Why Sew Workshop

ABOUT US

Why Sew Workshop is an industrial sewing and design studio that pushes the boundaries of small-batch manufacturing. We creatively use industrial manufacturing processes on a small scale to make factory-caliber work more accessible to the community.  Why Sew’s owner and creative lead Lauren Purdum has been fascinated by the transformative possibilities of manufacturing ever since learning that sugar, flour, and butter make cookies, and she loves to apply that transformative logic to both her own designs and those of others.

Every product in our pop-up and online marketplaces is designed and made by Lauren and the folx who work at Why Sew. We find inspiration in practicality, durability, playfulness, historical dress, the inherent fluidity of gender, and the transformation of salvaged and recycled materials into top-quality, ethically made clothes and accessories. 

Our designs start with a simple life inspiration, from history or the present, after which we begin the rigorous work of patterning, sampling, and iterating. We’re done when we are confident in our process and product! After that, the fun begins, and we bring the design to the sewing floor and our team churns out a small batch, usually between 50 and 100. 

ABOUT OUR PRODUCTS

Our products are our playground, and we’re always exploring. On offer this Spring are our Three Sisters Insulated Tote, inspired by her namesake bridge, the Bad Dog Pocket Organizer, designed by Why Sew’s lead stitcher and the owner of Bad Dog Sewing Workshop, Squid Altenhof, Twirly Skirts made in the most hard-femme vintage florals we could find, strange small flowers and owl-like toys, fingerless mitts, and fabric-scrap earrings. All products in our shop are made to last from material that is either vintage, diverted from a landfill, or made from recycled plastics.