Her Biz March 2025 Winner
Owner of Sewn Folk Studio wins £500 to jumpstart her business from the NatWest funded Her Biz Start Up Business workshops.
Fuelled by a lifelong passion for textiles and a vision for inclusive, sustainable making, Laura Griffin is stitching together a new future for community craft through her start-up, Sewn Folk Studio. Based in Margate, the studio empowers people of all ages and abilities to reconnect with their clothes and creativity by offering accessible sewing courses, mending workshops, and textile production services – all under one roof.
Laura won £500 towards her start-up costs for Sewn Folk Studio after taking part in the NatWest funded Her Biz start-up workshop programme in March 2025, and submitting her winning business plan to the following optional competition, which is open to all participants.
The Her Biz programme, which is delivered by Let’s Do Business Group and supported by NatWest bank, consists of 4 x 2-hour workshops over 4 weeks, and aims to increase entrepreneurship by breaking down the barriers between women and starting or growing a business. Delivered virtually over Zoom by our expert business coach, the programme has been a long running success since it launched over 5 years ago.
What is Sewn Folk Studio?
Based in Margate, Kent, Sewn Folk Studio is the umbrella name for a new, inclusive and accessible sewing studio & textile hub founded by experienced tailor and textile artist, Laura Griffin. With a mission to nurture creativity, sustainability, and community connection through craft, the studio offers a multifaceted programme of sewing services, as well as educational opportunities designed to be approachable to individuals of all ages and abilities.
Born out of Laura’s deep-rooted passion for textiles and sustainable fashion, the studio is built on the foundation of over two decades of experience in tailoring, costume work, and freelance production. Trained in bespoke tailoring and pattern cutting, with a First-Class degree in Art and Visual Culture, she has worked across costume departments, vintage clothing retailers, art institutions, and live event productions. Her professional journey reflects a rich blend of technical skill, artistic vision, and logistical management. Prior to launching Sewn Folk Studio, Laura worked under her own name offering tailoring, production, and tuition services, and has taught at institutions such as Bristol School of Art.
Sewn Folk Studio offers a range of group sewing courses, workshops, and one-to-one tuition covering essential sewing, mending, and upcycling skills. Catering the sessions to both beginners and those looking to advance their techniques, the support she provides covers a diverse range of learning styles and abilities. In addition to sewing education, the studio also provides bespoke alterations, commissions, costume services, and production sewing for independent brands.
Sewn Folk Studio is envisioned not merely as a place to learn technical skills, but as a creative and social hub. The long-term ambition is to secure a dedicated physical space equipped with domestic and industrial machines, ample working surfaces, and light-filled surroundings. This space will host not only courses but also open access sewing sessions, low-cost community mending circles, textile talks, artist residencies, and creative retreats for sustainable clothing brands. The studio aims to become an integral fixture of Margate’s creative community by promoting textile repair culture, slow fashion, and collaborative learning.
“Once Sewn Folk Studio has a long-term space it will host a setup of sewing machines, a cutting table to work on, it will have good natural light, storage and appropriate materials provided for the courses. There will be a dedicated area for industrial machines to accommodate sewing commissions, production and alterations. In time, Sewn Folk Studio will also offer itself as a hire space and host a variety of other projects.”
Images from: www.lauragriffin.co.uk
With community impact lying at the heart of the business, through a range of outreach programmes, collaborations with local businesses, and the promotion of sustainable practices, the studio seeks to empower individuals to build lasting relationships with their clothing and to reduce textile waste. By blending tradition with innovation, and education with artistry, Sewn Folk Studio represents a new model of local, purpose-driven enterprise.
Finding the Her Biz programme
Laura joined the Her Biz Start Up Business Workshop to gain some clarity on the practicalities of starting her own business, and how she could set about making her ideas for Sewn Folk Studio a success.
The Her Biz Women’s Start Up Business Workshops, delivered through 4 x 2-hour sessions, covers everything from sales, marketing, finance, and business planning; and from this, Laura was able to create her plan of making Sewn Folk Studio official, and how she could turn her hobby into a full-time business. After completing the series of workshops, Laura submitted her business plan to the subsequent competition, which is open to all attendees, and won the £500 prize towards her start-up costs.
“Lisa delivered a fantastic course, sharing insights and knowledge which I had previously felt daunting or inaccessible. All the information was presented in a digestible and user friendly format, helping me to visualise my concept. Most importantly Lisa has been hugely encouraging and helped me to believe in my idea. With her guidance I now have a confident and organised plan of action.”
Having completed the Her Biz programme with a renewed motivation for moving Sewn Folk Studio forward, Laura plans to take out a Start Up Loan which will be used to establish the core infrastructure for the Studio, enabling the launch of high-quality sewing courses and services in Margate. The funds will support the development of professional branding through a custom-designed logo and website, alongside the purchase of essential studio equipment such as sewing machines, tools, and storage. Laura also plans to invest in the creation of course materials, including instructional guides and sewing patterns, and engage a photographer to generate promotional content for online and print marketing.
“It was a pleasure getting to know Laura during her time on Her Biz, she really gained confidence during the course and this showed when she entered the business plan competition to highlight her intention to set up a series of workshops to help others who want to learn how to sew and make clothing. I wish Laura the very best for the future.”
All the team at Let’s Do Business Group wish Laura and Sewn Folk Studio the best of luck!
Do you have an idea or hobby that you want to turn into a business? We run workshop programmes throughout the year to help aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners to learn the skills to create a successful business. Interested? See our upcoming events