TAILOR PROFILE SERIES WITH VENESSA CLARKE
Style /
June 2022
This series follows Tailors from around the world - highlighting their craft, passions, love for the brand and the impact they have on bettering the planet through extending the life of your garments. We interviewed Venessa Clarke from Square One Toronto, a Tailor Ambassador who has been working with Levi’s® for five years. This volume also highlights International Pride Month and how we can continue to support and celebrate our LGBTQ+ communities.
MEET VENESSA
HOW HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN IMPACTED BY DESIGN?
Venessa: I find that I’m more inclined to create things that I need rather than going out and buying them. It gives me a chance to be creative and have something that is one of a kind. I also find that with less access to resources, I am forced to be more creative with what I have.
During the first lockdown, I went from the fast pace of my job to sitting at home with nothing to do. The worst was that we had no idea how long this would be for. I started looking up things that I could do to help during the pandemic and I found RAW Artists Canada. They were looking for volunteers to make masks for hospitals and retirement homes. The problem was that I couldn't go to a fabric store to buy the supplies because of the lockdowns, but I could go to a dollar store. I was able to get what I needed from fitted bedsheets, table cloths and coffee filters.
WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOUR CRAFT?
Venessa: I’ve always been creative as a child, arts and crafts was always my favourite. I guess it was a challenge for me to always see if I could do something new. But I was first inspired to go into fashion when I was a teenager watching “That’s so Raven”. I saw this child star I grew up with turning on a sewing machine. That was it. I wanted my own sewing machine and here we are 16 years later.
I also saw a lot of body positivity on that show. Especially when she stands up to others after seeing her body photoshopped for a dress contest. She stands up and shares love for her own self-image, declaring that everyone is made differently, and we are all beautiful. That spoke to me the most because I struggled a lot with how I saw myself and it was nice to see someone with the same body type declare us as beautiful since society wasn't going to do that.
WHAT MOMENT OR MEMORY STANDS OUT TO YOU THAT DIRECTED YOU DOWN THIS PATH OF BECOMING A TAILOR?
Venessa: After graduating University I started looking for jobs in fashion but realized sewing was what I liked most and wanted to focus on. When I found a job posting with the title of “Tailor” I knew that was perfect. I was very lucky that Levi’s® was looking for their first batch of Canadian Tailors. I was not going to let this job get away. I loved that the job is different, it involves a lot of clothing alterations of course, but what stood out was the ability to create art as well.
TELL US ABOUT THE LEVI’S® PROJECTS YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF AND WHY?
Venessa: I love doing big chainstitch back pieces that involve a lot of time and dedication to finish because they're challenging. But what I’m most proud of is my Breonna Taylor jacket. I’m self taught in the art of painting so to be able to produce something like this is amazing to me. The Breonna Taylor jacket took about a week to get done. I had taken up the art of painting during the first lock down and practiced my skills in blending colours to look more 3D in portraits. During the first lockdown there was a lot of things going on with the BLM movement. First Ahmaud Arbery, then George Floydd and Breonna Taylor were all murdered. I am a supporter of the movement myself being a person of colour but I don't care to change my profile picture and forget about things like they never happened. I chose to use my voice and say something. So with the support of my manager I was able to create this piece so that her face and her name will not be forgotten. Not only that but it was discovered and used in a video that was produced by black Toronto artists.
I want to be able to do something others haven’t tried, something different and new. If it works that’s great, but if it doesn’t you learn from it.
WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION COME FROM FOR YOUR LEVI’S® PROJECTS?
Venessa: My passion comes from my creativity and curiosity to try new things. I want to be able to do something others haven’t tried, something different and new. If it works that’s great, but if it doesn’t you learn from it.
WHAT DOES PRIDE MONTH MEAN TO YOU?
Venessa: Pride Month is the celebration of being able to be who you are, free of judgment. To be your true self and love who that person is.
I see people coming to the tailor shop and buying patches or custom pieces that make them happy all the time. But around the time of Pride Month people that come in are shocked and in awe of what we can provide for them. The LGBTQ+ community are the most creative community that come into the shop. We have some come in to plan out outfits for the parade while some are just excited that we carry buttons and back patches in flag colours. The best way to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community is to let them know that we care and love them for who they are.
HOW DO YOU USE DESIGN TO HELP THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY?
Venessa: I like to create patches for pride that promote peace, love and happiness for the community to enjoy. That way they’re like badges for people to wear and show their pride.
I’ve created a number of bags with the pride flag too. Designing and sewing the bags did not take long at all. I have been making bags for over 10 years now and I know the simplest ways of creating them. The drawstring backpack was actually made a few years ago but I put it away until I could think of something to put on the front. The tote was made from recycled denim from damaged pieces, as well as pieces from when we cut up a fresh tote to insert into a jacket. The other bags are revamps of things I have previously made and have not sold. Since starting work at the Levi’s® Tailor Shop my skills have improved and I find myself going over my old work and improving it.
Customized pieces from Venessa are perfect for finishing off your Pride outfit. In support of the Pride collection, Levi's® makes an annual $100,000 USD donation to OutRight Action International, a global organization working to advance human rights for LGBTQ+ people all over the world. The Levi's® Pride collection is available on levi.com and in select stores.