Extended hours at the sewing industry support center give working residents access to upcycling craft workshops on weekends and evenings
Gwangjin-gu is expanding the operating hours of its Sewing Industry Comprehensive Support Center to introduce a new one-day sewing experience class series available on weekends and evenings, giving working residents and others who cannot attend during weekday daytime hours a chance to participate.
The program was developed in response to feedback from center users. By moving beyond the existing weekday and daytime schedule to include weekend and evening sessions, the district aims to make sewing culture more accessible to a broader range of residents in their everyday lives.
A total of four sessions will run from July through August, all centered on the theme of repurposing discarded materials. The lineup features eco-friendly bag making, a sewn plant holder and a faux-fur keyring — practical accessories participants can use in daily life.
On July 11, morning and afternoon sessions will offer eco-friendly bag making. Evening classes — designed to accommodate working residents — will follow on July 23 and Aug. 27. Participants will gain hands-on experience with the sewing process while learning about the value of resource recycling and sewing craftsmanship.
A notable feature of the program is that owners of local sewing businesses within the district will serve as instructors. Companies that took part in the "Gwangjin Meets Sewing" event held in March will lead the sessions, sharing their on-the-floor experience and expertise. The arrangement is intended to showcase the strengths of the local sewing industry and create a channel for businesses and residents to connect.
All sessions will be held at the Gwangjin-gu Sewing Industry Comprehensive Support Center, and any Gwangjin-gu resident with an interest in sewing is welcome to apply. Registration opens according to each session's recruitment schedule and can be completed online through the center's website.
"I hope the Sewing Industry Comprehensive Support Center will grow into an open space where residents can easily and comfortably experience sewing culture, beyond its role as an industry support facility," district mayor Kim Gyeong-ho said. "We will continue to run a variety of hands-on programs that reflect residents' needs, working to raise awareness of the local sewing industry and contribute to its vitality."
In March, Gwangjin-gu marked the third anniversary of the Sewing Industry Comprehensive Support Center by holding the "Gwangjin Meets Sewing" event, which exhibited and promoted products from local sewing businesses. The new class series is a follow-up to that event and forms part of the district's broader push to develop experience-based programs that bring the local industry and residents together.
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