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About Us
Welcome to Viking Textile Maker Hub! We're a vibrant non-profit organization dedicated to empowering local textile sewers, makers, and artists throughout Lane County. Our mission is to cultivate a community where sewing is celebrated not just as a skill but as an art form and a pathway to economic opportunity. At our makerspace, located in the Wildling Collaborative Arts facility, we offer weekly and monthly membership options that provide 24/7 access to a professional industrial sewing studio. At our classroom, located within Viking Sewing, we offer a unique blend of small-batch manufacturing, classes, workshops, and educational programs. Whether you are an experienced sewist (sewer+artist) or just beginning your journey, our spaces are designed to support your creativity and professional growth. Join us in building a thriving textile community that fosters collaboration, learning, and innovation. Discover more about our team, our vision, and how we stand out in the local fabric of our community.
Sierah Edwards | Executive Direction
Sierah has been upcycling textiles since she was five years old. She studied Apparel Design at Oregon State University and has participated in local fashion shows since 2009. Her clothing brand, "sierah SEW fresh," offers size-inclusive, sustainable costumes and accessories for festivals and events. When she isn't sewing, Sierah enjoys camping, cooking, reading, thrift shopping, and traveling. She's excited about many amazing upcoming VTMH events and hopes to see you there!
Mitra Gruwell | Board President
Mitra is an upcycle fashion/product designer, educator and consultant with a focus on business and program management, entrepreneurship and creative curriculum development. As the owner of Discard Upcycling, her mission is to make sustainable design using waste materials more accessible and affordable for both businesses and individuals. Mitra is the Board President for nonprofit Viking Textile Maker Hub, offering education and access to industrial sewing skills and equipment, and she teaches workshops on machine operation and sewing, Textile Repair, Upcycling and Design Thinking. She is a Sustainability Commissioner for the City of Eugene, Master Recycler, the Fix-It Fair Coordinator as well as the Community Engagement Coordinator for local nonprofit the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts, MECCA. Mitra is passionate about the arts and sustainability and the roles creativity and innovation play in creating a healthy and sustainable future for humanity and the planet alike.
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