- (304) 254-8115
- (681) 207-7471
- info@nrgrda.org
Leveraging West Virginia’s knowledge of the outdoor industry, heritage, and craftsmanship to create cut and sew career opportunities.
PATTERN (Planning and Accelerating Textile Technology and Entrepreneurship Regional Network) is uniquely positioned to drive regional economic development in Southern West Virginia through investment in cut and sew training and product development. Our mission is to build a thriving cut and sew industry in Southern West Virginia by providing businesses and makers with the tools, expertise, and resources they need to create high-quality, sustainable outdoor gear, apparel, and sewn goods—made locally and built to last.
With the rise of sustainable and ethical manufacturing, consumers and businesses alike are seeking alternatives to overseas production. PATTERN meets this demand by offering hands-on learning in sewing, and equipment for product manufacturing efficiency, through our Textile Training and Manufacturing Center. Our Center ensures that established businesses have access to a skilled workforce and that rising entrepreneurs can develop prototypes and small-batch production runs without the need for outsourcing. PATTERN envisions Southern West Virginia as a national leader in ethical, domestic cut and sew careers—where innovation, craftsmanship, and community drive a thriving outdoor industry, fuel economic growth, and inspire pride in products that are made close to home.
The New River Gorge region is the intersection of work and play – where recreation meets manufacturing. From season to season, visitors from across the country gear up with locals for hiking, camping, white water rafting, and rock climbing. Nestled in the mountains of southern West Virginia, the area offers a diverse landscape for outdoor adventures, making it the ideal location for outdoor gear sewing training.
PATTERN’s facility in Beckley, WV is in the middle of the action. With its proximity to all the outdoors have to offer, trainees have the opportunity to learn to sew the same type of gear they put to real-time use in the Nation’s newest National Park.
PATTERN Workshops equip community members with important skills needed to sew at home. With different offerings throughout the year, each Workshop is centered around learning a new, basic sewing technique, and our experienced instructor will walk you through step-by-step. Participants must register in advance. Our workshops aim to provide transparency and clarity behind the craft of sewing and inspire further interest in textile manufacturing and industrial sewing.
Details for registration, class topics, and pricing are coming soon!
In collaboration with the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) in Detroit, Michigan, PATTERN is offering an accredited training program designed to equip workers with the skills necessary for careers in industrial sewing, led by one of our instructors with years of industry experience. Instructors Taylor Carnell and Emily Rouse have both worked on the production floor and trained team members, and know the value of a strong sewing foundation when entering the industry. The Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Production (FISP) curriculum, a 192-hour program modeled after their proven methodology, has been licensed from ISAIC.
Our class schedules are being designed with flexibility in mind, offering different times of the day, week, and year to accommodate busy schedules. Individuals looking to enter the sewing industry can gain new skills while maintaining other commitments. This adaptability makes our program ideal for companies looking to send employees for foundational training or upskilling, those seeking new skills to enter the sewing industry, and others with non-traditional schedules. Having this new skillset under your belt creates the opportunity to get into a new industry, make money on a flexible schedule, or jumpstart your own sewing business.
Throughout the course, students build a physical portfolio of their swatches from each lesson. At the end of the course, students have samples, as well as a finished product, that encompasses their proficiency of these skills to showcase to potential employers or refer to when developing their own products. Successful graduates receive a certificate of completion from ISAIC as a testament to the credibility of their education and commitment to the textile industry best practices.
Details for registration, training schedule, and pricing are coming soon! Please fill out our interest survey to help us shape these details and make the program accessible to as many people as possible.
Graduates of FISP are then eligible to enroll in FISP: Outdoors, which was developed with ISAIC, exclusively for PATTERN. This additional 40-hour course ensures that PATTERN’s trainees are uniquely prepared for specialized textile manufacturing of outdoor gear, making program graduates highly valuable in the industry.
This course is designed around the practice of outdoor-gear specific sewing and product construction. Throughout the course, our knowledgeable instructor helps students build upon the skills they learned in FISP and apply them to more advanced techniques and materials commonly found in the outdoor gear industry. The course culminates in a finished outdoor-gear product made by each student, ready to present to potential employers or refer to when developing their own products. Successful graduates receive a certificate of completion as a testament to the credibility of their education.
Details for registration, training schedule, and pricing are coming soon!
The Textile Prototyping Lab is PATTERN’s shared studio space equipped with industrial sewing machines, cutting space, and production tools. Studio time can be rented as little or often as needed, allowing entrepreneurs access to specialized resources to develop their sewn products, without having to maintain their own machinery or facility expense. This scalable approach provides businesses with a viable alternative to overseas production, while also fostering a growing manufacturing ecosystem in Southern West Virginia. PATTERN’s Textile Prototyping Lab supervisor trains entrepreneurs on how to safely use the equipment ahead of their first studio session and remains available during Textile Prototyping Lab hours to answer questions.
The Textile Prototyping Lab is designed to balance flexibility and structure, guiding each client through a streamlined, professional process. Early-stage entrepreneurs and outdoor gear brands are supported through WV Hive business advising support to develop their products from concept to production. WV Hive offers entrepreneurial support and access to key resources, strengthening start-up businesses, and the overall regional textile industry.
Equipment highlights include:
Interested entrepreneurs must be clients of the WV Hive, register for studio time in advance, and successfully complete our PATTERN Textile Prototyping Lab Training to ensure proper safety and use of the equipment. Contact your WV Hive business advisor to register. Hours and pricing are coming soon!
Growing a product-based business requires production equipment and storage space. Entrepreneurs ready to scale their textile-based business have the option to rent private studio space on a monthly basis. This is ideal for the entrepreneur who is spending a significant amount of time dedicated to creating their sewn-goods products and is looking for consistent and private access to equipment with designated storage space. Each private studio rental includes an industrial lockstitch machine and work bench, with some rentals also equipped with an industrial serger. Private studio rentals also include access to the Textile Prototyping Lab cutting room and tools.
Interested entrepreneurs must book a studio in advance and successfully complete our PATTERN Textile Prototyping Lab Training to ensure proper safety and use of the equipment. Participants do not have to be a WV Hive client, though priority will be given to WV Hive clients. Private studio rentals only have access to PATTERN’s Textile Prototyping Lab Supervisor during Textile Prototyping Lab hours. Availability and pricing are coming soon!
Jina Belcher is the Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority and a champion for workforce, entrepreneurship, and community development in southern West Virginia. Her connection to the sewing industry began early: at 16, she started her own sewing business and received the McKelvey Foundation Scholarship, which helped her attend Concord University, graduating in 2009. That experience sparked a lasting belief in the power of creativity, skilled trades, and entrepreneurship, a perspective she now brings to the growth of PATTERN and the region’s textile economy.
Libby O’Bryan, founder of Sew Co. and PATTERN Consultant brings decades of experience and a deep passion for preserving the skill of sewing in domestic manufacturing.
Libby was first introduced to PATTERN when NRGRDA’s Judy Moore and Jina Belcher visited her industrial sewing factory, Sew Co., in Western North Carolina to attend a Crafted Manufacturing course facilitated by The Industrial Commons. With a mission to keep sewing skills alive and support communities working to bring back local production, Libby sees PATTERN as a key to building a resilient regional manufacturing ecosystem.
“It’s an essential skill for our survival. And I can’t do it alone! Sharing our process and helping develop businesses like Sew Co. is part of that mission.”- Libby
Libby is excited to see new production facilities like PATTERN emerge with a strong focus on community and entrepreneurship. She believes rebuilding a locally rooted manufacturing network is the path toward economic strength and sustainability across regions like the New River Gorge and beyond.
Emily Rouse, owner of Edgington Studio, is our Textile Industry Consultant.
Emily first discovered her love for sewing in middle school, captivated by the ability to transform ideas into tangible products. Now, she’s bringing her expertise back to West Virginia, helping to create new opportunities for textile workers—something she wished had been available when she was growing up.
PATTERN isn’t just about training—it’s about creating a sustainable industry in the New River Gorge region and beyond. Emily is excited to see people build careers in textiles close to home and anticipates that outside companies will recognize the value of investing in this growing hub.
A proud West Virginia native, Taylor brings valuable experience from Melanzana, a leader in sustainable outdoor apparel. Now, she’s returning home to share her expertise and help build a robust textile industry in our region.
With Taylor at the helm, we’re excited to advance the PATTERN initiative and create new opportunities for workforce development and entrepreneurship in Southern West Virginia.
Jimi Combs of Tsuga is a valued partner in the early development of PATTERN and a continued contributor to its evolving vision. As a creative collaborator, Jimi has brought energy, insight, and deep alignment with PATTERN’s mission from the very beginning.
Tsuga was drawn to PATTERN’s focus on developing a hands-on educational program rooted in outdoor textile manufacturing and inspired by community-centered values. Working in collaboration with the broader PATTERN team—including ISAIC, NRGRDA, staff, and consulting partners—Tsuga has helped shape the foundation for this transformational initiative.
Jimi and the Tsuga team understand that building strong businesses requires strong communities. Their work with PATTERN reflects the belief that entrepreneurial growth and community development go hand-in-hand. They are excited to see PATTERN empower individuals with new skills while helping communities thrive through sustainable manufacturing and design rooted in place.
Registration links will be posted to this page as they open for Workshops, Sewing Training Programs, and Private Studio Rentals. WV Hive business advisors will communicate directly with clients to register for the Textile Prototyping Lab.
PATTERN is located at 129 Main Street, Beckley, WV 25801. All programming is in–person at our Center.
You need to be a WV Hive client to use the Textile Prototyping Lab. You do not need to be a WV Hive Client to do a Private Studio Rental, but priority will be given to WV Hive clients. You do not need to be a WV Hive Client to attend Workshops or enroll in the Sewing Training Programs. Anyone interested in becoming a client of the WV Hive can apply using the link below.
Thank you for your interest in PATTERN. Our team is ready to guide you through our textile training and cut and sew opportunities. Please complete our contact request form and someone will follow up with you shortly.
For more information regarding PATTERN, contact us at pattern@nrgrda.org. To learn more about WV Hive, check out their website at wvhive.com.
