Instagram story viewer> @customcolab> Posts

Custom Collaborative

@customcolab

1622

posts

11.6K

followers

1268

following

Non-profit that trains & advocates for low-income & immigrant women in fashion
👀: @kellyclarksonshow @harpersbazaarus @guardian @voguebusiness @forbes

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Possibility: Training Institute

First of our three programs, opening up access to careers in fashion. This is where it starts. taken in The New York City Garment District by @customcolab

3

1

a month ago

Power: Business Incubator

Program two of three, supporting founders on their growth journey. This is where power shifts. by @customcolab

3

0

a month ago

Progress: Cooperative Development

Our third program, supporting ownership that's built for systems change. This is where progress sticks. by @customcolab

3

0

a month ago

Say you knew them when ⭐️ participants from our fashion Training Institute go on to launch businesses, work in the industry, and advocate for their communities as mentors.

Experience CC's work firsthand at our upcoming runway showcase on Tuesday, August 4th at 6:00pm.

Take your involvement offline, and get your tickets today! LINK IN BIO.

Thank you to @mnnnyc for hosting us! taken in Manhattan Neighborhood Network - MNN by @customcolab

19

4

12 hours ago

SPECIAL RUNWAY ANNOUNCEMENT! ✨ We're honored to welcome Jess Lomax, @calvinklein Chief Design Officer, as the keynote speaker for Written in the Stars: Cohort 16 Showcase on August 4.

As the creative leader behind Calvin Klein's global design vision, Jess is helping shape the future of one of fashion's most iconic brands. We’re grateful for our longstanding partnership with Calvin Klein, and are so excited to have Jess sharing her world-class expertise and insights with the talented women of Cohort 16.

Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating the future of fashion and the women designing it. Space is limited. Get tickets using the link in bio! by @customcolab

3

3

3 days ago

Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, and we recognize the ongoing pay inequities Black women face and the impact they have on families and communities.

At Custom Collaborative, we’re helping close the gap by paying women while they learn, helping them to build businesses, create wealth, and shape their own futures.💜 by @customcolab

3

0

4 days ago

Hemming Pants & Building Confidence ✂️🧵👖

Wednesday’s hemming workshop was filled with learning, laughter, and confidence. Watching one of our alumna return to teach another group of aspiring makers is exactly what Custom Collaborative is all about.

Skills are shared, community grows, and every finished hem is another step toward opportunity.

Rosie is an excellent teacher! I loved how she turned every step into a learning opportunity. From sharing a simple trick for threading a sewing needle to demonstrating the proper way to use a seam ripper, she made even the smallest details feel empowering. You should have seen the room when people realized they had been using a seam ripper incorrectly all this time! 😳

That’s the beauty of our community. We’re here to learn, grow, ask questions, and build confidence together.
No judgment—just encouragement, support, and a shared love of making. Next in our series of sewing essentials we will be teaching another practical skill involving a fastener that’s been around since 2800 BC! Can you guess what that is?
It’s the tiny yet mighty, BUTTON!

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We can’t wait to welcome you to the next workshop! Follow us @customcolab to stay up to date on future events, workshops, and more! 💜
.
.
.
#learntosew #sewingforbeginners #sewingworkshop #alterations #sewingcommunity taken in Custom Collaborative by @customcolab

65

16

8 days ago

In New York's fast-paced fashion ecosystem, @customcolab offers no/low-income and immigrant women a truly viable pathway into garment-making and the fashion production industry. Each fifteen-week cohort combines rigorous technical training, access to industry mentors, and a close-knit, supportive community, enabling participants to quickly acquire the language and craft of apparel construction. From foundational sewing techniques to more advanced skills like corner seams, necklines, and finishing methods, students gain not only technical knowledge but also a renewed sense of connection to the act of "making" through hands-on practice. Custom Collaborative also sells graduates' handmade clothing, bags, and other sewn goods, helping Training Institute alumni earn income while building their brands.

For many participants, the program is more than a place to learn skills—it is a space to regain confidence, expand a budding business, and grow within a network of women who share similar goals and support one another's ambitions.

Jennifer, a Brooklyn-based maker, joined Custom Collaborative with a deep self-taught foundation and a desire to push herself further. "I started sewing ten years ago," she explained, "but I want to be able to make gowns and more intricate outfits." Although she had just completed multiple tech certifications and was considering pivoting into that field, the moment she learned about the upcoming cohort, she felt compelled to choose differently: "I decided to take the chance and go with my heart, my passion."

To read the complete feature about Custom Collaborative and their Training Institute graduates, head to the link in our bio.

And on August 4, folks can check out the latest cohort’s fashion showcase in Midtown! Head to @customcollab to learn more.

📸 by @constancefaulkphotography

#CustomCollaborative #GarmentDistrict #MadeinNYC #FactoryFriday by @customcolab

59

4

8 days ago

Meet the designers building sustainable fashion's future right here in NYC, and experience our vision for what an industry built on intentionality, repair, and worker ownership looks like. Ticket link in bio!

Written in the Stars: Cohort 16 Showcase
Tuesday, August 4th | 6-8 PM
Hosted by Manhattan Neighborhood Network by @customcolab

38

15

10 days ago

The stars aligned ✨️ Cohort 16 will make their runway debut on Tuesday, August 4th!

Join us at @mnnnyc to celebrate the designers behind each celestial creation, their journey through Custom Collaborative’s 15-week Training Institute, and the fashion-loving community who makes moments like this possible.

Ticket sales are open NOW! Seats are limited 🔗 Grab yours at the link in bio. taken in Manhattan Neighborhood Network - MNN by @customcolab

3

1

2 months ago

Did you miss it? @instylemagazine featured CC Founder and CEO @the.ngozi.okaro as a #womanofimpact. From how it all started, to her vision for the future, you can read the full piece now using the bio link. by @customcolab

3

1

12 days ago

June was packed, and we loved every minute of learning, connection, and growth. Here's a look back, from community events to a national talk show debut!

Thank you to our co-hosts from @accenturesong Women's Alliance Network for introducing us to so many new fashion lovers!

And thank you to our board members @thedanalcox and @sheeda_solutions_2.0 for introducing our guests to CC!

Just as Cohort 16 started their final runway looks in earnest, they got a world class dose of inspiration courtesy of @metcostumeinstitute

This sold out workshop introduced proper garment cutting techniques and tips for reducing fabric waste.

We want to see YOU at the next one. Sign up for our Hemming workshop on Wednesday, 7/15 before spots are gone!

Cohort 16 had a blast learning about textile recycling and volunteering with @fab_scrap. They were even lucky enough to bump into the co-founder, @tagle_camille for a selfie

The Training Institute requires loads of determination and dedication. At the halfway mark, we celebrated all Cohort 16 has accomplished with a community potluck. Shoutout to our amazing alumni mentors for helping them get this far!

Two events in one day! Uptown we hosted a Story Cloth Workshop at @kota_alliance, led by @nikita.untitle. We're working up a recap of the stories shared and tapestries created that day (stay tuned!)

At our Garment District studio, we co-hosted a panel all about small business succession planning, hearing firsthand from local owners about their transitions.

Thank you to @wearedawi, Mechanism, and the NYFWDC for co-hosting!

And thank you to Katie from @wingweftgloves , Asha-Marie from 4 Seasons, and Eric from @greenmountaingraphics for sharing your insights!

The month ended with a bang when @the.ngozi.okaro and @jeaniceparker appeared on the @kellyclarksonshow to share more about our model for expanding opportunity in fashion. The outpouring of love and support from this has been amazing. Thank you all for the love!

Sign up for our newsletter in the bio link so you never miss another event like these! taken in New York City by @customcolab

3

10

15 days ago