>> Katherine Rodriguez: Our first event
here features library staff member Desiree
Woodard to talk with two wonderful
 forces before-- be-- behind
the Black Girls Sew Movement
Hekima Hapa and Lesley Ware.
we're thrilled to have you.
Yes, Please give them applause.
[applause]
We're thrilled to have you. And
we hope you enjoyed this event
as well as the rest that the
Library of Congress has put
together this weekend. Thank
you so much. [applause]
>> Desiree Woodard: Okay, So my name is
Desiree Woodard, and I'm just thanking
you all for coming and
participating in our panel about
black--the book Black Girls Sew.
Y'all have no idea how excited I
am about this.
Okay. So we have the authors,
Hekima Hapa and Lesley Ware. Yes.
[applause] And just a quick note
about me.
I'm a librarian at the Library
of Congress.
I am--I'm about to date myself.
I learned to sew in Home EC
in high school.
Kay? So it's been a minute.
I've been sewing for a while.
Okay. Just some quick
housekeeping notes for
everybody. We're going to do a
30 minute talk and then 15
minutes out, you'll be able to
ask questions.
So get your questions together
because I want you all to ask.
I have more if I need to.
So don't make me use them.
Okay. And then they will be
in-- from 11 to 12, they'll be
signing their book in Hall C,
line 20.
So and I'm telling you, y'all
want this book?
Seriously, I can't tell you
enough.
Okay ladies, I can start
asking questions.
First of all, thanks for
coming. I cannot tell you-- I have
been bending these ladies here
since I met 'em.
Okay, so now I'm going to let
you talk to these guys.
What made you-- how-- why did you
decide to write this book?
What was the genesis of why you
needed to write this book?
>> Hekima Hapa: I would say for me--
I'm Hekima Hapa--
one of the things is getting a
message out and getting very
important materials into the
hands of little girls and the
people who want to support them
that look like them.
The book was important that it
gave images to something that
already existed inside our
community.
>> Desiree Woodard: Mmm hmm.  Lesley?
>> Lesley Ware: I-- so this is the fifth book that
I've been able to write in the
last eight years.
And I started writing books
because I never saw girls of
color in sewing and activity
books.
So similar, very similar to
Hekima,
there just wasn't any
representation.
And as Judy Blume once said, "If
you don't see the book on the
shelf that you want, like you
have to create it."
And so, in 2013, I was like, I
guess I'm going to have to start
writing. And they've become more
and more and more diverse.
And now it's just really
exciting to have Black Girls Sew,
because it's like all girls
of color in one book.
So it's really exciting.
>> Desiree Woodard: Eee. I agree. So y'all are 
about to hear a lot about this book
because now I need to know.
OK, so in this book, there is a
section on how to use the book.
Why did you all decide to put
that in there?
I love it. I think it's a great
idea.
But why did you decide to put
that in there?
>> Lesley Ware: I think because-- like-- we just--
you know-- like-- sometimes like
you get a book and you feel
like you have to just, like, go
from start to finish.
But then maybe there's a
certain things that you're
interested in more than others.
And so we thought by including
that section in the book, like
it would allow girls to just
jump in wherever their interest
was the most, and then
hopefully they'll like read the
rest of it too. But we wanted
to just like, give them that
invitation to--
dive in wherever.
>> Desiree Woodard: There you go.
Get in where you fit in.
Oh, my goodness. I love that.
Okay, so there's a section--
there's several sections in the
book called Hidden Figures of
Fashion.
How did you all determine who
to put in there?
Because there's a lot of people
you could have put in here, but
you were very selective.
So what made you decide to--
with the people that you put
in.
>> Hekima Hapa: I would say some of 
them are personal influences, but it's
also just a gateway.
So narrowing it down to the
people that are in the book--
it's difficult, but it was just--
it's just a start.
>> Desiree Woodard:
Okay.
>> Lesley Ware:
Yeah, we have a list of 22.
So that could be another book?
[laughter]
>> Desiree Woodard:
I think so.
>> Lesley Ware: Yeah, we talked
about it, and we selected the
ones that were most inspiring
to us, and
put them in first.
>> Desiree Woodard:
I like that. Okay.
The book has a section that
talks about making your own
affirmation. Do you have a
personal affirmation and do you
mind sharing it with us?
>> Hekima Hapa:
You could. [laughter]
>> Lesley Ware:
I always have affirmations.
They kind of change from month
to month, season to season.
The one that I have been saying
the most right now, I'm a little
embarrassed to share. But we're
here at the National Book
Festival. I've been saying my
book deals are getting bigger
and bigger. I would like to
sign a book [inaudible]
--ermore, I would like.
[Inaudible]
So that's my affirmation.
>> Desiree Woodard: Yes!
[Applause] Absolutely!
So, you know, that makes me
think you probably have an
affirmation about what you want
the nonprofit to do.
>> Hekima Hapa: I would say just in 
general, my affirmation and my goals are to
continue being a tool for this
ancestors and those people who
are underrepresented that they
continue to work through me--
even when I'm difficult.
>> Desiree Woodard: I understand that.
That's me too.
Okay. So there's also in the
book two history sections, a
Brief History on Sustainable
Fabrics, Fashion and Textiles,
and a historic bit on denim,
Y'all!
The piece on denim, you all got to read--
If you haven't read it, you've
got to read it for that.
That information was so
powerful, I couldn't --I can't
even begin to tell you. It's
like one--
I told them my book, I didn't
have tabs, but I've got post--
I mean, inside this book is
highlights and notes and
everything. And that was the
one that just hit me the
hardest. Why did you choose to
emphasize those two points in history?
>> Hekima Hapa: I would say for
me, sustainability in denim
represents the durability of
it, that it takes a lot of water
of just natural resources to
produce denim and it gets
wasted, but it's something that
it's always around.
So it's something that in my
own personal fashion design
business that I use over and
over again. I'm able to create
from dollar jeans that I'm
finding at thrift stores
magnificent-- like the backdrop
for the book was created from
dollar jeans. And I'm teaching
my students that it's very easy
to recreate something with
things that you have already.
So all children outgrow jeans
every year.
So as a child, I was taught to
take my jeans and cut them off
and to make them into shorts.
But as I grew, I realized that
it just didn't have to be
shorts, that we could make
other things.
So that's where it started for
me.
>> Lesley Ware: So when I think of
Black Girls Sew, I always think of denim,
because as Kima said, they always
find just the most creative ways
to use it. And so that was just
like an immediate thought to like
include a section about denim.
The part about sustainability.
I think one of the things we
have both in common is that we
love to upcycle and reuse
materials.
And I think it's interesting
that like communities of color,
poor people, people who have
come to this country, have always
been, like, upcycling, like back
into the 17 and 1800s.
And so now it's been really
interesting to kind of reclaim
upcycling and sustainability in
a way that's like chic and
accessible and like not what
you think of traditionally,
like, you know, oh,
hand-me-downs or like mending
is. You know, not something
that's cool, but we get to make
it fashion and make it
interesting.
And so I thought it was great to 
highlight that in a different light.
>> Desiree Woodard: Oh. Excellent.
I'm keeping an eye on my 
time keeper because
I've got a specific question
for you all at the end.
But so you also have a section
in the book about sewing and
fashion as a career.
And so I wanted to know, have
you ever had anybody go since
since you all have started
since you started a nonprofit in
the book, have y'all had
anybody that you have been--
and influenced to-- go into the
fashion industry and how did
they let you know and how did
you feel about it?
>> Hekima Hapa: So I would say for me, 
I run a nonprofit that has a camp called
Soul Green Fashion Camp, and
our students started out with us
at like eight years old.
Most of those students are now
entering college.
The oldest of the students may
be like 21, so one of the 21-
year-olds went from being a
camper to a counselor and then
also becoming my personal
assistant.
She ran my fashion boutique in
Brooklyn, and she's now a board
member for our nonprofit as well
as a college student.
So we can really track the
history of kind of what some of
our students are doing.
Most of them are now entering--
like we have students at FIT
who are high school students,
and that's how they got into the
program is using their portfolios
and their work from our camp.
>> Desiree Woodard: FIT is?
>> Hekima Hapa: Is Fashion
 Institute of Technology.
>> Desiree Woodard: Yes. [applause]
[laughs] See!
>> Lesley Ware: See.
So I also have been doing, you
know, fashion education for
almost ten years.
And so a lot of the kids who
started at eight are now
entering college. I do have one
student who I worked with when I
still had my full time job at
Girl Scouts, and I was just like
volunteering teaching sewing.
So he was like one of the very
first.
And now he has like his own
label and he's like interned
with like Kanye West and
Pharrell.
So I would say ZWade [ph] is kind of
like the biggest success story
that I've been able to have,
like-- influence and impact on.
But like a lot of the students
are entering SCAD, FIT,
Parsons. So it's like really
exciting to be a part of their
journey and to have planted
seeds like early on.
>> Desiree Woodard:
I agree. I agree.
Okay, so let's see.
Okay. Once again, back to the
book.
Y'all did a piece on color
theory.
I just had to tell y'all that
was such a great idea.
How-- what made you decide to add
that particular piece?
Because I know it's a part of
fashion--I know it's part of
design, but that was I mean,
it's a really well done piece
that you have in the book on
color theory.
So what made you decide to do
it and how did you decide to
craft it so simply and but
straight to the point.
>> Hekima Hapa: I would say for me, 
a lot of what's in the book was a
learning process as well.
So it's a collaboration.
So some of the pieces that are
inside the book, when we've had
interviews previously, one of
the things that Lesley said was
that she tried to pack in as
much in this book because we
never know if we get we'll get
a chance to do it again.
And so I think that all the
points in it kind of represent
those things. Like we don't
know--we don't know how much
will be allowed in a book in
terms of the process and if
we'll ever get a chance to do
it again.
So that's where most of it has
come from.
>> Lesley Ware:
Yeah, I agree with that.
>> Desiree Woodard: Okay. So you also 
have a discussion about mood board.
I've done, uh, vision boards,
but not a mood board.
Where did that idea come from?
And what?
Once again, you put it in here
for a reason.
So I'm assuming there was a
good point for it.
>> Lesley Ware: Yeah, I think, like,
 mood boards are almost like a visual
affirmation. And so if you can
kind of create something that is
like a vis-- like
inspirational for your
collection. I write-- I do mood
boards for my books. I do mood
boards if I'm writing a short
story. Like I just love mood
boarding, and I think it gets
like a different part of your
brain going.
And it's the first step in the
design process.
And so we wanted to include
that in Black Girls Sew
book because if you can, you
know, have like some sort of
visual guide, like it'll just
help you stay on track and not
get distracted when you're
creating.
So yeah, so it's kind of like a
vision board too, in a way, but
more sat around like a certain
theme or a concept that you're
going for, for a collection.
>> Desiree Woodard: Now Kimi you 
talked about your nonprofit briefly.
You want to let everybody know--
[No Audio]
>> Hekima Hapa:
One of the things we talked
about before was just spirit
being able to guide this work.
I didn't set out to be a
teacher. I was a fashion designer
and I was making nice money,
just staying focused and being
an artist. But I've been guided
like into this-- is a very
necessary thing that's
happening.
And everything that I'm
supposed to do has been easy, at
least itself-- right before me
and like a path.
And so putting together the
nonprofit was easy.
I had college students do all
of my bylaws and all of the
things for free. Another friend
just volunteered the
information. People come up to
me and they say things like, "You
should write a book." They say
"You should start a nonprofit."
And I go, "Me?" And then all the
information comes along with it.
So that's how the nonprofit
came about.
It was just very necessary
work.
It didn't exist for us.
And so here I am to create it.
>> Desiree Woodard: So, Lesley,
this is not your first book.
How did you decide to become an
author, and how did this book
kind of come into your
consciousness?
>> Lesley Ware: So my background
 is in education.
And then early on, right after
graduating from college, I was
like, I want to help young
people. But like, being in the
classroom just felt like so
much to be responsible for
reading and writing.
So I went back to college and I
started working in nonprofits
and foundations and like
helping young people that way by
working with nonprofits.
And long story short, I-- my mom
used to make all of my clothes
when I was little. And so my
first memories are joining fabrics,
buying [laughter] like 
buttons and zippers.
And just like it was such a
magical world to be able to have
that like, experience with my
mom.
And so when I moved to New York
to work at the Girl Scout
National Office, the office was
in the garment district.
So every day I was like running
out on my lunch break, like
looking at fabric and buying
buttons.
And I'm like, What are you doing?
[laughter] So long story short, I
started blogging, and from
there it kind of like led me
into teaching kids how to sew.
So I ended up doing that while
I had my full time job at Girl
Scouts. I was just like
teaching, sewing.
And then I just decided to
like, leave and do that full
time or like try to do it full
time, which led to me doing it
full time. And so I think-- oh my God,
I'm talking too much on this
question, but what led me to
write the-- write books about
sewing, fashion and stuff for
young people is just again, like
there weren't like any books at
Barnes and Noble.
There were no books at Borders
that had like pictures of
anybody who looked like me in
those books.
And so I felt like everyone
should be able to see themselves
and feel beautiful and be
represented in the media.
And so I started writing So Fab
in 2013, which was like my first
book. So Fab: Sewing and Style
for Young Fashionistas.
And after I wrote that book,
Hakimi and I had a coffee
because she used it at the camp
that summer.
So that was 2015.
And so we just talked about
like one day being able to
collaborate on the book. And
then the opportunity opened up
for us to do it a couple of
years ago.
And then we've just been
rolling ever since.
>> Desiree Woodard: Ooh! I love it. So I'm
about to break out this book real quick and ask
this real quick question.
And then I've got the big
question.
There is a backdrop in this
book.
>> Lesley Ware: Yes.
>> Desiree Woodard: Y'all. I know you
some of y'all can see this.
Some of y'all can't. But I am
absolutely going to call this.
This is denim. It's a denim backdrop.
I need you to explain the denim
backdrop.
>> Hekima Hapa: So it's really like--
like you said, for both of us, denim is
something that's really, like,
just close to my heart.
It's something that I use in my
own personal work, but it's
something that's really
accessible. So it's easy to get
my hands on. People volunteer
to bring us tons of denim.
I can find it cheaply, but I
don't want to--
I want it to make it new.
And so we cut up all the denim
pieces into little squares and
we use parts of it for shorts,
so we make a profit off the top
of the shorts that keeps
fueling the program.
And then we take the legs and
we do all kinds of things with
them. So the backdrop for the
book, when we started talking
about what it looks like, like
the visuals were really
important to me, so I just made
this beautiful tapestry and we
were able to use it as part of
the book.
And a friend of ours, Layla
Well, new and old friend of ours
shot the book, and during the
time that we were shooting, she
was like, "What are we doing
with this backdrop?" [laughter]
And that, to me, let me
know
we were like on point visually
as to what it should look like.
So she is now the proud owner
of the backdrop.
>> Desiree Woodard:
Because it's--it's bad.
Yeah. If you couldn't see it in
this picture, you got to see it.
It's amazing.
So here's the question, and I
need both.
You just take a minute and then
come out with it.
What do you want to make sure
people know about you or the
book before we start asking
questions?
Letting them ask questions?
>> Hekima Hapa: I would say for me, 
the most important thing is that it's not
just about a book. It's not
about shining a light on me per se,
But shining a light on the
overall work of what we do.
The work isn't done until 
Black Girls Sew
as an organization, is in
schools nationally, not just the
book there, but the programming
there. That we're able to reach,
not just little black and brown
girls, but girls in general,
Letting people know that sewing
is a sustainable skill and it's
something that everyone should
know a little bit of and it's
something that they can use to
fuel their lives. You know--
food, clothing, shelter is one
of the necessities.
And if you can provide your own
clothing, I think that you're
steps ahead.
>> Desiree Woodard:
Absolutely.
>> Lesley Ware: And for me, I started
 teaching sewing and writing these books
because as a blogger, like, I
saw so many things wrong with
the fashion industry, you know,
issues around diversity and
inclusion, issues around
sustainability, the way things
are happening behind the scenes
at runway shows and just--just
waste in general.
And so I decided to start
teaching and to start writing
because I think young people
are the future of fashion.
They are. And if they can, if I
can like, influence them to make
better decisions about how they
shop, how they care for their
clothes, hopefully get them to
make their own clothes,
hopefully get them to go into
the fashion industry.
But at least at the very basic,
you know, at the very smallest
level, just being able to think
more consciously about fashion
and asking questions like Who
made this?
Where did it come from?
I think I am doing something
that is meaningful and important
to help the environment.
And so I think Black Girls Sew
is like a huge extension of that
in the book is for everybody.
It's not just for black girls.
And like we just want everyone
to think differently and to
think sustainably.
And that is kind of, I guess,
my like overall mission and
goal. So it's like not about
me, but it's about the earth and
about just making smarter
choices with fashion.
>> Desiree Woodard: OK, so I messed up.
I do have one more question before to ask
>> Lesley Ware: Okay.
>> Desiree Woodard:
The fashion show.
Y'all want to talk about that
real quick, because I think the
fashion show was kind of
awesome, the idea of it.
>> Lesley Ware:
And that was just sidebar.
I went to the fashion show four
years ago and I like-- took too
many photos. And so I was like
out to dinner with my friend
afterwards and she was like,
When are you guys going to do
that book? Because I was just
like, look at this and look at
that. So the fashion show is
amazing, and it just happened
less than a week ago.
>> Hekima Hapa:
So it's the grand finale.
So the kids come.
They come to a camp that lasts
anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks each
summer, and that is where they
get to show off what they've
learned. Most children have
never sat beside behind a sewing
machine, and they get to make
two projects a day, which sounds
like a lot. It sounds like a
lot. But they leave.
Their parents are picking them
up.
And they're like, "Wait, I just want
to finish to hem of my shorts."
You know, they spend their time
there wisely.
So by the end of it, the
outcome is that they have at
least three outfits--three
looks--that they can put
together.hat they get to
model themselves or they can
bring a friend to the show.
We solicit models as well. But
most importantly, they also get
to take the items that they
create in between those spaces--
and we talk about
entrepreneurship with them--and
they're able to sell the items
and set up a little business at
the fashion show. So we're 
teaching them a lot.
We pack in a lot the way the
book is packed in.
That's how the camp is.
>> Desiree Woodard:
Oh my goodness.
>> Hekima Hapa: Sustainability
is entrepreneurship and it's
fashion fun.
>> Desiree Woodard:
That's awesome.
Okay, Where are we?
Okay, so we're about 20 minutes
out.
So do we have any questions or
do I need to start asking more
questions? Come on.
I heard clicking and
everything. Yes, ma'am.
You can come up here to the
mic.
>>: You talked about denim, but
you're not wearing denim.
I would just love it if you
would tell us about what you've
chosen to wear today.
[laughing]
>> Lesley Ware: So I am wearing
things that are all thrifted.
So like most of my closet is,
you know, it's composed of
things that I've made or things
that designers who I love have
made for me or that I've
somehow managed to get.
But today I'm wearing a skirt
that and a dress underneath the
skirt. And yeah, they're
just like cotton,
you know, thrift store finds.
And then I love Converse, so
it's kind of like my go to shoe
and has been for like the last
ten years.
So that's what I'm wearing.
>> Hekima Hapa:
So this is my guilty pleasure.
It's a Brazilian company called FARM Rio.
I like them because they have a
sustainability for every garment
that they sell, they plant a
tree.
So that's good enough for me.
It's bright colors, it's a lot
of fun.
And I was able to meet some of
the designers that work within
the company as well in the
city.
>> Desiree Woodard:
Yes, ma'am.
>> : Hi. I was wondering whether or
not you ever thought about
branching out.
And the other part of the
question, part two the question is
what--what age group?
How many people do you have at
your camp?
And when does camp start?
>> Hekima Hapa: Okay, so we do camp
in July, the second weekend of July every
year. And we do it for two
weeks.
Two to three weeks. It depends.
And the same in August.
And we're definitely looking
into-- we've done workshops in
Atlanta and some in New Jersey,
but there are people across the
country that are interested in
bringing black girls.
So absolutely, they're
seamstress--
They are people who have way
more knowledge than I have in
running camps and, and about the
fashion industry.
So we're using the book now as
a tool that they could use to
formulate their projects and
learning how to collaborate with
people so that we can expand.
So please.
>> : Hi. I am a cosplayer in costume.
[Laughing]
It's been really exciting over
the last several years to see
more spaces for black
cosplayers that are self
created. I mean, there's Black
Pay Day and even locally there's
Blerdcon, things like that. But
cosplaying can be
like a really resource
intensive thing.
I was wondering if you can
share maybe some thoughts and
ideas about how to maybe
incorporate more sustainable
practices into costume making?
>> Hekima Hapa: Yeah, I would say the
easiest thing is to really, really go
through thrift stores. Like
there's so many wonderful pieces
that get discarded. They're prom
dresses and things that people
wear once. But they're great
materials.
They are materials that if you
went to the fashion indus--
district, you wouldn't be able
to afford.
But they're just thrown away
and they're just there in the
thrift store. So I would say
start there.
They're great YouTube videos
on how to recreate.
One of my students this summer
came to camp because she wanted
to create cosplay costumes.
>> Lesley Ware: Wow. And just to add to
that, I would say like, look around your
house or your friend's house.
Like, there's a lot of, like,
found items like foam and bubble
wrap and foil and just like
stuff that, you know, even like
certain papers.
Like I recently made something
out of junk mail, Like I had so
much junk mail. So, like, you
can really use just like
different things like at home
that, like, you might normally
toss. Like figure out how to
work those into the things that
you, you know, work them in
with the things that you thrift
to create really cool costumes.
>> Desiree Woodard: Yeah. Thank you. I'm
going to also tag in on that one as well,
because I'm going to amplify
what she said.
There are so many clothes in
thrift stores.
People give so much, so many
clothes to thrift stores.
They don't put out as much as
they have.
But I've seen full blown
wedding gowns--
just designer.
I had a thrift store near my
house and we had designer
clothes from Europe. Somebody
went to Europe.
The pants were never hemmed.
They had never been worn.
They still had the tags on them
and everything.
So those are places where you
can start out with your entire
fashion line.
And if you're doing cosplay, it
absolutely is a way to find--
especially if you go into areas
where you kind of know there are
people who maybe not from the
United States or people who
travel a lot, and you see what's
in their shops is probably going
to put you close to some of the
things that you're looking for
as far as style when it comes
to cosplay.
By the way, the library has
done several events with Awesome
Con, so if you're from the DC
area, pay attention around
Awesome Con. So you know
whether or not the library is
going to be participating and
go to Awesome Con is great.
[laughs] Yes, ma'am.
>> : Thank you. Oh, I just want to
say I love everything about what
you're putting out here.
The ideas in the book.
I am a dabbler, sewist myself and
my daughter just took a sewing
camp for the first time this
summer. And it's interesting to
hear you say that you're in
Girl Scouts, that you used to
work at Girl Scouts. Because
I'm curious, have you ever
considered reaching out to Girl
Scouts and expanding there?
Because I would love to, like,
bring that to our Girl Scout
troop [trails off]
>> Lesley Ware: Yeah, that's
 a great question.
Girl Scouts is, like, very
insular.
Like they have their own books,
their own curriculum.
I have not.
And I'm still in contact with,
like a lot of my colleagues who
are still there. I have not
reached out to them yet.
I know they have like their own
sewing badge and their own
design badge.
So I just kind of knew from
past experience that they don't
normally like to always like
open it up on a national level
to non-Girl Scout programs.
But maybe things have changed
since I've been gone.
So I will look into that and
explore it because I think Black
Girls Sew it'd be like a really
great program to bring into
scouting and it definitely
would kind of like fill a gap.
So yeah, I'll see.
Thank you for that like inspiration.
>> Desiree Woodard: I'll try to 
talk to Boy Scouts too.
They may decide they maybe they
may be a little bit more
interested in it because it's
something different for them.
Yes, ma'am.
>> : Hi. I wanted to ask about
 your camp.
You said you did the camp in
July and August.
So how do you sign up for
July and August next year?
>> Hekima Hapa: So we're not as organized
to have the dates up and have the
ability. We usually put our
dates up in January. Because
that's when people start
signing up.
>>: Is there a website?
>> Hekima Hapa: There is a website, it's
www.blackgirlsew.org
So all of our classes are
listed.
We're on social media as Black
Girls Sew.
On Facebook, Instagram, TikTok--
 I'm getting better at. [laughs]
>> : I wanted to add to.
I have an eight-year-old
granddaughter and she's recently
been shopping in the thrift
stores because she says she
likes when she goes to the
thrift store, store and shop and
she can modify what she buys
and wear--
She had a pair of denim jeans on.
And I said, Oh, that's okay.
She said, We got them at the
thrift store.
>> Desiree Woodard: So, yeah.
>> Hekima Hapa: One of our field
trips we do for sewering [ph] fashion camp.
So every Friday we take them
out of the classroom setting and
into the world. So one of the
field trips we do each year is
take them to a thrift store and
we give them a budget
intentionally very small, so
they feel the pressure of
actually having to look.
So we'll give them a 5 to $10
budget and they can buy within
that budget as many pieces.
And it's almost like a
challenge. And we've had girls
come out with five pieces.
I'm like, I don't even know
where you found all these dollar
things, [Laughing] but I try to encourage
them and with a little guide--
like go into the departments
that aren't just clothing, like
go look at the curtains,
because you may be able to find
bigger, larger pieces of
fabric.
So that was one of our really
fun trips.
And they get into it. Initially
they said, No, we don't want to
go to-- we want to go to the
mall.
We don't want to go to a thrift
store, you know, like it's and
they get into it over the
years.
They kind of look for it.
>> :[inaudible]
>> Hikima Hapa: I know, right?
[laughter]
>> Desiree Woodard:
Yes, ma'am.
>>: Hi. First off, my name is Kristy,
and I'm, of course, a volunteer.
But I just want to say I am a
big fan.
I am a little older than some
of most people in here.
Some of the people in there.
And I sew. I've been sewing since
I was six years old.
I wish I had you.
Oh, I really do.
I wish I had you.
I taught my daughter to sew.
She refused to sew until she
was in her twenties.
She's sitting right here
[laughter].
Anyway, I just want to say thank
you.
Thank you. This is something.
That we really did need
and I really appreciate you.
>> Hekima and Lesley: Thank you. Thank you.
[applause]
> Desiree Woodard:
Yes, ma'am.
>> : Good morning. My name is Shannon
Anderson and I'm a newly
published author.
And I wanted to ask you a
question because I'm not
familiar with all the ins and
outs as far as becoming a
published author. So I have
recently had my book published.
And I wanted to know-- we had
a contract.
And I'm not happy with my book.
They did the revision.
I was still not happy.
So I want to know, would I be
sued if I was to go to another
publishing company and have it
done correctly the way that I
want it done?
>> Desiree Woodard: Okay, I'm going to 
tackle that one. Because they're authors.
This really isn't the place to
ask them for them to answer that
question. What I would
recommend is that you look at
the contract that you have and
then go to an attorney and have
them review that contract with
you and then you can go from
there. But this isn't really a
place that we can answer that
because that really needs
somebody to look at the
information that you already
have presented.
>> : Okay. And my next question, as
far as like, can you give me
some insights as far as like
how to go about promoting my
book?
>> Desiree Woodard: How did you 
ladies promote this book?
>> Lesley Ware: Oh, well, we got to be on Good
Morning America. [laughing]
Which is a really cool first.
But I mean, we've been just
using a lot of the traditional
methods. So Instagram, we've
had like a few in-person events.
Like things are a little
different right now.
Just coming out of COVID, like,
it's kind of harder to like,
bring people together to
gather, which is I think is why
it's so cool to be here today.
But we've been just like social
media, in-person events.
We've been on some podcasts, so
it's just been like, whatever,
you know, we have a publicist
at our-- at Abrams who's been
like, helping us get out there.
So we've been doing a lot of
the traditional things.
And am I missing something?
>> Hekima Hapa:
I think that's it so far.
But I think that each project
is different.
And so for our sewing book,
it's easy for me to promote a
sewing book because I'm always
sewing.
We both have stores.
Lesley has several stores in
the city and I have two stores
in Brooklyn. And so I'm able to
promote. We have something called
Open Streets where there's like-- 
its a street festival. And I get out
every Sunday and I talk to
hundreds of people about-- and we
sell the book. And so I laugh.
I tell people that we're like,
Master P, I opened my trunk.
>> Lesley Ware: The trunk.
[laughter]
>> Hekima Hapa: And I sell
books. It's very guerilla
marketing, like we're sitting on
this stage, but we're very
hands on same way.
>> Desiree Woodard: So what did the kids
think when they when you all told them that
the book was ready to go and it
was out there, I mean, did they
know about it in advance or how
did you let them know?
>> Hekima Hapa: I don't think they 
understood the magnitude of what the book
was going to be. I think in
their minds, because we do all
these things, we do the fashion
shows and the camps, and they
thought on that scale, it's
going to be local.
We're going to print them
ourselves and you know, our
parents are going to buy them.
And so [laughter]
The young.
Lady is on the front of the
book.
Her grandmother has bought so
many copies of this book.
She's just like
sending them to people.
She's like my daughter-- my
granddaughter is a superstar,
you know. So I think it just
became so real when they were
able to see it on Good Morning
America.
This is going to be big for
them and it just keeps getting
bigger and bigger.
>> Desiree Woodard:
Yeah. Oh, my gosh.
Well. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes.
>> : I just love personal
 stories.
Do you have a favorite anecdote
from one of the girls or
children that you've worked
with that where you kind of got
that aha moment, like, I'm
doing this right?
Like this was worth it.
>> Hekima Hapa: I think for me, every 
camp when I'm trying to teach them how to
make shorts, it seems like such
a simple thing.
But you know, for the
seamstress, when you're making
shorts, it has something that
looks like a j on both sides.
And for the most part, it looks
like a shirt.
And so for every small child
that I say, sew the j's and sew
the backwards j and they go,
This isn't shorts. [laughter]
I say can you please just sew it.
Everything else [laughter]
they'll just sew, they'll trust me
but it's something about the
shorts that they just don't
trust.
And so most times I have to
stand with them and I said just
do it just sew one more.
Okay, you did that one, sew the
other.
And then they have that aha
moment when they're able to
switch it around.
And so for me that's, that's
the thing is like waiting to get
to that point in the camp,
like, okay, we're going to make
shorts today. Nobody's going to
believe me.
>> : Thank you.
>> Desiree Woodard: So I'm going to assume that
these books are in the store,
but the kids themselves have
any of them like looked in here
because I know the kids who are
actually already part of the
photo shoot. They knew about it--
Uh? Ring just going flying.
The rest of the kids, though,
are they just like, okay, y'all
need to write another book and
put me in it. [laughing]
>> Hekima Hapa: So like she said, it's
funny coming out of quarantine because
now I get to see all my parents
again.
And so students who we've had
for five years that are not in
the book have to see their
parents at the fashion show.
And they were like, I don't
understand how you came up with
the children that are in the
book
>> Desiree Woodard: Of course not.
>> Hekima Hapa: And I said, you know, some of
them-- it was quarantine and two
of them belong to me. [laughter]
It was easy access, you know.
And so I just needed to explain
to them that it wasn't personal.
And yes, we must write another.
book as we have more children.
>> Desiree Woodard: I'll tell you, I 
talked briefly about the fact that y'all have
so many other historical
figures in fashion.
And I think absolutely, please
do that one, because are the
ones that they have in here.
You're just sitting there like,
Oh, this is awesome.
But so unless we have any other
questions, I'm going to make
sure because we're getting down
to where-- are we done, done or?
>> : Four minutes.
>> Desiree Woodard: Oh, I got 4 minutes.
[laughter] All right.
>> Desiree Woodard: So now that we talked
about all that, is there anything else
that y'all want to make sure
that the people know about the
book, about you, about the
nonprofit, about your-- where your
stores are? Anything?
Because, you know, y'all got
stores y'all want to know--
You want people to know where
they are?
>> Lesley Ware: Well if anyone
is in New York City
I would say drop by Art to
Ware. It's kind of like the
books are like the next thing,
like, I'm like, okay, I've like,
written all of these, like,
different activity books.
And now I feel like the stores
are like bringing them to life.
And so you can kind of see some
of the things that I've written
about in real life at the
shops.
And so one of them is near
Times Square's 42nd and eighth
Avenue in the Port Authority
bus terminal.
And then the other store is in
the Oculus, which is at the
World Trade Center site in
lower Manhattan, and there's
tons of Black Girls Sew books
that have been signed
by Hekima and I.
So if you come, you can like-- or
you can get it today too.
But we have our books there.
And so it's just a-- almost like
a a wearable art gallery is the
kind of vibe of the store.
And so there's like a lot of
one-of-a-kind upcycle pieces.
Some of them are from my
students and just like different
people who I have like-- worked
with on this like journey.
And so it's just been fun to
like, yeah, take some of the
concepts and bring them to
life.
Some of the projects in the
book, like the earrings are,
like, sold. I'm not wearing
them right now, but we have like
an earring that's made out of
scraps.
So we're like selling them
there.
We have Black Girls Sew T-shirts
and buttons and other
merch. So check out Art to
Ware, W-A-R-E --like my last name
and then Hekima's store...
>> Hekima Hapa: I have a store in
 Brooklyn called Botanical Lifestyle and
it's exactly what it says.
It fuses all of our passions
and all of our loves together as
flowers about flowers, whether
it's florals in the fabrics or
we actually sell plants as
well.
I have a line called Harriet's
by Hekima, and it's sold and sewn
in the store. I have a big old
sewing machine in the front of
the store. People always get a
kick out of it.
They think it's like creative
art, but I'm just really
working. [laughter]
I'm fine. But it's on Tompkins
Avenue.
I thought it was really
particular that she wore this
black girl magic shirt because they
nicknamed the street Black Girl
Magic Street.
[laughter, applause]
Where the store is located.
Yeah. [laughter]
>> Desiree Woodard: Okay. So I'm going
to remind y'all, they're going to be
Hekima and Lesley will be
signing their books from 11 to
12 and Hall C line 20.
And I just want to thank you
all so much.
This has been great.
I enjoyed this book.
[Applause]
Y'all, please, please get this
book.
[Applause]
It's so good.
It's so good.
And, yeah, before she kicks us
off the stage, that's going to be it.
Thank you very much for
attending.
Thank all of you for attending.
>>Hekima Hapa: Absolutely. Thank You.
I really appreciate y'all
coming out.
[applause]
[instrumental music]