Inside a landmarked home at the corner of Ocean and Newkirk Avenues, a longtime vision is becoming reality. This month, The Altered Thread, a sewing school and alterations studio founded by Flatbush resident and designer Shanti Valme, will officially open, offering hands-on classes for adults and children while creating flexible job opportunities for women in the community, according to Brooklyn Paper.
Valme, a seamstress and tailor with more than 15 years of experience, originally set out to open her own alterations shop. Over time, that idea expanded as she advanced in her career and became a mother, noticing how many skilled women were staying home to raise children while putting their ambitions on hold due to a lack of opportunity and flexibility, the paper reported.
Encouragement from neighbors helped turn the concept into action. A conversation with a local widow sparked the idea of a shared sewing space that could serve the wider Flatbush community. The Altered Thread evolved into a studio where women can learn practical, income-generating skills on schedules that work for them.
Valme, a Bengali immigrant, hopes the school will empower women by providing both creative expression and pathways to income. The studio emphasizes confidence-building, skill development and community connection.
The Altered Thread is located at 1010 Ocean Ave., occupying the finished basement of Valme’s family home. The historic property also houses other family-run businesses, including a medical practice operated by Valme’s father-in-law and is already familiar to many in the neighborhood, the paper reported.
