Gown Wars

06/20/2025

🧵✨ The Sewing Trades Are Unraveling — But We Can Stitch It Forward! ✨🧵

In 2020, I launched Gown Wars to celebrate the artistry of sewing. Now, I’m asking for your help to take it to the next level — not just for me, but for the entire sewing trades industry.

Fabric stores are closing. Paper patterns are disappearing. Skilled sewists are retiring with no one to replace them.

This isn’t just about a show. It’s about saving a creative, meaningful, and viable trade before it's lost.

🎯 Goal: Fund our pilot episode and build a movement that revives and modernizes sewing for future generations.

💡 Every donation makes a difference — no matter how small. We’ve created a powerful campaign to bring awareness and action.

🧵 Support the movement: https://gofund.me/f46d2f2d
📢 Share this post. Tag a sewing friend. Let’s keep the thread alive.

Hi, my name is April Jackson — What began as my dream — a sewing… April Jackson needs your support for Help Launch Gown Wars — And Save the Sewing Trades

06/06/2025

📢 Big news: I’m officially launching the Gown Wars Pilot Fundraiser!
A reality competition show celebrating creativity, sewing, and the incredible talent in our communities — born in London, Ontario.

🎥 In 2020, I produced a live version of Gown Wars with every dollar I had. The energy was electric. But just as momentum built, COVID hit — shutting down progress before it could take off.

Now, it’s time. We’re producing a full pilot episode — one that can ignite a movement and revive the sewing industry from the inside out.

This project supports:
🧵 Local creators and fashion artists
🏙️ Film & media jobs in London
📈 Growth for the entire sewing trade — from fabric to fashion schools

Help bring Gown Wars to life — and help revive an industry while doing it.
🎯 Donate. Share. Cheer us on!
🔗https://gofund.me/3e9947fc

07/24/2024

The Gown Wars live event held August 22-23, 2020, at the Lamplighter Inn, London, Ontario.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7alsPH5uTt4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NgSBn6cVj0
Covid threw a monkey wrench into the dream plan, but that was in the past! It is time to resurrect the dream!

How do I envision Gown Wars developing now? Jackson Sewing Academy has a large sewing studio perfect for producing a pilot episode. Taping will span an entire weekend: Friday (team introductions, gown theme presented, materials shopping), Saturday (first 6 out of 10 sewing hours), Sunday (final four sewing hours, finished gowns photo shoot, judging, winner announcement), and possibly Monday. The competition will be captured by a skilled video/audio crew and mastered into a high-quality pilot episode for viewing.

Anything significant requires multiple hands and talents to come to life. Plus, great ideas start as smaller ideas, and Gown Wars is no exception. Jackson Sewing Academy seeks talented individuals and businesses to assist with event production. As a marketing tool, Gown Wars offers local companies an opportunity to promote themselves through this innovative competition. The following list highlights sponsorship opportunities:

Fabric and sewing materials.

Sewing machines and equipment.

Models.

Hair and makeup for models needed on finale day.

Food and refreshments for teams during competing hours are needed.

Set decor, including the host/judges table and finale photo backdrop, is needed.

Hours of production assistants.

Jackson Sewing Academy is seeking creative individuals willing to assist with the following crucial tasks:

Seeking and securing sponsorship for ongoing events.

Individuals will assist with planning decisions such as event gown themes, materials themes, contestant categories, sewing techniques showcased, and event format on the official Planning Committee.

Team contestant casting and judging.

Event budgeting

A competition is only complete with competitors! Each event will require three teams, each consisting of three team-mates who will meet on day one of taping! Gown Wars is casting for individual competitors. Each episode will require nine competitors.

Teams will receive excellent products and prizes with a talented Sponsorship Manager or partnership Manager!

The Gown Wars website is up, and casting is open for the October 25-28 filming. To request sponsorship (monetary or in-kind), enter 'Sponsorship' in the subject line. To volunteer, enter 'Volunteer' in the subject line. To join the official Gown Wars Planning Committee, enter 'Committee' in the subject line. Gown Wars Facebook messenger is also available for communications.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Gown Wars community!

I am enthusiastic and passionate about Gown Wars, a concept with excellent potential. The fact that it originates from London, Ontario, fills me with pride! I dream of taking this event to new heights, and I am excited to share this journey with like-minded creatives. Together, we will undoubtedly catch some stars, making Gown Wars an event to remember!

02/01/2021

Audience Choice Award: April Jackson 👏

Consumed

Just as fire can consume an object, this project consumed April’s creativity and thoughts for months. The result is a stunning ball gown that elicited admiration from the ASDP membership, who voted for the Audience Choice award, as well as from the guest judges and Threads staff.

11/20/2020

Gown Wars is destined to become a reality television competition show and has the potential to be syndicated in multiple countries!

We are seeking storytellers like you to support this project!

Help us to be the inspiration for the tailors of tomorrow and be part of this dream.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/gown-wars-production-startup?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

09/23/2020

Who doesn't have this essential garment?
The history behind the hero piece in your closet, the little black dress!. Check this out!

The history behind the hero piece in your closet, the little black dress. Starring: Hamish Bowles Director: Max Bartick Edited by: Charlie Denholm Additional...

09/18/2020

Tell us about your current sewing projects! Help needed?
You may want to improve your sewing skills.
Jackson Sewing Academy is here for you!

09/09/2020

A new creation by Maria Grazia Chiuri, in keeping with the great tradition of Miss Dior gowns that have dressed the House of Dior darling!

A new creation by Maria Grazia Chiuri, in keeping with the great tradition of Miss Dior gowns that have dressed the House of Dior darling. A marvel of dusty ...

09/03/2020

See inside the secret world of the ateliers at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris to discover some of the extraordinary savoir-faire behind the Autumn-Winter 2020-2021 Haute Couture collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Produced as both 55cm-tall miniatures.

See inside the secret world of the ateliers at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris to discover some of the extraordinary savoir-faire behind the Autumn-Winter 2020-...