POINT LOMA, SAN DIEGO — Experience the creative pulse of San Diego’s textile community at the 6th Annual Clothing & Textile Arts BIG MAKE, hosted by the San Diego
College of Continuing Education. The free, hands-on event takes place Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at West City Campus (3249 Fordham St., San Diego, CA 92110) and is open to the public ages 16 and up. Registration is now open.
Now in its sixth year, BIG MAKE highlights the college’s award-winning, tuition-free Clothing & Textile Arts (CLTX) program and its focus on sustainability and innovation. This year’s theme, “From Waste to Worth – Stitching Sustainable Stories,” invites attendees to reimagine textiles as a tool for storytelling and transformation. The event features hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, a student marketplace, interactive exhibitions, a keynote presentation, and access to the college’s advanced Fiber Technology Lab.
“We look forward to the BIG MAKE each year as a celebration of our students’ creativity and growth, many who start with basic sewing skills and go on to launch their own brands,” said Myesha Jackson, Dean of Clothing and Textiles. “It’s a welcoming space to experience our program and see how sustainability and zero-waste practices can lead to meaningful careers.”
Beyond the workshops and exhibitions, BIG MAKE reflects the college’s commitment to community-centered, hands-on learning that connects students with industry tools, sustainable practices, and creative collaboration. The event brings together students, faculty, community members, and local artists in a shared space for exploration and innovation.
“The BIG MAKE reflects our commitment to accessible, high-quality education that empowers creativity, innovation, and sustainable practices,” said Dr. Tina M. King, President of San Diego College of Continuing Education. “Events like this showcase how our students transform skills into opportunity right here in their own communities—building careers, strengthening local connections, and shaping a more sustainable future through the arts.”
Featured Experiences
Keynote Artist: Michelle Montjoy Oceanside-based artist Michelle Montjoy will share her work exploring sustainability and material storytelling, encouraging audiences to see waste not as an end—but as a beginning.
Hands-On Workshops
- Warp & Wonder: Weaving Lab — Create your own woven textile on a loom to take home
- Patchwork Revival: Stitch, Repair, Reimagine — Design an expressive patch using repurposed denim and textiles
Interactive Exhibits & Installations
- The Commons Loom: Weaving Our Shared Story — A large-scale community weaving installation
- Woven Voices: Community Showcase & Exhibits featuring the San Diego Creative Weavers Guild and local fiber artist Marty Ornish
- The Unwanted to the Unbelievable — An upcycling exhibit showcasing the creative reuse of materials
Marketplace
- The BIG MAKE Marketplace will feature student and alumni makers, highlighting businesses first envisioned in the CLTX program.
The College of Continuing Education offers free Clothing and Textiles classes and certificate programs each spring and fall for local residents ages 18 and older. Coursework spans industrial sewing and manufacturing, patternmaking for product development, and digital textile surface design. Students train in a state-of-the-art Fiber Technology Lab equipped to print, cure, and cut both synthetic and natural fabrics supporting low-waste production. Event attendees can tour the lab and see these technologies in action. The BIG MAKE attendance is free, RSVPs are encouraged, register here.
