A Heartfelt Surprise: Tailoring Team Gifts U.S. Co-Founder a Fabulous African Suit

In October 2024, Heather Cannon, U.S. Co-Founder & Executive Director, spent 15 days visiting Liberia's Uniting Distant Stars Campus. During her first week, she was given a new African Suit made by the tailoring department led by instructor Tukculon Fahnbulleh.

Heather Cannon is wearing her new African Suit made of a brown and beige print fabric. The top is a short sleeved pullover with pockets, and the pant have elastic at the waistband and ankles and two deep side pockets. It was made by the tailoring team. 

Tukculon (white shirt) started his sewing career in 2017 by learning at a tailoring shop. In 2019, he enrolled in our tailoring program to certify his experience and graduated in 2020. Two years later, he decided to join our team as the tailoring instructor.

Tukculon Fahnbulleh (white shirt) and four students to his left and behind him. 

Our students gain from his knowledge and expertise because he exemplifies precision and quality when teaching how to design and sew clothes and other items.

UDS Tailoring Students working together to sew the African Suit. 

The short video below shows Tukculon and his students sewing on treadle machines. The tailoring course is one of our oldest. It started in 2014 as a service learning project by making backpacks from recycled materials. Our students learn to make wearable or usable items from new fabric or used material.