Here’s some exciting news for aspiring local fashion designers and makers. Philadelphia’s Made Institute, an independent fashion design and sewing school, is opening a West Philly location in the Garden Court apartment building’s ground-floor retail space at 4719 Pine St.

At the new location, Made Institute will offer a variety of fashion design workshops and sewing classes, as well as fashion education for teens and children ages 11 and up. In addition, the Institute will offer its new space to community workshops and also operate as a shop where you students and the public can purchase a variety of fabric and sewing supplies.

“I’m so excited to bring Made’s creative community to my own backyard in West Philly. Stop in, take a class, and learn to make beautiful things,” Rachel Ford, Made Institute’s founder and CEO, wrote on the company website and social media. Rachel honed her creative skills working at the Philadelphia Opera for 10 years and began teaching couture sewing classes out of her home in Old City in 2012.

We’ll keep you posted about the opening date. In the meantime, check out the Made Institute website or Facebook page for more info and updates.