The Seamstress Behind Salt Lake Sewciety

“I had initially written off sewing as just a fun hobby,” says Delaney Dangerfield, founder and owner of Salt Lake Sewciety, a women-owned community sewing store that specializes in high-quality fabrics and offers project-based workshops. Dangerfield reconnected with her passion for sewing when she lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think many people, including myself, rediscovered sewing at that time,” Dangerfield says.

Self-taught, Dangerfield began sewing as a child. Her mother had a sewing machine that wasn’t used much, so Dangerfield found herself constantly playing on it. She also credits Project Runway and one of her favorite high school teachers for helping grow her fascination with needle and thread. “My school offered a few different sewing classes, and the teacher was a young woman who also loved to sew, so I looked up to her. I came to her with ideas, and she would support my projects,” Dangerfield says.

“Sewing creates a different relationship with your wardrobe.”

When opening Salt Lake Sewciety, Dangerfield wanted to be intentional about the fabric she sourced, encouraging more sustainable consumption practices while still prioritizing fashion and creativity. “I remember making clothing as a kid with fabric I thought was awesome, but looking back on it now, it was probably really cheap polyester satin,” Dangerfield says. “I think most people are disenchanted with fast fashion, and so it’s important to me that my clothing isn’t going to fall apart or shed microplastics.”

“Sewing creates a different relationship with your wardrobe,” Dangerfield says. “I’m much less likely to get rid of something and instead think of how I can re-purpose it. It’s so fun to revisit something you’re not wearing as often and make it into something you’re more excited about.”

Sewciety has intentionally curated eco-friendly, high-quality fabrics that make for sustainable apparel, as well as a selection of specialty notions, indie patterns and more. “I’ve heard of boutique and community-oriented fabric shops in other cities, and thought it would be so cool if Salt Lake had one,” Dangerfield says. When initially opening the store in 2020, Dangerfield started in a small space with a very limited fabric selection. This allowed her to gradually grow her business in a way that felt comfortable. The store has now moved to the Ballpark Neighborhood to allow for not only more fabric selection but also greater space for classes and workshops.

“Most people are disenchanted with fast fashion, and so it’s important to me that my clothing isn’t going to fall apart or shed microplastics.”

“I didn’t know there were so many people in Salt Lake City, and actually across Utah, who sewed until I opened the store,” Dangerfield says. She has enjoyed getting to know customers, watching newer seamstresses progress in their craft and seeing what projects clients have been working on. “I hadn’t anticipated to find so much community with the shop, but because we offer classes and social events, I think it just happened organically,” Dangerfield says. Salt Lake Sewciety courses range from introductory classes to intermediate workshops, including projects like sewing jeans, dresses, bras, underwear and more. “You might think that beginner classes would be boring to teach over and over again, but they have the most excited students. People are so eager to learn and get started,” Dangerfield says. “It can be intimidating to come into a place where everyone seems like they know what they’re doing, but we all were beginners at one point, and everyone [at Sewciety] is so excited to share,” Dangerfield says.

Sewers come from a wide range of backgrounds with various interests, but connecting over a shared love of sewing is one of the more rewarding aspects of Dangerfield’s job. There are several social events for fellow seamstresses and fiber artists to connect at throughout the year including the social Swim Party and Maker’s Backpacking Trip as well as the formal Frocktails fundraiser each February.

You can learn more about Salt Lake Sewciety’s events, class offerings and fabric selections by signing up for their newsletter, or visiting their website at saltlakesewciety.com.

Read more about the best of SLC’s fashion scene:
SLUG Style: Romy-Krystal Cutler
MAEKShift is Sustainable Handmade Fashion for the Clown in All of Us

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