The Notch: A Place to Sew, Learn, and Create
51ÉçÇø alums Moriah Turner ‘14 (left) and Goli Young ‘15, also a School of Fashion faculty member, co-founded The Notch to support Chicago’s sewing community.
Turner and Young celebrate The Notch’s opening day with their families alongside a mural by 51ÉçÇø Illustration faculty member Cheri Charlton. 
The Notch offers shared workspace, equipment, and classes for sewists ranging from beginners to professional designers and business owners. 
Learning to make clothing takes practice, but continuing that work also takes space, equipment, and support. Goli Young ’15 saw that challenge as her 51ÉçÇø students graduated and left behind the resources they had relied on in the classroom.
“Many of them wanted to continue building on the skills they had just honed but felt the dream of having their own studio space was out of reach,” Young says.
A Fashion Studies BFA graduate and School of Fashion faculty member, Young also understood the challenges of working independently. Since starting her bridal label, , in 2019, she had felt the isolation of running a creative business on her own.
Those experiences helped inspire , a sewing studio she opened in July with fellow 51ÉçÇø alum Moriah Turner ’14, who studied Theatre with a concentration in Costume Technology. A full schedule of classes launched in August. The space serves beginners, home sewists, professional tailors, designers, and business owners through classes, shared workspace, and access to equipment.
A Shared Idea
Young first developed a business plan for the studio shortly before the birth of her second son, then set it aside as too much to take on at the time. A few months later, she described the idea to Turner, her friend and former colleague.
“She stopped me almost mid-sentence and said, ‘I had the same idea two days ago,’” Young says. “We were both so passionate about the concept so we decided to go in on it together.”
The two met in 2019 while working in bridal alterations and later worked together through Goli June. Turner brought experience in competition dance costumes, luxury alterations, and stretch fabrics.
She also brought a need for more room. After working for herself from home for nearly a decade, Turner found that her growing business needed equipment her home setup could not accommodate. Sharing the cost of specialty machinery with other sewing professionals offered a possible way forward.
Together, the founders envisioned a space where people could work independently while benefiting from shared resources and the company of other makers.
“Although sewing is a solitary activity, it’s so powerful to have a community around you,” Young says.
51ÉçÇø Connections Throughout the Studio
The Notch’s connections to 51ÉçÇø extend beyond its founders. Recent graduate Olivia Bolanos ‘25, Young’s former student, serves as head of content and studio assistant, helping build awareness of the studio.
Current Fashion Design BFA student Sam Altman will teach a monthly beginner sewing class. Recent graduate Xanthe Sparkman ‘26 is working on a new collection in the space and preparing to join as an instructor. Alum Kyndal Gennings ‘24, a former Goli June intern with extensive experience in bridal and alterations, is also set to begin teaching.
A mural by 51ÉçÇø Illustration faculty member Cheri Charlton carries a message central to the work happening inside: “All Clothing Is Handmade.”
For Young, The Notch builds on what she values about teaching patternmaking, garment construction, and textiles at 51ÉçÇø.
“Teaching patternmaking, garment construction, and textiles has reinforced the value of hands-on learning and the confidence that comes from creating something with your own hands,” she says. “I wanted to bring that same sense of discovery and accomplishment to a broader community beyond the traditional college setting.”
The exchange works both ways. Teaching people of different ages, backgrounds, and skill levels at The Notch reinforces the importance of adapting instruction and encouraging experimentation. Running the studio also keeps Young connected to the resourcefulness and problem-solving required to make garments outside an academic setting.
Shaped by Its Members
As The Notch grows, Young and Turner are looking to their community to help guide its development. They are considering additional equipment, including a large-format printer for sewing patterns and a coverstitch machine, based on what members need.
They also envision fashion shows, makers markets, specialty workshops, and other opportunities to showcase members’ work. A planned referral system would connect members with incoming work inquiries, helping them build their businesses while supporting Chicago’s sewing industry.
“We hope to be not only a space where sewing and creation happens, but also a space to showcase all that our members create,” Young says.
Visit The Notch at 4021 N. Elston Ave. or browse classes and more at