![Mitra Gruwell stands with some of her industrial sewing machines in Viking Sewing, Vacuum, Spa and Stove on West Sixth Avenue. Gruwell is opening a new business called Discard Upcycling, and she's partnering with Viking to create a maker hub for sewists in Eugene. [Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard] - registerguard.com](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/d7497e0a677f486af4d85d376fb3cb79a01ea370/c=0-180-4571-2751/local/-/media/2020/08/17/Eugene/ghows-CK-200729874-06c3a2f3.jpg?width=660&height=372&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
There’s untapped sewing potential in Eugene-Springfield, and Mitra Gruwell believes a plan she’s stitching together could help put those skills to work.
The former St. Vincent de Paul fashion designer is setting up shop inside a sewing machine and vacuum repair shop in Eugene where she expects to establish a gig-working space for sewists, tailors and crafters as well as provide community access to her industrial sewing machines in an effort to train the local textile workforce.
“We’ll strengthen and grow our textile manufacturing industry in the community. We’ll create more access to high-paying jobs. People just don’t have the skills to use these machines, but there are lots of jobs in our community for using them,” Gruwell said.
Gruwell’s passion is upcycling, taking ratty or old clothing and giving it new life with her skills. She’d been doing that kind of work for…
