner-friendly workshop introduces you to the essential skills and terminology used in the fashion industry. Over three days, you'll explore the role of a Technical Designer and learn how technical design connects design, patternmaking, sewing, fit, construction, and production.
Session Dates: This workshop meets for three in-person sessions, each from 5:00-7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 29
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, October 6
You must sign up for the entire workshop; individual sessions are not available. Must attend all classes to receive Certificate of Completion
Wardrobe Rescue: NYC Climate Week Benefit Boutique
Wardrobe Rescue is a pop-up boutique stocked with designer and quality pieces, donated by brands you love and rescued from the landfill.
Featured brands: Mara Hoffman, Faherty, Theory, Gigi Burris Millinery, T.W.I.N, Vontelle Eyewear, and more coming soon!
You get massive discounts, and Custom Collaborative gets funds for fashion that works: workforce development training and worker-owned business incubation in fashion.
Turn talk into action this NYC Climate Week, and shop circular fashion where every dollar funds training stipends, business startup support, and a path to ownership for people locked out of the fashion industry.
Tickets include access to the sale and refreshments
Zero Waste T-Shirt Upcycling With Janelle Abbott
Get creative turning old tees into a one-of-a-kind patchwork style in this hands-on workshop where you'll be challenged to use every scrap!
In this workshop, you'll start with a T-shirt (bring your own or we'll provide one) and trade pieces with other participants. Swap a sleeve for a neckline. Trade half a body for a pocket. Negotiate what you need to build your vision!
Then you'll sew your collected components into a new, one-of-a-kind "Frankenstein" upcycled T-shirt where nothing goes to waste.
Meet your instructor:
Raised in her parents’ Seattle clothing factory, Janelle Abbott (JRAT) developed an early respect for the labor behind every stitch. After graduating from Parsons, she rejected corporate fashion, choosing a radically sustainable, zero-waste path. Through her brand JRAT and Wardrobe Therapy, she transforms discarded materials into rhythmic, layered, unapologetic garments. Her work merges activism, art, and performance—a form of labor solidarity, she exposes fast fashion’s farce through garment reclamation, reminding us that all garments are human artifacts.
Come ready to talk, sew, and walk out with a shirt nobody else will ever own.
How To Use & Maintain Your Home Sewing Machine
Demystify your sewing machine. Learn setup, maintenance, and basic techniques. Bring your own or use ours!
The final workshop in our three-part Sewing Essentials series. We covered hand-sewing basics; now it's time to tackle sewing machines.
Whether your machine has been collecting dust in the closet or you want to practice before buying one, this workshop is for you. We'll walk through settings, maintenance, and core techniques you need to start tackling your own projects.
Bring your machine from home for personalized guidance, or learn on one of ours.
Come as you are. No experience needed!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Provider Training Institute Open House
Join us to discover how Custom Collaborative can help the low-income and immigrant women you serve learn to design, sew, and sell their way into sustainable fashion careers with our FREE 15-week Training Institute.
If you work directly with clients:
- Learn how your organization can refer clients
- Connect directly with our team for easy referrals
- Access up-to-date program materials, eligibility information, and answers to your questions
Register for this virtual 1-hour session!
Sewing Essentials Part 2: How to Sew on a Button
Learn how to sew two common types of buttons properly. And get design inspiration for incorporating buttons into chic upcycle projects!
In the second in our Sewing Essentials workshop series, you'll learn how to repair a loose button — one of the most common clothing fixes!
Whether you want to repair your own clothes or start a side hustle, this sewing workshop is for you! Master two of the most common button types, and learn how to use buttons creatively in your next project.
Materials provided. No experience needed!
Training Institute Open House
Interested in joining our free fashion Training Institute? The first step is to attend an informational Open House session where you’ll learn everything you need to know about eligibility, the application process, our curriculum, and more!
Attendance at one Open House is mandatory for your application to be considered. Cohort 17 of the Training Institute is scheduled to begin Monday, October 26th.
Sign up here!
Style In Focus: Fashion Photography Using A Smartphone
This workshop will teach you how to make the most of your smartphone camera to create polished imagery that elevates your work.
This workshop is perfect for entrepreneurs, fashion designers, and creatives who want to level up their brand through compelling visual storytelling. Whether you're working on a website, boosting your social media, or building a portfolio, fashion photographer Aaron Barrera will show you how to get the most out of the camera you already have — your smartphone!
You’ll pick up practical tips and techniques to capture dynamic, well-composed photos that truly showcase your work and help push your brand forward. Come with a charged phone, ready to snap and learn!
Written in the Stars: Cohort 16 Fashion Showcase
After 15 weeks of growth, craft, and transformation at Custom Collaborative's Training Institute, the stars have aligned. And the final looks are almost here, ready to walk the runway.
Join us on Tuesday, August 4th, for a celebration of creativity, growth, and community. Be the first to behold Cohort 16’s cosmic designs on the runway, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and support our community by shopping unique, handmade finds at our pop-up boutique!
Every Custom Collaborative runway brings our values to life, showcasing diverse models and sustainably made garments crafted from deadstock fabrics.
Sewing Essentials Part 1: How to Hem a Pair of Pants
Whether you want to repair your own clothes, start a side hustle, or impress your friends, this hemming workshop is for you!
The first in a series of three workshops, you'll learn how to hem a pair of pants — one of the most common clothing fixes! Materials provided. No experience needed!
If you've got pants that need repairing, bring them along with matching thread. Otherwise, we'll have some for you to practice on. You're welcome to bring your own sewing supplies too.
Meet your instructor:
Rosie Delgado is the founder of Harlem Sweets Gear and a proud graduate of our Training Institute. A skilled sewist, she takes orders for custom shirts, accessories, scorebooks, and more from her home studio.
Legacy in Transition: Community-Centric Succession Planning
NYC manufacturing is facing a succession crisis. Planning is critical to pass the baton to the next generation and preserve that legacy of innovation.
At this live panel, you will hear from entrepreneurs who took distinct paths to succession—from passing a business to family, selling to an employee, or converting to a worker-owned cooperative to stabilize the business for years to come.
Whether you are a business owner looking to protect what you’ve built, a professional advising clients, or an industry advocate wanting to shape the future of NYC manufacturing, this conversation is for you.
Space is limited. REGISTER TODAY!
Story Cloth: Painted & Embroidered Memories
In this hands-on workshop, textile artist and educator Nikita Shah will guide you through creating a memory cloth — a small, personal piece that draws on family, heritage, and story.
You'll learn basic hand-sewing, embroidery, and Kalamkari, an ancient Indian textile art using natural dyes and hand-drawn imagery. Bring scraps of fabric that mean something to you, and come ready to get creative!
Fashion That Works: Designing an Industry That Works for Everyone
Ngozi will present virtually as part of Sustainability Inspired Successes: A National Webinar Series presented by the National Sustainability Society to highlight the stories behind meaningful sustainability action.
From the spark that launched Custom Collaborative to takeaways for your own work, Ngozi will share the twists and turns of her work to build a fashion system rooted in sustainability and equity.
Free to attend. REGISTER TODAY!
Can You Cut it? How To Efficiently Cut for Garment Sewing
Come gain experience in garment cutting: one of the NYC Garment Industry’s most in-demand skills, taught by an industry expert.
You've got your design. Your pattern. Now what? Learn all about the right cutting equipment, fabric grain, efficient layouts, and calculating yardage in this hands-on, bilingual workshop, taught in both English and Español.
All materials will be provided*, including: fabric, patterns, fabric shears, clear rulers, pins, and pattern weights.
*If you prefer to practice with your own equipment, you are welcome to bring it!
Space is extremely limited. Secure your spot today!
VB Gives Back
Join us at Veronica Beard in SoHo on June 10 from 6-8pm for an evening where your summer wardrobe refresh does more than just look good! A portion of every purchase directly supports Custom Collaborative, advancing economic opportunity for women in fashion.
Veronica Beard SoHo
78 Greene St, New York, NY 10012
Send an email to sohorsvp@veronicabeard.com to RSVP. We’d love to see you there!
Can’t make it? Contact (646) 655-0895 to place a phone order, and your purchase will be included in the donation back.
On the Mend: Why Using What You Have is the New Luxury!
Celebrate Earth Day with a fireside chat featuring fashion experts Ngozi Okaro and Kate Sekules, followed by a hands-on mending workshop.
On the Mend: Why Using What You Have is the New Luxury!
Join us in person for an interactive and eye-opening Earth Day event all about making the most of what you've got, and go home with a free mending kit!
📅 Wednesday, April 22
📍Custom Collaborative, 253 W 35th St, NYC
⏰ 5-7:30PM
Hear from two women working to build stronger systems in the sustainable fashion industry, Custom Collaborative CEO Ngozi Okaro and mending pioneer and author Kate Sekules, as they chat about what it means to build a fashion practice around care rather than consumption.
Following the conversation, Kate will host a hands-on workshop to put these principles into practice, guiding you through visible mending basics from her book Mend! A Refashioning Manual and Manifesto, which we will raffle off at the end of the night! All materials are included with your ticket!
Don't miss this chance to learn from sustainability experts, get hands-on with visible mending, and walk away with a free mending kit and skills you'll reach for all year long.
GET YOUR TICKETS!
Once Upon a Time: Cohort 15 Showcase
Once upon a time, emerging designers began a 15-week journey at Custom Collaborative's Training Institute. Soon, they reveal the final looks that tell their story.
Join us on Tuesday, February 10, at the Another Tomorrow flagship store in Soho for an enchanted celebration of creativity, growth, and community. Be the first to behold Cohort 15’s dazzling designs on the runway, enjoy complimentary refreshments, and support our graduates by shopping unique finds at our pop-up boutique!
Every Custom Collaborative runway brings our values to life, showcasing diverse models and sustainably made garments crafted from deadstock fabrics and upcycled clothing.
📅 Tuesday, February 10
📍Another Tomorrow, 135 Wooster St.
⏰ 6:00-8:00 pm
Ticket sales close on Saturday, February 7, at 12:00 PM.
No tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Due to a live performance, doors will close promptly at 6:15 p.m. on the day of the show.
Wrap & Wreath: Eco Holiday Workshop
The holidays can be a very wasteful time of year with all the shopping, decorating, and gift wrapping!
At Custom Collaborative, we're taking a different approach.
Join us uptown at The Kota Alliance for a hands-on Wrap & Wreath workshop, sponsored by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and led by our Founder and CEO, Ngozi Okaro. Together, we'll learn step-by-step sustainable gift wrap techniques and each create a scrap fabric wreath to take home!
All craft materials and light refreshments will be provided!
FYI: If you want to clean out your junk drawer...
Bring any spare wire hangers or decorative bobbles to embellish your wreath. Any lone cufflink or earring, the brooch you never wear, and last year’s leftover craft supplies are perfect options!
Space is limited! Register to attend and email any questions to: info@customcollaborative.org
Reserve your spot!
Textile ID: Know Your Fabric
Fabulous creations rely on correct textile choices. This workshop will teach you how to make the most of your choices!
Leather: A Sustainable Resource Workshop
Ease into the weekend at a hands-on leather workshop! Experience different leather types and unlearn sustainability myths. Drinks provided!
Working with a Client: Everybody Wins!
Gain tools to work confidently with clients: build trust, set agreements, manage challenges, and find helpful free resources.
Let's Talk Production
Making multiples of any item efficiently requires a plan. Teamwork is vital, and the key to making it all work. Join this interactive workshop, and participate in fun production simulation exercises.