News / St Werburghs
Business owner with hopes to teach people with disabilities how to sew
Growing up, Lorraine Joseph came from a family of dressmakers, picking up valuable sewing skills from her mother and aunt. She has since been sharing this knowledge with as many people as she can.
The business owner, who grew up in Easton and now lives in St Werburgh’s, single-handedly runs JoJo Handmade Bridal Wear from her studio on St Werburgh’s Park.
Alongside creating bespoke wedding gowns, bridalwear and special occasion wear, Lorraine has been teaching dressmaking classes and sewing workshops for many years in Bristol and wants to expand her classes to reach people with disabilities.
She recently applied for funding through Bristol City Council’s Community Resilience Fund.
If granted the funding, Lorraine hopes to buy sewing machines so that she can visit organisations which support people with disabilities.
The business owner, who grew up in Easton and now lives in St Werburgh’s, single-handedly runs JoJo Handmade Bridal Wear from her studio on St Werburgh’s Park. – photo: Rachel Sutherland
“I’ve been teaching for a while through the Bristol Adult Learning Service and as time has gone on, sewing machines have become more user-friendly and get to work with just a click of a button”, Lorraine said.
“I have a deaf granddaughter, so the idea to reach out to teach to teach adults with disabilities and make sewing more accessible came from that. I’ve been through training and deaf awareness training, and I can sign too.
“If granted the funding I’d get a signer to join my classes and I hope my granddaughter would join the classes too.
“I think it’s so important to make dressmaking and sewing more available and accessible for all. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, I just never thought it’d be dressmaking I’d be teaching!”
Lorraine, who went to South Bristol Technical College to learn more technical skills of the trade, has over 25 years of experience in making people’s dream dresses a reality.
She goes on a journey with her clients right from the consultation stage where she creates sketches a design, through to sourcing materials and then creating the end product for someone’s special day.
Lorraine, who teaches most evenings, sources traditional fabrics from a range of countries and cultures.
Lorraine sources traditional fabrics from a range of countries and cultures – photo: Rachel Sutherland
Like many business owners, Lorraine struggled through lockdown, with weddings and events cancelled across the country, she feared she’d “never work again”.
She was advised to reach out to Black South West Network during lockdown who provided her with free support and advice. She said: “They were great at supporting me helped me with my funding application.
“I did one of their online training sessions to help businesspeople apply for funding.
“Black South West Network is such a valuable organisation. I’m so grateful for their help.”
You can find discover more about Lorraine’s work on her website.
Main photo: Rachel Sutherland
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