Flo-Jo Boutique is a vintage-inspired sewing and textiles venue that specialises in quality fabrics, haberdashery and sewing workshops. It is based on Gloucester Road in Bishopston, north Bristol.
Flo-Jo was founded in 2004 by two friends, Erika and Delia. After taking sewing courses at Silai in Bristol, they decided to produce a range of retro-style handmade clothing including men’s shirts, 50’s inspired swing dresses, children’s outfits, kitsch aprons and, perhaps the thing that they have become most well-known for, knickers! As well as teaching and selling their products at a number of venues across Bristol, they created an on-line shop from which they sold fabric, kits and offered sewing parties. A year ago they acquired their own premises on the bustling and creative Gloucester Road. Since then they have been developing Flo-Jo Boutique into a fantastic vintage-inspired shop and workshop venue.
Flo-Jo run a number of workshops including: sewing classes for beginners and more skilled participants, general level dressmaking, beginner’s dressmaking, pattern cutting, corsetry, and, of course, stretch-knicker making. They run drop-in sewing sessions and one-to-one sewing tuition, and have two after-school sewing clubs for children (one for 8-12 year olds and one for secondary school aged children). Prices range from £10 for the drop-in sewing sessions to £100 for the 5-week corset making workshop. Details of workshops can be found on the Flo-Jo Boutique website.
Flo-Jo Boutique offer parties where you can learn to make something that you can take home with you. In their 3-hour knicker making parties you can select from the range of cottons, ribbons, lace and trims provided to make your own pair of unique retro-style knickers. At a Hen Party the group also work together to make a garter for the hen. Tea and cakes are served on vintage china. Baby Shower parties also run for 3 hours, during which time you will make a beautiful cot-sized quilt for the new baby using basic patchwork techniques and machine appliqué. All materials are supplied and tea and cake are provided. Flo-Jo also run craft parties for children. To find out more about Flo-Jo Boutique parties and discuss your requirements, you can telephone Delia or Erika on (0117) 904 1498.
If you want to purchase supplies to work on your creative projects at home, you can choose from a number of kits (including their own knicker-making kits), beautiful fabrics by designers such as Michael Miller and Alexander Henry, plus haberdashery supplies, books and much more. Flo-Jo also offer the hire of sewing machines and overlockers. You can also buy fabrics and knicker-making kits from their online shop.
For more information about Flo-Jo Boutique take a look at their website: http://www.flo-joboutique.co.uk
