INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to my website and blog. My name is Vicky Quadri also known as Mrs. Unique and this is my first blog post which I’m sorta scared and excited about. Today I launch the start of my blogging adventure as I will be talking all things fashion, fabrics, creative projects, starting my own business, being a mum, and anything else I would like to write about or discuss. First things first I would like to thank you all for even pressing the link to read my blog post and visiting my website so be sure to subscribe to be kept up to date with all things Unique ID. I also can’t let this opportunity pass without addressing the recent protest that we have all been discussing recently as it's all over the news and on social media and I’m not talking about COVID-19. The #BLACKLIVESMATTER movement has been a topic very dear to my heart. Not only because I’m a black woman but because I have family, friends and acquaintances that I don’t want any unjust action being brought onto them so I stand tall, powerful and confident whilst I repeat #BLACKLIVESMATTER. We all have a part to play if we want change for the better so let's make this happen. I will continue to champion this movement until my last dying breath.

Rant over…So, onto a more positive note…

I’ll be writing about my mission and my values on forthcoming blog posts but today I wanted to share my project I’ve been doing with my sewing member and volunteers so read on…

As the title says, I’ve been making masks for the NHS staff members at Kings College Hospital in South East London. This project was commissioned by Lambeth Council. Counsellor Pauline is the Counsellor there. She was a nurse in her previous role and knew the issues the staff faced with the shortage of face mask and supported us all the way. 

It’s been a very busy last few weeks in the Quadri household, I felt like I was back doing my dresses and sewing till stupid o clock hours most nights and mornings. It was all worth it though, knowing that my team of ladies has helped in this pandemic which has softened my own heart. P.s that’s my one good deed for the year done…I pat myself on the back lol!

We wanted to give the staff members a variety of different design patterns and options for them to pick so we have presented them with 2 styles, 10 different fabric options, which resulted in 20, different designs. JOB DONE! 

WHERE DID THE IDEA COME FROM?

I did a few masks for a friend who recently sent round a broadcast message asking if we can make masks for local care working in South London. I jumped up at the project because it was for a great cause especially seeing the figures on the news with the high rise of COVID cases and the sad fact that the staff looking after suspected candidates were not being properly protected. After this first batch of masks, I spoke to the Chair lady Rosemary Egbe of my local area and she too had a great idea to get my sewing group involved in creating more masks. It was a ‘great minds think a like' situation. Rosemary mentioned to me that she had previously spoken to Counsellor Pauline about doing a project for the NHS team at Kings College as a thank-you gesture for the hard work they have been doing during this pandemic so it just made sense to put our vision into reality. We got to work straight away.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MAKING THEM AND FOR HOW LONG? 

In total there have been 9 members sewing the masks. Most of the ladies were from my sewing class which I hosted every Friday in my local community centre. It’s since been put on hold due to social distancing. One helper is a friend of mine who I told her I was doing the project and she leaped up to help. Don’t you just love when that happens….

We have been doing this project for about 6 weeks which started at the beginning of May this year. In the first 2 weeks, we were waiting on the fabric and trims to be delivered and then I had to prepare the fabric and cut all of the mask templates out and distribute them to the sewing members ready to sew.

HOW DID THEY DO IT WITHIN SOCIAL DISTANCING- GETTING THE PATTERNS, GETTING THE FABRIC, GETTING THEM COLLECTED?

We presented the NHS staff with two different styles, the curved option and the straight pleated option which I created patterns for them both. We have a what’s app group that I shared an online tutorial link through there for the members to see the process of making both masks. I also conducted a one-to-one session in the community centre for people that wanted to visually see the step by step process of the mask making. We maintained social distancing by wearing our masks and sitting 2 meters apart from one another whilst I taught. 

I also created a shopping list and fabric consumption sheet to figure out the total amount of fabric that was needed to make the masks. Items were orders, patterns were cut and I also pre-sewn ready-made masks for each member to have hard copies of as a point of reference for making. The mask patterns were distributed by arranging to drop off at each sewing member's door or meeting at the community centre for collection. Once masks were completed I or Rosemary collected them from the member's houses. 

IS THERE ANYONE WHO'S DONE AN AMAZING AMOUNT, OR ANYONE WHO'S NEVER SEWED BEFORE AND GOT INVOLVED, ETC?

Everyone has done an amazing amount of work as everyone fitted in hours of sewing around the quarantine lifestyle. Some members are home-schooling children, looking after vulnerable members in their household, or have other personal commitments but everyone worked hard to achieve the 650 masks we have to date. 

Most members are complete beginners so sewing was not easy to them but after a few practice trial wears, I believe everyone picked up their confidence regardless of their ability. 

Omeh Egbe showed amazing dedication throughout the project duration. She is an autistic member of the community and showed exceptional talent and hard work through all challenges. 

HOW MANY HAVE THEY MADE SO FAR?

We have made 650 masks so far. 500 were given to the NHS staff, 100 given to volunteers and healthcare assistance and the 50 will be given to the residents of our estate with a plan to make more and top this number up.

HOW ARE THEY GETTING THEM OUT TO PEOPLE?

The first 500 masks were made for Kings College Hospital for the NHS staff members. Councillor Jim and Pauline arranged a scheduled time to meet with me and Rosemary for hand over. Every mask was neatly folded and packaged individually in single cases and presented in a gift bag to gift them. The Councillors delivered them to the hospital where they were distributed out to the staff members. They were extremely chuffed with the gift from us and me and my ladies were happy to hear that.

HAS IT HELPED BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER?

Lilford Area Residents Association’s (L.A.R.A) main goal has always been about the community and about bringing members together and allowing them to showcase their talent through entrepreneurial achievements. Through this project, we have combined members of each activity group as one unity be it the summer playgroup members, the knitting group and of course the sewing group.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE SEWING GROUP AND YOUR BRAND?

Sadly we have had to stop our weekly sewing classes due to social distancing but as soon as we are given the red light to meet again we will keep you informed as everyone is more than welcome to attend.

This as a project has taught me a lot in terms of managing my time well with a 24-month-old. I had to make myself accessible at all times from phone calls, video tutorials and any troubleshooting issues that the ladies came across. We had to work fast to get the project completed to the deadline date. Managing a team of 9 ladies was an experience I will use for my Unique Id launch so stay tuned to see how I do it.

O and BTW we were featured in this week's South London Press newspaper…here's the link to read the full article. Who knew… starting my sewing class back in July 2019 was just a pastime venture whilst I was on my maternity leave and now my first project has been featured in my local newspaper article. What a blessing! 

'Mumma, I made it lol!'

I look forward to writing my next blog to hopefully inspire you and to keep you going in your achievements and goals.

Stay connected and hit me up on any of my socials, peace and speak soon.

From Mrs. Unique