ABOUT SUAY

SUAY SEW SHOP is creating a culture of community and reuse.
As our global community demands change from corporations, our dedication to design, coupled with a drive for activism, is putting reclaimed product at the center of a social, economic and environmental revolution. Cultivating upcycling as the priority will not only massively impact our planet, but our daily quality of life. 
 
Suay is a Los Angeles based 100% vertical sewing and production shop founded in 2017. Pioneering the clean up economy, Suay products are created from a combination of post-consumer waste, deadstock and domestically, organically grown fibers. Operating out of a 5,000 sq. ft sew shop and retail space in Northeast L.A., Suay is cultivating a new workforce of textile recyclers within the garment industry with a team of thirty employees dedicated to eradicating the massive amount of destructive waste from the fashion industry. In 2019, Suay diverted over 250,000 lbs of garments from landfills, as their positive environmental impact continues to grow year by year. Founded on the vanguard ethos of true progressive circularity, 'Know your grower, know your sew-er', Suay has continued to support garment workers' rights and policy reform for fair wages, highlighting the numerous systemic injustices within the fashion industry. In the spring of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Suay expanded its activist arm to include weekly food distribution to garment workers, solidified long term partnerships with national organizations to support indigenous communities and launched their nationwide textile donation recycling program, Suay SOS. Suay remains determined to create a culture of community and reuse. Their dedication to design, coupled with a drive for activism, is putting reclaimed products at the center of a social, economic and environmental revolution.
(left) Tina and Lindsay, (right) Mari and Silvia

Why the name SUAY? - from our Founder, Lindsay Rose Medoff
“If you know my journey towards recycling textiles and remaking garments, you know how much Tina is a part of that. Since the day we met it was a love match of total cosmic creativity and craftsmanship. Tina taught me how to sew, and I mean, really sew. I thought I knew, but she schooled me. Our joint passion for turning old clothes into new clothes grew between us over the years, and in many forms, until Suay Sew Shop was born. “Suay” means “beautiful” in Thai and was chosen by Tina, but also reflects how I feel about her as a human and mother. Tina and I have spent more than 16 years learning and growing together with her as my teacher and guide. Her fingerprint is on everything Suay Sew Shop creates. As a duo of mother and daughter, partners, and souls meant to find each other, we make amazing things and show the world what is possible with teamwork and drive. 
Tina will often say “suay” when we are looking at a remade garment we sewed together. It is her call out when we get it to where we want it to be. She taught me what a truly beautiful fit really is, how to control fabrics on the machine that would naturally fight one another, and how an idea can be something you create and touch only days later. We have laughed and cried and disagreed plenty, but underneath it all is a deep love and respect for each other and our work. I am sure you know who your guides are, the elders you model yourself after, the ones who inspire you to push yourself to make them proud, and those who inspire you to grow older with more knowledge and wisdom. Tina has been that for me. So if you ever wondered how we were named, just look at these photos of our mother, mentor, and most beloved collaborator. She knew what was cool before anyone did.”
 
We are open daily.

Sun - Tues | 10 am to 5 pm

Wed - Sat | 10 am to 6 pm


Come visit us @ 2915 Knox Ave #104, Los Angeles, CA 90039.