At the Make Learn Grow workshop held in April 2023, attendees learned about how to balance work and life and how being good to yourself is good for business. The workshop was led by yoga teacher and leatherworker, Jamie Chard Kowarick of Fado Made.
Resources from this workshop can be found HERE.
Jamie Chard Kowarick is a leather worker and yoga teacher who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. Born and raised in Connecticut, Jamie developed a passion for movement, fashion, and design at a young age; and took comfort in expressing herself through dance and the unspoken power of fashion. While at her alma mater, Jamie started working with leather in FIT’s Footwear and Accessories Design program, where she studied the art of making handbags, shoes, belts, and more. Jamie became fascinated by the unique texture and versatility of leather, plus the freedom she felt while designing, which lead her to pursue a career in leatherworking on her own after graduating from FIT.
The stress of being an entrepreneur is a stressful and overwhelming undertaking. This factor drew Jamie to yoga to help cope and support her mental health. Once she started, she was hooked and was inspired to go after a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification. With about 5,000 hours of experience as of 2023, Jamie has taught yoga in Knoxville and the surrounding areas since she moved to Tennessee in 2016, specializing in honoring one’s body and finding self-acceptance.
Over the years, Jamie has continued to hone her leather craft and developed a keen eye for detail, bringing her love of yoga and mindfulness into her work within her business, Fado Made.
Through Fado Made, Jamie offers custom leather pieces ranging from practical everyday accessories, like bags and wallets, to more elaborate pieces, such as handcrafted sandals. Her work is known for its attention to detail, quality materials, and meticulous hand-stitching. Jamie finds herself inspired by the beauty, complexity, and organic nature of leather; she strives to create products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Jamie loves to experiment with different techniques while including elements of meditation and yoga philosophy in her designs as well as her making process. Jamie incorporates her passion for yoga into her daily life as a small business owner as much as possible through various techniques, whether through her craft or mindfulness. She believes that the practice of yoga can help us cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and connection to the world around us and keep us grounded during times of struggle. Jamie seeks to share this message with those who attend her classes and wants to use what she has learned to hopefully help others who have experienced similar struggles that she has.
Make Learn Grow is a series of in-person workshops designed to provide makers with business education to grow their small businesses. We tackle informational topics related to makers, navigating the next stage of growth, or learning new skills through expert-led workshops.