Northside fashion designer teaches youth life skills a stitch at a time

Keiona Cook’s students work the runway themed ‘Futuristic Candyland’ sporting their own creations during an event she produced during MN Fashion Week.

Story and photos by Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter

The Lovely's Sewing Arts Collective, a growing creative non-profit is establishing a name for itself with its objective to inspire artistic expression and life skills in youth through the power of sewing.

The collective was founded in 2010 by Keiona Cook, a fashion designer from North Minneapolis, to provide a nurturing environment where people from all walks may come together to learn, teach, create and share a passion for sewing and fashion.

In addition to sewing, Cook teaches sustainable fashion, financial literacy, yoga, leadership, and accountability. Cook has been sewing since she was six; her mother taught her to hand sew, and her godmother, Thelma Buckner, the late and beloved owner of the Piece by Piece quilt shop in Saint Paul, taught her how to use a sewing machine.

Cook not only learned to sew, but she also realized how significant something as simple as being able to physically repair your mistakes empowers a child, and she was further empowered to create her own identity and express herself.

"I will never forget fixing my first tear," Cook said. Soon after, she designed her first pair of bell bottoms.

Keiona Cook shows a skirt made of her signature 'Lovely Pattern’, fabric cut into neck tie shapes and then sewn together.

Years later, she earned a fashion degree from a college in Savannah, Ga., where she created her signature dress, the 'Lovely Dress,' which was made from fabric cut in the shape of neck ties.

Cook, in addition to being the executive director of Lovley's Sewing Arts Collective, is a motivational speaker, author, and fashion designer herself.

Cook's own fashion label, Qe'Bella Couture, has been making appearances in the Minnesota fashion industry for years. Her designs range from luxurious and intricate gowns to ready-to-wear ensembles, all of which feature her unique style of west African wax print fabrics.

The non-profit has found a home in the downtown North Loop area and instructs children ages 6 to 16. She runs her weekly Sunday classes with what she calls a loving iron fist, and a set curriculum.

Keiona and volunteers are adamant to making sure that the youth are creating everything on their own. They often provide light guidance and supervision to make sure the kids are retaining muscle memory and real life skill sets.

"My energy sets the standard, that they are all leaders capable of leading themselves in a positive way," Cook said. "And each of them is capable of greatness. Because if you tell a kid all the time, 'you're amazing', or 'you are a future strong leader', they believe you.”

Some of the youngest participants have been taught to use a sewing machine before they even learned to read. Coveyah Caldwell joined the program when he was just 5. He wants to be an artist just like his grandfather, Northside muralist Charles Caldwell.

Ayahna Amaanii, 8, and Isla Lifford, 7, designed skirts and matching jackets. Isla wants to carry on the legacy of her mother and grandmother who “makes really pretty skirts and shirts.”

Ayahna began sewing because she wanted to help her mother around the house.

“My little brother was standing on the couch and it ripped and that wasn’t cool so I wanted to learn so I could help her fix it,” she said. ‘Flowery-calm’ is how the two would describe their fashion.

“The goal of fashion in our class is also to tell a story,” said Cook. “Ayahna and Isla’s story is ‘flowery-calm’. Keiona’s is about identity.

“I am creating the African American story because I had to create my own identity. So much has been taken away from us as far as our identity is concerned. So, rather than complain about it, it is better to just create an identity that I'm content with. And that's what I do everyday.”

During Minnesota Fashion Week in May, Cook produced a runway show themed ‘Futuristic Candyland’ that featured local designers, including designs from Qe’Bella Couture and Lovely's Sewing Arts Collective. Mary Klauk, a teacher from North Minneapolis, volunteered with the collective on Sundays to prepare youth for the MN fashion week event.

Ayahna Amaanii, 8, shows off the pocket on her skirt, which she’d sewn all on her own.

“I met Keiona and we love her to death,” Klauk said. “This experience has shown them that they can create anything they want along with the right life skills. They learn about sustainable fashion, we make sandwiches, we clean up after ourselves, we do yoga, and we stick to a routine.”

“At first I didn’t know how to do anything but now I know how to sew and use an ironing board,” said Isla.

“The biggest thing for us volunteers is letting kids do all the work and everything that they can possibly be capable of,” said Anne Swarts, another volunteer. “They do all the work, we're here to be able to guide while they create. The power is in their hands.”

During the show, Ayahna’s mother, Kenisha Amaanii, proudly watched her daughter sport her jacket down the runway.

“After that couch incident, she [Ayahna] told me to teach her how to sew so I wouldn’t have to fix anything again.”

Charless Caldwell was in attendance to see his grandson walk as well. “It’s super exciting to be here to support them,” said Caldwell. “And it's just super exciting to see them get started at an early age like I did.”