Whats Happening

More wonders from our Space2fly program!

With support from the City of Greater Dandenong, our Space2fly program has created opportunities for two of our trainees.

Sharifeh and Chaw have been supported by Space2b to become mentors with their own groups of women. Working with our skilled mentor Tracey van Ingen of Shortlist clothing, they started as trainees themselves and have enthusiastically developed their product making skills to mentor others.

Sharifeh, Tracey and Chaw in a mentoring session. 

Starting in our program with basic sewing skills, Sharifeh has now developed her skills in pattern making. This has created new opportunities for her and her dream to create her own tailored made clothing business.

Here is Sharifeh fitting a bespoke garment for one of our local community retail customers with the guidance of her mentor Tracey of Shortlist. 

Creating popular denim dungarees for sale in our Space2b retail store! 

Tracey and Sharifeh appearing in the local community Divercity Magazine talking up our Space2fly program and their great creative partnership! Check out the story here: Divercity

Sharifeh mentoring refugees of the StandUp Women’s Group in sewing skills has boosted her confidence. 

Starting out learning sewing and developing her own brand here at Space2b retail outlet, Chaw now mentors other women. She trains women from the Burmese Community located in Dandenong, sharing her passion for sewing. Check out her interview in the Star Journal.

“It is very exciting to see how the trainees learn. When I teach or have shown a new technique, I am so excited and happy when someone learns something properly. I feel confident in my skills when I became a mentor. So I thank Space2b and my mentors Janine and Tracey who have supported my dream. This has been my dream since I came to Australia from Myanmar. ” Chaw Po

Chaw carefully labelling hand made children’s clothing for Space2b.

Chaw showing her trainee Lai Lai how to merchandise in our retail store.

Chaw stands by her trainees making sure they know what they are doing and helping them develop their skills.

Chaw helping LaiLai understand a new pattern by our volunteer skills mentor Cathy.

Chaw helping Pah Lae knit her toy koala and Chaw with her handmade cotton baskets sold at Space2b.

What a wonderful creative and fulfilling year of our Space2fly program! We are looking forward to our program creating more opportunities for our program participants as we fly into the future!

by Maria Minerva, Space2fly Coordinator

Thank you to all our funders, mentors, volunteers, people who donated materials and have supported us here at Space2b to run our programs as together we make a difference!

A creative space to fly in…Space2fly 2018!

Hi, I’m Maria the Space2fly Coordinator! Space2fly is a creative mentoring and training program, one of the core programs of Space2b Social Design. I have worked on the Space2fly program since February this year. That’s me in the middle of the group!

Space2fly is our personalised mentor and training program in design and business development for newly arrived migrants and refugees to become small business owners.  Developed with and for newly arrived creatives, the program is a platform to form connections, get real life work experience and work side-by-side with established designers. We are proudly funded by the City of Port Philip, the City of Greater Dandenong and local community support.

Local community member volunteer Cathy mentoring Lai Lai in making children’s beanies and Chaw working with Pah Lae working on toy koalas. 

Maleeha our skilled mentor is teaching Ayesha how to make our popular beeswax wraps.

Clare, our skilled mentor, is talking product development with trainees in our retail store.

Two of our trainees have been trained to become trainers within their communities. Chaw mentors and trains women in Dandenong. The women have developed their skills in sewing, crochet, embroidery. Chaw sells her own range of quality children’s wear in our retail store and one of Chaw’s sewing trainees Yimon now makes bags and cute designer pencil cases for Space2b.

Lai Lai happily working on making her first beanie.

Sharifeh is mentored in sewing and pattern making by successful business owner Tracey of Shortlist who is one of our retail stockists.

Here she is working on our popular denim dungarees sold in the Space2b store.

Sharifeh, now a mentor herself,  training refugee Sudanese women of the Stand Up community in basic sewing skills. StandUp Women’s Group assist refugees to become confident and competent in a range of artistic skills.

Clare, one of our volunteer jewellery mentors, worked closely with Ayaka from Japan, helping her develop her Hanabi-ya brand for the Australian retail market.

Ayaka creating a repurposed fabric flower broach using the traditional Japanese technique of Tsumami-Zaiku.

Ayaka modelling her statement piece showcased at our fashion runway event during our Laneways Festival!

Ayaka’s first jewellery making workshop was a hit at Space2b with Clare’s guidance and assistance. 

Each trainer is also supported to get advice on products, design and material sourcing.

Maleeha teaching a workshop to our trainees on market research and product development.

Throughout the last few months our program participants have been given the space to fly in their personal and professional development. This would not be possible without our incredible mentors and our local community volunteers and supporters of Space2b!

by Maria Minerva, Space2fly Coordinator

Thank you to all our mentors, volunteers, people who donated materials and have supported us here at Space2b to run our programs as together we make a difference!