Why I Sew

My name is Austin Pettinger and I am an embroidery designer, entertainment tailor, and educator. I started learning to sew when I was in 6th grade, and started making my own clothes when I was about 14. Being able to create something from nothing really gave me a sense of empowerment and creative freedom when I was a kid. I wanted to stand out, I wanted to differentiate myself from the rest of the gawky 14 year old boys, and sewing is what helped me do that.

Fast forward to adulthood, and I make clothes for a living. I work in the entertainment industry as a tailor (most recently I was the head tailor on The Bear Seasons 1 and 2, go watch it if you haven't!), I make clothes for private clients who want something that makes them feel extra special, and I design embroidery, which is what brought you to this store.

When it comes to embroidery, I am drawn to texture and color. And that is the real reason I do embroidery over screen printing. Both are fantastic mediums, but I NEED texture in my life. I want to be able to feel the stitches, I want to be immersed in the design in a way printed clothing just can't draw you in. At the end of the day I want to feel special in the clothes I wear, because after all we wear clothes all day every day. And who doesn't want to feel special?