Meet your sewist

Sarah first learned how to sew as a young teenager with the help of her mother, working on a historical renaissance dress as a costume for Halloween. She also worked as a costume designer for her high school drama company and local summer theater camp, creating hundreds of outfits for youth participants and working with directors to transform their visions onto the stage.

A native of Massachusetts, Sarah has lived in Washington, D.C. since 2010. After leaving a career in federal service in 2025, Sarah founded Smith & Sew with a love of sewing and crafting, particularly after meeting local textile artisans on her travels around the world.

Sarah Smith has nearly 20 years of experience designing and creating clothing for everyday wear–past and present.

Smith & Sew was built on a simple idea: to create a beloved bespoke item rooted in craftsmanship and creativity. We specialize in custom garment design, expert alterations, and bespoke textile projects based on comfort and style, celebrating individuality and sustainability. We embrace slow fashion values, prioritize reuse and repair, and transform forgotten textiles into fresh, functional pieces.

What is a Sewist?

“Sewist” is a combination of sew and artist. It is a gender-neutral term, and encapsulates the creative design aspect of sewing as a art. The term seamstress is now considered outdated and has fallen out of use within the sewing community.