We first introduced Clive Bruder of #BoysSewToo via our Maker Series back in August 2023, highlighting his integral part in creating the Terrence Higgins Memorial Quilt which was revealed at Festival of Quilts.
We got to know him more through the launch of his debut Aurifil thread set in October and the essence of what we’ve learned is that he is just an all around good human. Clive is in this to lift others up… to educate, support, inspire, and engage. You can read more and learn all about We Sew Too: The Mend, Make, & Recreate Collection via the link below.
Today, we’re here to celebrate a pretty remarkable event that Clive orchestrated at this year’s Sewing for Pleasure show in Birmingham UK. We were thrilled to sponsor The Proud Lounge, an affinity space for the LGBTQIA+ community & allies. Huge thanks to Clive for sharing his take, some images, and all the joy surrounding this wonderful event!
Hey Clive – thanks so much for joining us! We’re so excited to hear more about the Proud Lounge at the 2024 Sewing for Pleasure show in Birmingham UK earlier this month. First, what inspired you to create this space?
Well, as you may be aware I’m at a lot of the sewing exhibitions throughout the year and have been since 2021 when we were able to get to them post covid. Along the way, we have always championed minority groups within the sewing community. More recently, since I have designed and made a progress themed quilt and pattern, a lot of the LGBTQIA+ community have started gravitating towards the stand where myself and Mark (@sewmarkfrancis) have been set up at the shows. It almost acts as a beacon for a safe space for our community.
It’s been an interesting time, particularly in the last year or so having been involved with the Terrance Higgins memorial quilt. That experience inspired me to take a closer look at my own community within the sewing one. Once a conversation has been sparked regarding the progress quilt it typically moves onto poor representation within these spaces. Some of the comments and observations that I have received have been around individuals feeling as though they don’t belong within the overall sewing community or that they feel excluded from a wider sewing community, which in this day and age is still very shocking to me. But having said, that they are absolutely right! It all got me thinking about the #BoysSewToo movement and how there are similarities in these spaces. I thought ‘ok, how can I change this… How can I make a difference and offer a safe space for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ within this creative community.
I made a few enquiries to the show organisers at ICHF to see what I could do and was delighted that they were fully on board. I reached out to Aurifil to help out with sponsoring the space and you said yes! Of course you did. Having had worked with the whole team for my #WeSewToo / #BoysSewToo thread collection, I just knew it would be a partnership celebrating inclusivity and diversity. I’m of course extremely grateful, too. It really matters that we have companies like yourselves that celebrate individuals despite their sexuality or race. It so refreshing to have inclusive companies within our sewing world.
Why is it so important to create these welcoming and inclusive spaces at shows?
It’s incredibly important to have these affinity spaces at the shows because we truly need to celebrate anyone who wishes to sew. It matters that we bring in new talent and diversity in all styles, shapes, and forms. It can be overwhelmingly difficult to make any kind of impact within a space that is predominantly female. It’s difficult enough for a cis white man in this industry to find men’s patterns or suitable fabrics, so imagine what it’s like for someone who is non binary or for someone who is trans. We need companies and businesses to appreciate and celebrate that we live in a world full of difference. It is incredibly important to have these conversations about inclusivity so that the industry can be more accepting of and embrace creative individuals no matter how they identify and support them in all things that they want to sew!
What were your goals for the space and how did you work to achieve them?
My goals were to embrace anyone and everyone who wishes to feel like they are seen within the sewing community and I really do think that we achieved just that. We had an amazing space full of colour and diversity of folks who joined in within the lounge. So many were overjoyed to see it, too. Our straight allies were out in full force and thanked us for bringing it to the show. The organisers were overjoyed with the turnout and love for the Proud Lounge. I can’t begin to tell you how special it was and I was so proud to have hosted this with the support of Aurifil. I feel like the goals I set for the lounge were just to be visible within the show as a whole. I also wanted people to ask questions if they weren’t familiar with the LGBTQIA+ community. Because we all know that visibility is so important to educate those that wouldn’t know about our community.
Did you offer events as well, or was it simply a space to gather?
We did offer some tutorials on sewing knitting and crochet. It was really great! At one point we were absolutely swamped with people coming to learn a simple sewing technique or a simple crochet stitch. My friend Richard came up from London to donate his time and help out in the lounge. He was mainly crocheting and he absolutely loved it.
How was the space received?
It was brilliant… extremely well received! We had so many lovely comments and felt fully embraced. I’d only heard of a couple of complaints from folks who said that the show wasn’t the space for “that kind of thing” which is exactly why the Proud Lounge is needed. The show as a whole felt brighter and happier and I was told that was largely due to the colour and brightness we brought to it. At the end of the show, I heard from Simon, the CEO of Sewing for Pleasure, that they had changed their whole marketing campaign to be more inclusive, showcasing a more diverse range of makers including people of color, wheelchair users, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This was mind blowing to me and I had a little proud weeping moment that because who I am and what I’m passionate about is truly making a change. The journey I’ve been on over the last few years is not one designed for recognition or for thanks or for anything other than change and inclusion. It’s that simple… be more open, more inclusive, and diverse with your attitudes to what society tells us is “normal”. Be open to change. Embrace one another for who they are and what they bring to the world.
Can you share a few highlights from the weekend?
The catwalk!!!!! It was so much fun! I had contacted a couple of drag artists in the UK. One of them, YSHEE Black, is someone I’m fortunate to know. They are from Birmingham, so they were very keen to get involved. We also were graced with the presence of one of the drag artists from Rupaul’s UK Drag Race, LEFIL! Wow, I couldn’t believe we pulled that off. It was very special.
Matthew from the Great British Sewing Bee 2023 made them both outfits. I was so proud of him as he is incredibly passionate about this area of sewing. Watching him watch his creations walk down the runway was incredible. It was like a proud dad moment! To be honest, everyone involved with the catwalk, able to show their creativity and uniqueness to the sewing community, was amazing. Oh– one of the best parts! THE RAINBOW CARPET! I know… it’s just carpet… how could someone get so excited about carpet… but honestly, to see the floor covered in the gay pride flag colours was truly wonderful! I can’t wait for next year! Bring it on. And again thank you so so much Aurifil, you truly are the best.
Thank you SO much, Clive — we truly feel that these spaces are incredibly important and were absolutely thrilled to have an opportunity to support The Proud Lounge at the Sewing for Pleasure Show.
Thanks for this beautiful post with informative stuff.