Welcome to Sewing For Refuge

Sewing For Refuge provides workforce development and ethical manufacturing services designed to support refugee, asylum-seeking, and immigrant garment workers in New York City. The program delivers a comprehensive set of services over a 6–9 month period focused on skills assessment, job placement, professional development, and employer engagement within the Garment District.

Key services include hands-on sewing workshops and technical training led by Parsons faculty and industry professionals, covering industrial sewing, patternmaking, production standards, and quality control. Participants also receive one-on-one career consultations to support skill assessment, portfolio development, and individualized job placement planning, with translation support provided as needed.

The program hosts networking and recruitment events that connect skilled garment workers directly with District-based brands and manufacturers seeking ethical, local production partners. These events are designed to increase hiring, strengthen employer pipelines, and promote fair-wage employment opportunities.

Sewing For Refuge also conducts paid sewing trials at a dedicated production facility, allowing employers to assess worker skills in real production environments while ensuring workers are compensated. Additionally, the program offers Know Your Rights trainings to educate workers on labor protections, workplace safety, and wage standards. This document was created by Naika Colas, Research Assistants and edited by the NYS Department of Labor.

Through these integrated services, Sewing For Refuge builds a sustainable talent pipeline that strengthens the Garment District, increases job placements, and advances ethical manufacturing in New York City.