Who We Are

So You Can has developed curriculum for instructing youth and adults in the disciplines of sewing garment construction and fashion design. We believe this is a practical avenue for the socio-economic development of youth, families and their communities. Sewing aids in the development of fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, spacial relations and visualization.

Life skills such as patience, focus, process thinking, problem solving organizational development and compartmentalization are also developed. Fashion design, sewing and garment construction positively effects self-confidence, self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-reliance.

Fashion design itself teaches one to bring a creative concept to fruition by way of ideation, planning, research, and engineering, in addition to problem solving, trouble shooting, construction and execution. Leadership and entrepreneurship are natural consequences of this process and are encouraged in our programs. Self- esteem and confidence are further developed in our Showcase programs as well as character building, posture and poise, personal and professional etiquette, health, wellness and body image.

Our Showcase programs have been active since 1992 with a focus in Rockand, Orange and Westchester Counties of NY, as well as in New Jersey. Our Partner, Vershawn House of London, has produced successful Fashion shows in support of The American Cancer Society, Save the Children, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Juvenile diabetes foundation as well as many local churches, retailers and schools.

So You Can has been operating since 2009 in schools in Paterson, NJ and North Rockland, NY directly effecting over 500 youth. Beginning as a store front location So You Can quickly has become a resource for afterschool programs. Sewing is no longer offered in most school programs and it is easily reintroduced to youth through afterschool enrichment programming. So You Can has been invited to offer sewing and design programs in Albany, NY; Paterson, NJ; Newark, NJ; Morristown, NJ; Newburgh, NY; Queens, NY; Monmouth County, NJ as well as California; Appalachia; and Ghana, West Africa.

So You Can has been welcomed and urged to launch its programs immediately in each location where the program has been discussed.