Our mission is to produce first quality sewn products for donation to charities and under served communities in New Mexico; these products are made by volunteers during events that we host twice each year. We call these events Apparel Manufacturing Boot Camps, during which volunteers may experience everything from design through final inspection in a real factory environment. A Boot Camp is a one-of-a-kind, hands-on training opportunity in sewn product manufacturing. The only one of its kind in the world. Really. Twice a year, for 4 days, we converge at The Albuquerque Sewing Factory in Albuquerque New Mexico, USA to manufacture a product designed to benefit an under served segment of New Mexicos residents. Training is free but as products are donated, attendees cover the expenses of creating the products (fabrics etc). Apparel Manufacturing Boot camp is held twice a year; Spring and Fall. There is a planning event (Pre-production Boot Camp) held approximately 3 months before each manufacturing boot camp (if you sign up for Pre-production, you are automatically enrolled in the production segment that follows 3 months later). Spring Pre-production Boot Camp is held mid January to coincide with Martin Luther King weekend. Spring Apparel Manufacturing Boot Camp is held mid March. Fall Pre-production Boot Camp takes place over the July 4th holiday. Fall Apparel Manufacturing Boot Camp is held over Labor Day; the first week of September. Where: 410 Old Coors Dr. SW, Albuquerque, NM USA 87121 No experience? No problem. We train. 75% of attendees at our inaugural event had never used an industrial machine. Only 10% had any production experience. Training is provided free of charge by Kathleen Fasanella, principal of Apparel Technical Services. Kathleen has nearly 40 years of production manufacturing experience, having worked in factories throughout the United States before everything went off shore. Providing that experience today is our secondary mission.