Seam Haberdashery

Today on the blog we're excited to feature Michelle Moinzadeh, founder of newly-opened Seam Haberdashery, East Devon. Read on to hear more about her passion for inspiring makers, and what textiles can do for the soul.

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My name is Michelle, and I have recently opened Seam Haberdashery in Whimple, a small village in East Devon. The inspiration for the shop is to encourage making, using traditional textile skills. I am convinced that if you learn to make or repair your own clothes, you will not need to buy or throw away garments so often. I am also keen to share making skills – as a child growing up in Iran, going shopping meant seeing making everywhere – furniture makers next to jewellers or weavers spinning on a loom. I would love to see more makers on our high streets and see how and where my purchases have been made. I would love to talk to the makers and learn about their quality products and be part of their story.

In my shop I have carefully sourced a mixture of new and vintage products that can be used to inspire makers of all ages. All my yarns are hand dyed in Britain and many are local to Devon. I want to continue to sell products made by British artisans, and also to reuse beautiful vintage buttons, patterns, trims, local Honiton lace, and fabric to enhance the creative imagination.

As we emerged from Covid lockdown, I started to offer knitting, sewing, embroidery and printing/dying workshops and have met wonderful individuals of all ages who are equally passionate about textiles. I have been amazed at how so many people remember a grandparent or a parent through their association with textiles, and how so many of my customers have learnt a skill from sitting down with a family member as a child. It's incredible what you can learn from each other around the table with a cup of tea – learning processes that are beautiful but unfortunately no longer part of the national curriculum. The workshops have also given me an insight into how for so many people, life in lockdown has been very difficult and ‘hands-on’ making has been essential to their well-being and happiness.

I want Seam Haberdashery to become an inclusive part of the community here in Devon.

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Find out more about Seam Haberdashery on Instagram @SeamHaberdashery or on their website here: https://www.seam.network/ 

Seam Haberdashery is located in Whimple, East Devon.