Meet Sewn Apart: SVP Tampa Bay Fast Pitch

Click the play button to hear from Ericka Leigh of Sewn Apart.

Over the past weeks, the Catalyst has been introducing each of the organizations competing in the 2018 Social Venture Partner’s Fast Pitch. This two-month program has brought together the best and brightest of Tampa Bay’s nonprofit world for a training and mentoring program that culminates in an exciting pitch night.

Get your tickets for the Oct. 25 SVP Fast Pitch here. 

Meet Sewn Apart.

Sewn Apart was born out of grief and grew into something much greater. When Ericka Leigh’s grandfather passed away, one simple way to celebrate him was to honor his love of bowties at his funeral. Leigh sewed bowties for her family, then for her friends, and then gradually as a side hobby at local markets. Combining her interest in sustainability with fashion led her to the creation of her own full-time social enterprise, Sewn Apart. Leigh’s mission is to repair the agricultural system and give back to the food community, as a portion of all sales go toward an urban farm, The Sustainable Living Project. Sewn Apart seeks to educate consumers about how food, fashion, and the environment intersect, and recycles unwanted clothing and textiles into fashion-forward bowties for both men and women.