"The Thread of Self-Expression" is a three-part workshop series designed to empower the LGBTQIA+ community through clothing alteration, self-expression, and skill-building. In partnership with the Cincinnati Transgender Resource Collective (CTRC), the project began with a foundational discussion on the role of fashion and clothing in gender-affirming self-expression.

Workshop 3: Creative Decoration

Why wear something off the rack when you could wear something that's unmistakably you? In this workshop, you'll master embroidery, needle felting, and ink techniques to stitch, poke, and press your personality directly onto your garments. Go bold with a sprawling design or keep it small and meaningful; the choice is yours. This workshop is especially designed with trans individuals in mind, offering a safe and affirming space to develop skills that put you in control of how you show up in the world.

This project celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community by centering their lived experience around fashion, gender affirmation, and self-expression. The initial discussion, led in partnership with CTRC, will provide a crucial space for participants to explore the personal and social significance of clothing in their identity journey. This dialogue ensures the project is built on the foundation of authentic community needs and perspectives. The workshops themselves provide practical, empowering skills that directly relate to gender-affirming self-expression. Learning to mend, alter, and decorate clothing gives individuals autonomy over their appearance, transforming often-uncomfortable garments into pieces that affirm their identity. This act of customization is a deeply personal form of celebration.

If you are interested in these skills and don’t identify as trans, please check out our regular weekly Art Hives, where you can keep learning and creating alongside the community.