When Sewing Met Sneakers....

The Sneaker Stitch Story — Part 3

Sometimes a business changes because life changes.

For me, Sneaker Stitch arrived during a time of enormous change. I had lost both my parents, and I was saying goodbye to the sewing studio I had built and loved for eight years.

There was a lot of sadness wrapped up in that chapter closing.

But somewhere amongst it all, I found myself getting excited about something new.

Fabric. Sewing. Sneakers. And a whole world of possibilities.

A new direction, closer to home

Becoming the Australian distributor for SneakerKit was a moment I felt incredibly proud of.

After everything that had happened, I was building something again. Something that brought together my experience, my love of sewing and the joy of helping other people create.

And it opened up a different way of working.

For those who don't know me personally, I live in Brisbane with my family. My eldest is now 20, my daughter is in Year 11, and my partner works incredibly hard too.

Building Sneaker Stitch meant I could work and create from home, with more room to shape the business around our family life.  It was a long way from a single parent working a long day corporate life!

There are still long days. There is still plenty to juggle. But having the opportunity to build something new from home has meant so much to me.

This has been a personal pivot as much as a business one.

Taking our sneakers on the road

Then came the shows.  We packed the kits, loaded up the samples and took Sneaker Stitch out to meet Australian makers.

And what a lovely part of this adventure that has been.

We've met so many of you along the way. We've talked fabrics, admired your makes, answered questions and watched that little spark appear when someone realises:

“Hang on… I could make my own sneakers?”

Yes, you can.

We love seeing the ideas you bring to our stand and the shoes you create afterwards. Every pair shows us something different, because every maker brings their own skills, tastes and imagination.

Your favourite hobby, on your feet

That's where sewing met sneakers—and where quilting, patchwork and embroidery joined in too.

You might love dressmaking. You might have a collection of beautiful quilting cottons. Perhaps embroidery is your happy place, or you've been saving scraps from a favourite project.

There is room for all of that in a pair of sneakers.

Use the fabric you adore. Piece together something playful. Add stitching that makes you smile.

Make a matching bag. Wear them with a jacket you've sewn. Create a pair to go with a favourite outfit—or build the whole outfit around your shoes.

The things you already love making can become something you wear every day.

And I think that's pretty special.

That beautiful fabric sitting in the cupboard? I'd love to see it out in the world, being worn and enjoyed.

Let's make them together 🧵

Now we're taking the next step with our Sneaker Stitch Sew-Along.

Over the coming six weeks, we'll start with two weeks to get ready, choose your fabric and organise your kit, followed by four weeks of videos and weekly catch-ups to help you bring your sneakers to life.

Already have a kit waiting to be made? This is your invitation to get it out.

Ready to buy your first kit? Come and make with us.

Still on the fence? Join us, follow along and see what's possible.

We'll have videos, discussions and opportunities to ask questions, with our dedicated Facebook group providing a place to share your progress and cheer each other on.

You don't need to have every detail figured out before you join. We can work through it together.

So much more to come

We have a couple more events coming up before the year ends, and so much we're excited to share in 2027.

We love travelling and meeting you, and we want to keep creating opportunities to gather, learn and make beautiful things together.

Looking back, I couldn't have imagined this chapter while I was saying goodbye to the last one. But I'm proud of what we're building, and grateful to everyone who has become part of it.

Come and join the Sneaker Stitch movement.

Bring your fabric, your ideas and the creative skills you already love.

Let's turn them into your own little piece of wearable art. 👟🧵

Find out more about the sew-along and explore our kits at sneakerstitch.com.au.