About Us

The Member-Owners, from top left: Tanya King (Studio Manager & Board Vice-President), Erin Crowley (Financial Officer & Board Secretary/Treasurer), Rhonda Hart (Shop Assistant & Board President), Kat Camfield (General Manager & Board Member at large), and Chris Bowen (Teacher). Not pictured: John Kay, Board Member. 

We are a worker co-op! What does this mean? It means that the people who work at the Makehouse Co-op own the business! We are governed by a democratically elected Board of Directors made up of four worker-owners and one external advisor.

All new employees are eligible to join the co-op and become owners after working the equivalent of one year of full-time hours. Each worker-owner has an equal share of the business and gets one vote in Board elections.

Our Vision
Our vision is to create financially and emotionally sustainable jobs for people in the sewing industry through teaching people to sew and selling fabric!

History of The Business
The Makehouse was established in 2012 by Jennifer Ambrose. On December 1, 2022, Jenny sold the business to Tanya, Kat and Rhonda (three then-employees) and two new folks, Chris and Erin.

More Information
Curious to learn more about Worker Co-ops? Check out information from the national worker co-op body, the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation.