In this episode of the Sewing Social podcast, host Gemma Daly sits down with Nicole Akong, a talented sewer, maker, and content creator, for an inspiring conversation about creativity, career change, and sustainable fashion.
Nicole shares her sewing journey from growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, where she first fell in love with making at her mother’s sewing machine, to building a corporate career in London before bravely pivoting towards a more creative life.
Nicole opens up about the realities of working in the fashion industry, including the challenges of balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and self-belief.
She reflects on how appearing on The Great British Sewing Bee helped her reconnect with her passion for sewing, rebuild confidence, and find a supportive community of like-minded makers.
Her story highlights the importance of embracing change, especially at a time when many people are rethinking their careers amid rapid technological shifts.
The conversation also explores Nicole’s current creative projects, with a strong focus on upcycling and sustainable fashion. She shares how she moved from traditional dressmaking to charity shopping, transforming pre-loved garments that might otherwise end up in landfill.
Through her work, Nicole encourages others to see new potential in their wardrobes, rethink fast fashion, and adopt more mindful consumption habits.
Key Takeaways:
- Nicole loved fashion and clothing from an early age
- She grew up in Trinidad and Tobago, then studied in the USA before making her way to London
- She believes that your own self belief should be "bullet proof"
- She's done several career pivots in her life
- Being on the Great British Sewing Bee gave her renewed confidence in herself
- She now loves to work with charities as well as focusing on thrifting and upcycling
Follow me:
Instagram: @thesewingsocialpod
@thedalythread
Tiktok: thesewingsocialpod
If you've enjoyed this episode and appreciate the work I'm doing, please
Tip me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/thesewingsocialpod
Also, feel free to get in touch - you can text the show (available through your podcast provider on each episode) or email:
Affiliate Links:
- Thready Set Go - https://threadysetgo.com
Discount code for 10% off your first month - SOCIALPOD10
Guest details:
Instagram: @nicole_akong
Youtube: nicole_akong
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setup
00:10 Nicole's Early Sewing Journey
04:59 Transitioning from Corporate to Creative
10:10 Starting a Jewelry Business
16:06 The Impact of the Sewing Bee
20:57 Building a Community and Brand
27:19 Embracing Video Content Creation
30:22 Navigating Career Pivots and Family Dynamics
41:27 The Unique Experience of The Sewing Bee
48:24 The Journey of Upcycling and Refashioning
56:56 The Joy of Rescuing Fashion
57:50 Sustainable Fashion Week: A Community Effort
01:00:34 Creating a Runway Collection from Discarded Materials
01:03:13 Future Aspirations: Charity Partnerships and TV Dreams
01:05:54 Inspiration Over Products: A New Business Philosophy
01:10:47 The Power of Transformation in Fashion
01:19:57 Thready Set Go
Fler avsnitt av The Sewing Social
Visa alla avsnitt av The Sewing SocialThe Sewing Social med Gemma Daly finns tillgänglig på flera plattformar. Informationen på denna sida kommer från offentliga podd-flöden.