The Sewing Café is an ethical clothing manufacturer.
People are the centre of what we do.
Our staff, students and clients are equally valuable to us and we want to see them all thrive.
We would love you to join us.
Our Cut, Measure, Trim Services are world class - from small (MOQ 20) to large runs - we are equipped to turn your designs into a beautiful reality.
We are set up for knits and woven's and offer sampling and grading services for women, men, children and accessories.
As a not for profit organisation, our SETA accredited course is offered free of charge to unemployed or unskilled adults from Masiphumelele and Ocean View.
As a 2 year part-time, or 1 year full-time course, it covers garment construction including entrepreneurial, numeracy and business skills.
The Sewing Café has generated over R7 million rand in turnover which has flowed directly into the Masiphumele and Ocean View communities as salaries and wages.
We have trained and upskilled hundreds of men, women, and students over the last 10 years. Many of whom run their own businesses, joined our team or have gone on to other careers with the confidence they found through gaining a new skill.
Our basics range is ready for you to add to your collection, for your staff or clients.
Available as one offs or in bulk, add your labels, logos and tags. Choose your own colours and sizes! Made using natural fabrics milled and manufactured in South Africa.
The Shacket
The Sweater
The Tee
The Shacket
The Sweater
The Tee
The Shacket
The Sweater
The Tee
Discover the esteemed brands and organizations that have chosen The Sewing Café as their trusted CMT and clothes manufactoring partner.
The Sewing Café was established in 2012 as a professional apparel factory. Our CMT (Cut, Measure, Trim) Studio may be our primary service, but ultimately our love for fashion, textiles and fabric is what drives us. We have trained more than 100 unskilled and unemployed people from the Masiphumelele and Ocean View communities in Cape Town.
We produce anything from small to large runs and offer pattern making consultation, and sampling services, to go along with our CMT Studio. The CMT products we produce are the sustaining life force of what we do. They enable us to continue training, teaching and supporting small businesses and high school students.
Support our mission to bring your beautiful designs to life, whilst empowering individuals and uplifting communities.
We offer our CMT studio as a hub where textile entrepreneurs begin their business journeys by using our equipment to sew and create their unique designs. We teach Masiphumelele High School kids from grades 8 to 10 how to sew in our Afternoon Sewing Club program. The Sewing Café is incredibly proud to have taught hundreds of students how to sew. Many of our students have started their own businesses and some continue to sew for us on a part or full-time basis while others have secured employment in the sewing sector through the skills that we have taught them. Our sewing students have developed into well trained and professional staff who have produced hundreds of different orders. These include women’s fashion, school uniforms, children’s clothing, underwear and home wear.
The CMT products we produce are the sustaining life force of what we do. They enable us to continue training, teaching and supporting small businesses and high school students. We are very proud to continue our partnership with Masicorp and Dr. Wendy Ryan’s Life Skills Program which has been in operation since the birth of our journey. If you have a heart for the community and would like to get involved, contact us through the link below.
