ISAIC - Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center

Instructor is very knowledgeable. She goes above and beyond everyday with her lessons ensuring everyone is engaged. She gives additional sewing skills, textile information and fashion industry updates that are extremely helpful. I came into this program with little to no experience and feel I’m leaving with confidence in using many of the machine types, reading design details and using a variety of textiles. The environment is well lit. It helps to not get fatigued. Everyone is friendly and inviting. Side bonus is there’s always fresh coffee!

When I first joined the ISAIC FISP program, I expected to only learn how to sew, but I gained so much more. I got hands-on experience with single-needle machines, sergers, cover stitch machines, and even learned some hand sewing techniques. The program covered the technical side of the business, like understanding how sewing labor impacts the overall production process. This comprehensive approach made the program far more productive and informative than I anticipated, and it has given me valuable insights to succeed in the industry.

ISAIC (specifically FISP) was one of the best decisions I've made regarding my career in fashion and sustainability. I went with not an ounce of industrial sewing experience and left with the confidence to scale my business and offer a sustainable fashion brand to my existing and new customers (and a Sewing Operator Certification). The curriculum is presented in a way that appeals to all learning types and the instructors are some of the best around.

Beginning again, or beginning anything new can be hard. Through the FISP program at ISAIC I was supported in learning and growing into the world and trade and craft of sewing. I graduated with connections for a new career, which I am 1 year into now! I have learned and grown so much. For me, there is something special about getting a chance to better understand the language of fashion, and of making garments. The industry has its own language, and the Fundamentals In Industrial Sewing Program (FISP) at ISAIC helped me to better listen as I started my new path!

I studied industrial sewing and production at ISAIC and have attended industry workshops and networking events. The ISAIC staff, training curriculum, factory and classroom space, and larger community of alumni and Detroit makers and thinkers is unparalleled - not only in Michigan, but in the world at large, based on my widespread travels and research into sewn goods manufacturing. I would highly recommend finding a way to get involved in their early days because they will be growing exponentially in the years to come and impact domestic production and careers for generations. Thank you for including me in your growth!

After taking the Industrial sewing class, I feel that I have learned everything I was hoping to learn. From how to sew, to the inner workings of sewing manufacturing as a whole. I have learned a lot about the technology used to create clothing and other materials. I was even able to learn a little about tailoring. Professor Slate is very knowledgeable in the field of fashion and what goes into creating an item, as well as how the business works. Whether you've sewn before or want to learn, this is a good place to start.

To start most previous good reviews are about the previous teacher. Things have gone downhill, I’ve also tried to rectify this privately with HR 1st, but I definitely can’t let it be swept under the rug for the next person to be treated like they don’t matter. From the start of class Mrs. Slate (Angela Slate) gave us permission to work on our own projects when we’re done with our work. She’s even taken pictures of my work that I’ve made and claimed to post it to her Facebook. On 11/20/2024 she walked by another student working on their own project to ask me to put mine away. (At the time I was ahead in class, had passed all my test and had perfect attendance.) I had a 1 on 1 convo with her boss Ellie about, my goals, and she let me know if any issues occur to come to her, so in this instance, I did (Big Mistake) I asked her about working on my stuff in my downtime and she said, She had no problem with that, she trust Mrs. Slate to run the class. Mrs. Slate inserts herself into the convo and at one point she says, with a terrible tone and attitude “This is my class, you will do what I want you to do, when I want you to do it, I don’t care if it takes me 5, 10, 15mins to get to you, sit and wait.”(Our final exam is a sewing test and your telling me I can’t practice) Ellie does nothing, so I explain everything to HR, she says she’ll speak to them both we’ll have a meeting and address the class so everyone is on the same page. 11/21/2024 I come into class we exchange good mornings, she asked to have a conversation, I say I think we should wait for Hr, so there’s a third party present. She say’s no we can talk now, She explains her POV and ask if I want to stay in class and if I’m willing to comply I say, yes. I attempt to explain my POV but she interrupts repeatedly and eventually I say we should wait for HR, she agrees, but then says you’re not going to wait In my class, raises her voice, take your stuff and Leave! HR is eventually called and tells me to wait and she’ll make sure it’s okay to wait for her. Ellie arrives with the nastiest tone I’ve honestly ever heard to tell me to leave. I try to respond she cut me off anytime I try to say a word she cuts me off, I finally get out I’m leaving I was just told Hr to wait here I wasn’t here to be disrespectful she responds with you have 2 options leave on your own or I’ll call the police and have them escort you out. At this point I’ve realized she doesn’t care at all about my POV (though she told us to come to her with any issues) so I start towards the door, I try to ask a question she cut me off over and over until I finally get out, “I just want to know if I’m coming back tomorrow.” She says, “there’s no need too and closes the door in my face doesn’t let me get my stuff from my desk. I have to sit and wait 30-45 minutes for Hr to arrive she can’t help, but she does return my stuff and takes my parking pass. This a shrunken version of the full issue, but other students can attest to the fact that every morning the 1st hour is spent on Mrs. Slates life history with splash of education. I can tell you about her house fire, her family issues, her fight with insurance, her hate for Trump, her husband and the company he owns, her time in NY, Paris, & Detroit. Of the 192 hours so far we’ve spent 24 on her personal life. Most days after we return from lunch she’s Houdini sometimes disappearing for 30mins-1hr. I have audio and video recordings since the beginning of class, because I have a YouTube channel and have been documenting my journey. Additionally classmates willing to testify to the situation as well the classroom environment. I would have just liked to finish my last 10 days as I’ve worked very hard to get to this point but unfortunately I wasn’t allowed back, the full complaint has been filed with MIworks in hopes that they no longer fund or can replace those mentioned above, but here’s my warning to you in case nothing changes keep your head down especially if your a POC and don’t believe the “we’re here for you energy” they will use it against you down the line.

ISAIC was a completely eye opening experience for me. I was student in cohort 11 and Maeve was incredible instructor, she was passionate about the subject matter & never hesitated to provide pointers on anything that she thought may make us better sewists//designers. Katie & Olivia were also awesome assets to have access to for additional support. Whenever iSpoke to Katie she would always surprise me with a link to more information about something iMay have been curious about or a suggestion to check out something that would spark my curiosity & creativity. Aaaaaand Katie came to my fashion show after the class was over & that warmed my heart. I'm truly grateful for this experience & iWould HIGHLY recommend any aspiring designers to get involved//take the class. ALSO: it was wonderful being in the class with other like-minded creatives, I've already started to collab with one of my classmates on a fashion show which turned out great. I'm excited for what the future holds, THANX ISAIC 🙌🏾✌🏽💙✨

No one ever answers the phone or the messages left. I put in a request for a quote, the message says they will answer within 72 hours. that was 2 weeks ago? pretty poor business practices. I have a product I'd like to try and get made here rather than overseas. when I did contact the overseas companies their response was almost instant and the follow up was nonstop. No wonder they are beating us in business. Sorry ISAIC I really wanted to give you a chance!!!! Just not sure you deserve one!!!

ISAIC had allowed the independent artist, designer, small fashion business and upcoming entrepreneurs to cultivate their skills for the next level of business. Growing, education, exploration, exposure along with developing new technologies for their future business has been the most exciting thing to hit Detroit since inventing the car!