About

ABOUT

China Aroh
China Aroh founder of It's Sew Fun!

China Aroh received her BBA in Business Management from Baruch College and a degree in Fashion Art and Design from Fashion Institute of Technology. While designing clothing for actors and musicians in the entertainment industry, the designer was approached to work as a draper in the costume shop of the Joseph Papp Public Theater, New York Shakespeare Festival and the Julliard School. 

While working in theater China, made costumes for luminaries such as: Alec Baldwin, Angela Bassett, Patrick Stewart, Phylisha Rashaad, Liev Schriber, Kevin Kline, Savion Glover, Vanessa Redgrave, Don Cheadle, Jeffrey Wright, Mos Def and Sanaa Lathan, to name a few. During this time, she was recruited as a stylist for MTV’s Club MTV and Total Request Live (TRL). 

In 2001 China Aroh created and developed an after school program called, “It’s Sew Fun!” in several of New York’s top private schools, such as Chapin, Brearley, Columbia Grammar, The Berkeley Carroll School, Spence and Brooklyn Friends. It’s Sew Fun! encourages and develops children’s creativity through a variety of exciting sewing projects.

Black and Tan China Aroh PurseBlack & Tan China Aroh Purse
 
In 2004, China was recruited by the Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF/NewYorkEdge) to teach a summer art class. She was soon promoted to Summer Art Director, where she created curriculum, generated the budget and trained staff to do the art program in 50 schools throughout NYC.
 
Outside of her educational work, China creates mixed media art and handmade, one of a kind handbags and purses, which are available at ChinaAroh.com and is a founding board member of Stairs Academy educational nonprofit, which provides educational opportunities in underserved communities.

“Urban Hair” – China Aroh 2006

It’s Sew Fun!

It’s Sew Fun! combines sewing, fashion, and design to make wearable and usable articles of clothing, bags, books, book covers, stuffed animals, quilts, hats, scarves etc. The students have a lot of fun but also learn real-life skills, aesthetics, spatial relationships and math required to measure and calculate patterns for their designs.
History
It’s Sew Fun! was founded in 2001, by China Aroh. While working in the costume shops at Joseph Papp’s Public Theater and Juilliard, China was approached by The Chapin School to teach a sewing and art class for their summer program. It was so successful that they asked China to add her class to their after school program.
 
As time went on, other schools began to hear about It’s Sew Fun! and the program was added to Brearly, Columbia Grammar, Berkley-Carroll, Brooklyn Friends and Spence schools.
Learning sewing and design helps children’s cognitive development, critical thinking and creativity. It also promotes student voice, expression and individuality.