The vision of the Maiwa School of Textiles is to break new ground in the textile arts. To bring this vision to life we are proud to offer our first seminar workshop.

Textile History will be an in-depth exploration of what textiles are socially, aesthetically, politcally, and historically. This workshop is delivered by Tisha Singer, a specialist in the History of the Textile Arts who has taught at both Simon Fraser University and Capilano University.

In these groundbreaking workshops the big questions about our relationship to textiles will be put on the table. The answers will prove fertile territory for artisans, writers, and those with a passionate interest in the fibre arts. 

The four seminars will follow the themes below:

The study of textiles and cloth as cultural experience - Case Study: Prehistoric Textiles.

Cloth as the Disseminator of Ideas - Case Study: The Silk Road and Sassanian Textiles.

The economics of Cotton and Political Upheaval - Case Study: Gandhi and Indian Independence.

Cloth as Ethnic Identity - Case Study: Sub-Saharan African Textiles.

Born and educated in Montreal, Tisha first taught Art History at Concordia University. Moving to Vancouver in 1989, she began teaching at Simon Fraser University and at Capilano College/University where she designed two Art History courses ion the History of Textile Arts, her area of specialization. While conducting research in textile history she has been fortunate to travel the world and is often a guest lecturer on the subject.

Mending is an art in itself. In some cases it showcases skills that rival those of construction. Whether you desire an invisible repair or a notable addition to a garment, mending can bring new life to an item.

In this beginner-level class, students are encouraged to bring in pieces from their own wardrobe that they wish to mend. Students will work through several basic mending solutions to make pieces wearable again.

Students are encouraged to bring and learn on their own machines. In situations where this is not possible, Maiwa has a limited number of machines that can be reserved prior to the workshop.

Instructor Bio

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation.

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”