Julian lives at 555 Larkin, one of TNDC’s newest housing communities in the Tenderloin. He’s a father of three, an artist, a self-taught tailor, educator, social entrepreneur, and a self-styled “community activator.” He wears all of these titles with earned confidence and pride. Julian is the founder of Holy Stitch Factory Fellowship, a fusion of school, social enterprise, and artist workshop. HSFF’s mission is to empower young minds, disenfranchised students, and displaced workers of all ages through sewing, technology, and community, creating a unique hub for skill-building, creativity, and job opportunities. [Watch a video about HSFF.]
HSFF is a haven for artists, technologists, and dreamers alike, so reads the website. Programs focus on teaching the community the art of sewing as a marketable skill and as a form of expression. “People drop off their stuff. My students will empty out your closet and turn that pile into all kinds of crazy cool goods. We’ll reupholster your couch, create a new jacket, turn rags into fashion.” Apprentices are mainly teens, but ages range from middle school on up. “I’ve got street kids, grandmas, and former prisoners as students […] It creates jobs. People want jobs. Young men want to look cool and get girls […] Parents want to save their sons. More than one parent has told me that I’ve saved their kid’s life.”
Parents want to save their sons. More than one parent has told me that I’ve saved their kid’s life.”
For Julian, the potential of sewing education is expansive. He enters “community activator” mode and asks, “How many seniors in that Center know how to sew?” He inclines his head towards the Curry Senior Center next door to 555 Larkin where he imagines an untapped source of needle-wielding teachers. If he could, he would install tailor shop programs in every TNDC building. “Gimme a couple of sewing boxes in these community rooms. These kids, they need it. They need to get their backpacks fixed and clothes mended.”
As a social entrepreneur, Julian sees everything as an opportunity. Living in a TNDC building is an opportunity. Living in the Tenderloin is an opportunity because of —not in spite of—its reputation. While social media “doom loop” videos paint his neighborhood as a failure of San Francisco, Julian knows better, and so do his daughters, Akari (10) and Isis (11). “I think like an artist, fundamentally, so I see that bad rap as an opportunity.” His girls have seen those videos too and they know they’re just for clicks and that their reality is different. They know their dad can walk the block and get a “hey, what’s up?” “you good?” “how’s the shop doing?” or “thanks for everything” from his neighbors.
As a social entrepreneur, Julian sees everything as an opportunity. Living in a TNDC building is an opportunity. Living in the Tenderloin is an opportunity because of —not in spite of—its reputation.
I’m not upset by the negative media. You need all the chess pieces on the table. They have their vantage point and I have mine. But, I actually have something to offer, so the more they push, the more I shine.
