Coffee and Conversations: 'Sewing Is Not Dead with Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski of Sew Loka'
- Add to Google Calendar
- Add to Outlook Calendar
Download ICS file
Join us for an enlightening discussion with Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski, the Chicana textile artist and slow fashion designer behind Sew Loka. In this talk, Rodríguez-Biezunski champions sewing as both a vital art form and a powerful response to our disposable fashion culture. Rodríguez-Biezunski will explore how the deliberate practice of sewing transcends mere utility to become an expressive medium, worthy of the same respect given to traditional fine arts. She'll discuss how reclaiming this craft provides a meaningful alternative to fast fashion's environmental and ethical pitfalls, offering a path toward more conscious consumption and creation.
The conversation will also address why sewing skills—once considered essential knowledge—deserve renewed appreciation in today's society, not just as practical abilities but as conduits for creativity, sustainability, and personal empowerment. Discover how Rodríguez-Biezunski's work honors the hands that make our garments while inviting us to reimagine our relationship with clothing in an age of mass production.
Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski, better known as Sew Loka, is a San Diego-based textile artist and fashion designer who has made a significant impact in the intersection of streetwear, sustainability, Chicana culture, and DIY fashion. She gained prominence for her distinctive style of customizing and upcycling clothing, while only using recycled, reclaimed and repurposed fabrics to create all of her one of a kind fashion designs and textile art pieces. Beyond her fashion work, Rodríguez-Biezunski is also known for her commitment to community engagement and teaching others the art of sewing and customization. You can visit her any time at her sewing studio, Sew Loka, in the vibrant neighborhood of Barrio Logan in San Diego, CA.
Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski on Instagram
Mingei International Museum: Balboa Park
Visit Mingei International Museum near Downtown San Diego in historic Balboa Park, the nation's largest urban cultural park. Located in the heart of the park on the Plaza de Panama, the Museum has six spacious galleries featuring dynamic, changing exhibitions of folk art, craft and design. The Museum also houses a multi-media education center, a theater, visitor kiosks for collection overview, an Art Reference Library and The Collectors' Gallery, Mingei International's popular museum store. Plan your visit - view current and future exhibitions, and browse the calendar of programs and events. Enjoy a self-guided tour, join a daily docent tour or schedule a group tour. Residents' Free Tuesday is Third Tuesday of Each Month In appreciation of support from San Diego County residents, Mingei International Museum is participating in Residents Free Tuesday. Free admission is available for all San Diego County residents including: Students at local colleges and universities (must show ID), active duty military (must show ID) and part-time residents / vacation home owners (does not include time share owners) Mingei International is set in lush surroundings near 17 other museums. Obtain information about Balboa Park and other cultural attractions by visiting the Balboa Park website. Admission $10.00 - Adults $7.00 – Seniors (age 62+), youth (6-17), students with ID and military with ID $7.00 - Group Tour Rates (10 or more) Free - Members and children under 6