Meet & Make

Formerly known as Meet & Mend, Meet & Make is our monthly hand-sewing class. Jump into a guided hand-sewing project, learn new skills, and be in community. Now with a new instructor, Mark Menzie, who brings hands-on guidance, real industry experience, and a welcoming approach to learning how to sew and mend with confidence. ABOUT MARK MENZIE Mark E. Menzie is a Newark-based fashion designer, stylist, and educator with over a decade of experience in the fashion industry. He is the founder and creative director of Menzie by Design, a youth-focused fashion and lifestyle brand centered on creativity, craftsmanship, and self-expression. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Mark has studied fashion design, trend forecasting in France and Italy, and fashion business and entrepreneurship. His professional background spans luxury retail, styling, product development, and community-based arts education. As an instructor, Mark is passionate about making fashion accessible and culturally relevant for young people. His classes blend traditional sewing skills with hands-on crafts, storytelling, and design history—often drawing inspiration from childhood techniques like paper dolls, patchwork, and upcycling. Through his teaching, he empowers students to build confidence, creativity, and practical skills while seeing themselves reflected in the world of fashion and design. ABOUT MADE@NPL Made@NPL is a community resource located at Newark Public Library's Main Branch that provides all Newarkers access to in-demand equipment, technology, and software, to use at no cost. Made@NPL supports creative entrepreneurs with business reference services and programming related to creativity, entrepreneurship, and making things. Made@NPL was funded by a generous grant from the PNC Foundation.