COUTURE MASTER SEWING CLASSES: (BEGINNER: Standard & Intensive)

Hands-on couture sewing class covering garment construction, fit, and finishing for beginners and creatives. With Emmy Award–Winning Designer Gustavo Apiti Sewing and garment-making skills are rapidly declining across Washington State, creating a growing gap in our creative and fashion workforce. In response, Emmy Award–winning fashion designer Gustavo Apiti is giving back to the community by sharing his professional couture expertise to educate, inspire, and prepare the next generation of skilled makers and designers. The Couture Master Sewing Classes are professional, hands-on training programs designed for youth and adults who are serious about mastering couture-level sewing, garment construction, fitting, and finishing in an authentic atelier-style environment. The program combines creativity with discipline, craftsmanship, and the real-world techniques used by luxury fashion houses. In March 2026, we welcomed our first cohort of eight students, all of whom began the program with little to no sewing experience. Through structured instruction, hands-on practice, and personalized mentorship, they made remarkable progress. By the end of the Beginner Program, students had successfully learned essential sewing techniques and were confidently constructing skirts and other garments while developing a strong foundation in couture craftsmanship. Building on the success of our inaugural class, our vision for 2027 is to expand the program and empower even more youth and adults with valuable sewing and garment-making skills. Our goal is not only to preserve the art of couture but also to create educational and career pathways that strengthen Washington State’s creative economy, encourage entrepreneurship, and equip future generations with lifelong, income-generating skills. Class Start Dates: • Beginner Couture Sewing Class: Starts Feb 13th • Intermediate Couture Sewing Class: Starts May 8th • Advanced Couture Sewing Class: Starts August 7h Students may book their upper-level classes in advance by visiting our other class listings on Eventbrite to secure their spot early. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 10 students per age group to ensure focused instruction and personalized guidance. • Group A: Ages 10–17 • Group B: Ages 18 + Participants Will Learn: Sewing machine mastery, Atelier discipline, Precision garment construction, Textile knowledge, Fabric behavior, Body measurements, Proportions, Fit analysis, Couture fitting, Silhouette perfection, Professional alterations, Fittings, Couture hand-finishing techniques, Draping, Patternmaking, Corsetry foundations, Structural garment construction, Bridal couture techniques, Ceremonial garment design, Creation of a runway-ready couture garment, Conceptualization, Design, and Execution of a mini couture collection This class is ideal for beginners, emerging designers, and creatives seeking to develop strong couture foundations in a supportive, studio-based setting. Hands-on instruction, Small group learning and Certificate of completion included. The professional rate for couture-level training of this caliber is valued at $80 per hour. In alignment with our mission to empower both youth and adults in our community, Gustavo Apiti has intentionally reduced the instructional rate to $60 per hour for this program. BEGINNER ATELIER – Group A: Ages 10–17 Foundation of Couture Craftsmanship Duration: 10 Weeks Program Price: $1800 Schedule: 1 Day/Week | 3 Hours/Class Hours: Sundays 12:00 pm-3:00 pm Prerequisite: None Learning Objectives Students will: • Understand sewing machine operation and safety • Execute basic hand stitches and seam finishes • Identify fabrics and understand fabric behavior • Construct simple garments with accuracy • Learn atelier etiquette and workflow basics Core Topics: • Sewing tools & machine mastery • Hand stitches & seam finishes • Fabric grain, cutting & marking • Basic garment assembly • Pressing & finishing fundamentals Projects: • Sewing samples • 1–2 beginner garments or accessories Assessment: • Skill demonstration • Project completion • Instructor feedback BEGINNER ATELIER – Group B: Ages 18+ Foundation of Couture Craftsmanship Duration: 10 Weeks Program Price: $1800 Schedule: 1 Day/Week | 3 Hours/Class Hours: sundays 4:00 - 7:00 pm Prerequisite: None Learning Objectives Students will: • Understand sewing machine operation and safety • Execute basic hand stitches and seam finishes • Identify fabrics and understand fabric behavior • Construct simple garments with accuracy • Learn atelier etiquette and workflow basics Core Topics • Sewing tools & machine mastery • Hand stitches & seam finishes • Fabric grain, cutting & marking • Basic garment assembly • Pressing & finishing fundamentals Projects • Sewing samples • 1–2 beginner garments or accessories Assessment • Skill demonstration • Project completion • Instructor feedback BEGINNER ATELIER – INTENSIVE (Age: 18+ only) Professional Couture Foundations – Accelerated & In-Depth Duration: 10 Weeks Program Price: $3000 Schedule: 1Days/Week | 5Hours/Class Hours: Saturdays 9:00am-2:00 pm Admission: Open (high commitment required) Learning Objectives Students will: • Master machines quickly and accurately • Develop precision sewing at speed • Understand professional atelier workflow • Produce garments under deadlines Advanced Topics • Industrial & domestic machine mastery • Couture hand stitches (advanced) • Fabric grain control & cutting accuracy • Measurement systems & standards • Pressing, finishing & productivity Projects • 1-2 finished garments Assessment • Speed & precision • Technical consistency • Professional conduct N.B.: We understand that work schedules vary. If this schedule doesn’t fit your availability, please reach out to us. We’ll be happy to discuss possible scheduling options that work best for you. FINANCIAL NOTE This Eventbrite listing reflects standard private-pay tuition for a professional couture training experience. Limited scholarship or sponsored opportunities may be available through external programs and are not processed through Eventbrite. For your convenience, we also accept additional payment methods including PayPal, Square, Visa, and major credit cards for tuition payments. For additional information and payment plan, please contact us: Email: [email protected] Cell/Text: +12065572207 STUDENT EXHIBITION All Beginner and Intermediate students enrolled in both the Standard and Intensive programs will have the opportunity to exhibit their completed garments at a curated showcase following program completion. This exhibition invites family members, friends, industry guests, and community supporters to view students’ work and celebrate their creative achievements.