Sew Your Suitcase with “Garichild” Martha McIntosh

Registration info: KINDRED SPIRITS: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN QUILTERS CONVERGENCE, June 15-17, 2023, Durham, NC 

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Martha McIntosh

Also known as GariChild, Martha McIntosh is a powerful creative. An engineer by trade, she also makes stunning works of apparel that are guaranteed to impress while also sending her self regard into the stratosphere. You can find Martha being fabulous on Instgram, Facebook, and her website. She also has work indexed at the ever-helpful Curvy Sewing Collective.

Lisa Woolfork

Lisa Woolfork is an associate professor of English specializing in African American literature and culture. Her teaching and research explore Black women writers, Black identity, trauma theory, and American slavery. She is the founder of Black Women Stitch, the sewing group where Black lives matter. She is also the host/producer of Stitch Please, a weekly audio podcast that centers on Black women, girls, and femmes in sewing. In the summer of 2017, she actively resisted the white supremacist marches in her community, Charlottesville, Virginia. The city became a symbol of lethal resurging white supremacist violence. She remains active in a variety of university and community initiatives, including the Community Engaged Scholars program. She believes in the power of creative liberation.

• Introduction to Martha McIntosh. 0:31
  • Welcome to the stitch please podcast.
  • Introducing Martha McIntosh, GariChild
  • Check out Martha in the sewing holiday tradition series.
  • How Martha got started in sewing.
• Bias, fat phobia and fat shaming. 4:46
  • Bias, fat phobia, fat shaming and stigma.
  • Culture is reinforcing toxic and harmful ideas.
  • Plus size clothing is more expensive than regular size clothing.
  • Small clothes don’t cost less to make.
• Swimsuits and kaftans. 8:29
  • Swimsuits and caftans feed her spirit.
  • Her first project was a wrap dress.
  • Pouring into the garment and the journey.
  • Time is not on her side.
• How to get ready for a trip. 13:15
  • How to get ready for a trip.
  • How to plan a trip to Cuba.
  • Carnival is one of her favorite times to do soul work.
  • Honor other cultures and cultures.
• The story of how she got the idea for the dress. 18:34
  • An all black look for visually impaired people.
  • The story of the piece.
  • Deciding what fabrics to bring on vacation.
• The importance of having the right fabrics. 22:07
  • The importance of being intentional when shopping.
  • Meaningful times when she sees another sister.
  • Showing up in her bathing suit.
• Martha’s goal is to be happy. 26:23
  • The goal is to be at a space and be happy.
  • Martha is a possibility model.
  • Nothing is ever complete until it’s put together.
• Packing cubes and suitcase. 30:50
  • Trusting yourself and trusting yourself to keep going.
  • Packing a packing cube in a suitcase.
  • Summer is coming. Time to treat yourself.
  • Where to find Martha on social media.