Sew Loka’s Handmade Artisan Collective

San Diego, United States

5

17 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 818-493-8368
Address:
1821 5th Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101
b/t Fir St & Elm St
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 mi5th Avenue
0.5 miCivic Center
0.6 miCounty Center/Little Italy
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (San Diego) 12:36 PM Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Thursday 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Friday 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Sew Loka is Handmade Heaven!

We offer:

1. Handmade Handbags & Accessories — all created by local SD Artisans!

2. Basic & Creative Alterations

3. Custom Orders

4. Private Sewing Lessons

5. We also offer wholesale.

Claudia, the owner of Sew Loka, is a professional designer & tailor with over 20 years of sewing experience. Her original, one of a kind handbags have been recently picked up by the San DIego & LAX Airports to be exclusively sold in their various gift shops

Claudia is always working on custom orders — turning shirts into miniskirts, creating custom drapes, designing custom handbags, and pretty much everything else you can imagine.

We also offer Private Sewing Lessons — No prior experience or machine necessary — Claudia is a very patient & hands on instructor that will teach you everything you need to know about sewing.

We are local & sweatshop free — hope to see you soon :)

Meet the Business Owner

Claudia R.

Business Owner

My parents are from Guadalajara, and I was born and raised in San Fernando, CA.

I moved to San Diego in 2009 and I never want to leave, I truly love this beautiful city.

I make stuff with my hands ;)

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17 reviews of Sew Loka’s Handmade Artisan Collective

No registration required
Place rating: 5
La Mesa, CA
Claudia is absolutely amazing! She can do anything. She never seems to amaze me. She sees your vision and makes it a million times better! Thank you for your amazing work. Highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I love Claudia. She is making an awesome Aragorn costume for my son.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Claudia is amazing. I love how she customed fit a thermal hoodie shirt along with 2 other shorts/​pants that I favorite ly wear a lot. I like that she is very friendly and always receives everyone with a smile and a positive attitude. She also makes being in the laundermat fun!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Ahhhhmazing. Such a gem. Claudia works wonders. I have taken old shirts that were my grandpa’s and she made them fit me like a glove! She gets it and knows what will look best on a person’s body. 10 stars
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I found Claudia with sew loco thru Craigslist San Diego. I made a cloth cleaning product and she was able to help me bring it to life and is now going to production. She was super helpful and was able to give great advice with her knowledge and experience. I will alway be great full for her help and now consider her a friend and would recommend her to anyone!
Thanks again!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Claudia always has great stuff. She’s one very talented lady. You should talk to her about repurposing old favorites from you closet! She’s really good at transforming pieces into modern looks!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Love this place! Everything is handmade, they even offers sewing classes. The owner, Claudia is extremely experienced and incredibly friendly. Will definitely be coming back here.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
If I need to get anything altered or tailored I go to this spot. Best work, best quality, and most importantly Best customer service! The owner, Claudia, knows how to get it done right! She’s extremely experienced, her work is extraordinary, and very personable. I needed 2 suits and 2 jeans done the same day… And Yup! She got it done!
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
Brought two of my favorite pairs of pants in to be fixed, and Claudia cut me a deal and did the job in under an hour! I’m gonna bring all my clothes here for repairs! They also have really cute handmade gifts and accessories. Great place!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
A great place! Everything is hand made with a lot of attention to small details.
I you own textiles that you want to re use this is the perfect place or it. The owner will make great suggestions and help you with your treasures.
Place rating: 5
La Mesa, CA
I love this place!!! Claudia has saved my favorite pair of pants from express that got a rip in them twice!!! You can’t even tell where she stitched to fix them it’s like they’re brand new! The shop is also full of awesome handmade odds and ends like jewelry, little skull statues, and paintings. Overall its a really cool place and I would recommend it to anyone!!!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
My girlfriend told me about this amazing store that actually has personalized and unique items in downtown san diego. I thought that was pretty remarkable. I ended up going with her one day and when i stepped into the shop, I was definitely impressed. To begin with, the shop was colorful and inviting. As for the items being displayed, they were all pleasantly handmade. You just don’t get the opportunity to enjoy the craft of making unused items into spectacular pieces of art. Thank you Claudia!!!
Place rating: 5
Memorial, San Diego, CA
wow i just so happened to stop by and i was in for a big treat. this shop is uplifting, great energy, and everything is handmade!!!
the owner claudia is just as amazing as her store. very welcoming. a one stop shop for all your needs. this spot is a must see ;)
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
I found Sew Loka earlier this year (randomly walked by), chatted with Claudia about how she recycles old items, and shortly thereafter brought in a leather jacket that never quite fit, an old pair of jeans, and a few other odds and ends. She made me a diaper bag (I’m a new father) out of the sport coat, using the jeans as the liner on the inside. There’s an iPad pocket and multiple pockets for diapers etc. She used the jean’s back pockets for the bag’s interior pockets. Also, on the outside of the bag is one of the sport coat’s pockets, which is a convenient place to keep my phone etc and is a very nice touch that she came up with. The bag is classy enough (it was a decent black leather jacket, after all) that I can take out the kid’s stuff, replace it with my laptop etc. and take it to meetings. Now I regularly use it in lieu of a briefcase. There was quite a bit of material left over, so she made me another bag (slightly smaller) as well as a wallet (and made to fit my passport). I’m glad the jacket in particular went to multiple good uses as I bought the jacket years ago, and though it never quite fit, never wanted to get rid of it. Now I use it every day. The bags are unique, expertly made, durable, and sure looks better than the average diaper bag. And it has a good story behind it. Claudia rocks, she’s an artist and a superb individual. Check out out.
Place rating: 5
Studio City, CA
Creative Jem of San Diego! A must stop shop!
The boutique has a collection of Artisan upcycle inspired clothes, jewelry, handbags, Art paintings, unique Art pieces all made by local artist.
Sew Loka includes alteration services. Get your clothes a one of a kind unique finish here! Owner Claudia is a local artist who’s passion is sewing, restoring, & creating clothing & handbags that are one of a kind unique works. I love her unique handmade handbag collection. They are a perfect size and über unique, fits so much stuff and are all one of a kind! Her bag collection also include coin size and make up bags. I found unique iPad and MacBook sleeve in Frida kahlo print too! Beautiful unique designs and inspirations!
Sew Loka is a landmark for creative, one of a kind UpCycle collection to the arts and the SD community. Go visit this Jem hub! :D
PS. The owners are super cool Artist!
Place rating: 5
Sylmar, Los Angeles, CA
I Love Sew Loka. They have one of a kind merchandise for very affordable prices. They have everything from purses to jewelry, baby clothes and much much more. Very creative and unique stuff. Claudia the owner is great. She has the magic touch with a sewing machine. She can turn an ordinary boring top into a fashion statement that you will love. If your looking for handmade fashion that no one else has, then come check out Sew Loka. You will not be disappointed :).
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Who knew I had this hidden gem just a block from my house?!? I had walked by the colorful window a few times before checking out all of the amazing handmade items inside. Claudia, the owner and master seamstress here is amazing. Her shop is filled with cool, creative, and colorful bags, coin purses, T’s and lots of other cool items that would be both an awesome addition to your collection or a hip gift for someone else. If for some reason you can’t find the perfect bag made out of one of the rad combinations of fabrics ranging from bright colors, to Princess Leah she will custom make a unique bag just for you!
After checking out all of her cool designs, I found myself in a bind and without a dress to wear to a fundraising event. Knowing she was a whiz with the sewing machine, I asked if she might be able to work her magic on a boring dress I had found in the back of my closet. With only 4 days to spare she was amazingly accommodating and turned a blah dress into a fun and unique dress I was proud to wear.
I encourage you to pop into this little shop in Park West, support your local artisans, and buy yourself a cool bag while you are at it!