A Historic Building Fostering New Creativity: KHY Sewing School Resident Profile

When Beckenham Place Mansion reopened to the public in 2017, one of the first resident businesses to join was KHY Sewing School – headed up by founder Jane Doxey – and they’ve remained an important part of the Mansion ever since.

Before joining the Mansion community, KHY were on the hunt for a more interesting home, “we were struggling to find a location that we could grow alongside and that had something a bit different.” Whilst visiting the park for a walk, Jane thought how special it would be to house a creative business at the Mansion. Just a week later, viewings opened for prospective businesses – Jane couldn’t believe her luck and jumped at the opportunity.

Jane and the talented KHY team brought with them a hands-on, personalised approach to learning, focusing on smaller class sizes. “We wanted to foster creativity and confidence in our students, encouraging them to express their individuality.” This way of learning mirrors Jane’s own sewing education, taking inspiration from her mum and grandmother at a young age. “We were always making things and travelled a lot so I had an incredibly rich tapestry of experiences to work from.”

From there, Jane pursued formal training in design followed by a great career with Liberty and Marks & Spencer, which fuelled a passion for sharing the knowledge she had accumulated. “My journey has led me to create a space where people can explore their creativity and find joy in making things with their hands.”

The Mansion plays an important role in creating this type of space. “This building has such a rich history that fosters creativity and offers a unique and inspiring environment that aligns perfectly with the artistic nature of the work we do.” On top of this Jane and KHY form a part of the creative community that centres around the Mansion, allowing them to reach a wider audience, connect with local residents, and collaborate with other artists and educators. “Being part of the Mansion has provided me with a supportive community of like-minded individuals and creatives, as well as a great management team that support our endeavours.”

For 2025, Jane plans to expand KHY’s offerings by introducing more advanced courses and workshops, working with a team who are always coming up with new ideas and pushing their practice to new levels – as well as external industry experts who will be hosting new workshops. Jane also wants to bring the benefits of unlocking creativity to a more casual audience with workshops, “for anyone wanting to drop in and use our machines and space for a more low key social sewing experience.”

KHY will also continue their strong commitment to incorporating sustainable practices, which “are only becoming increasingly relevant in today’s world”, through upcycling and communicating the importance and benefits of using eco-friendly materials.

“Ultimately, I want to create a thriving sewing community where everyone feels welcome to learn and create. The beautiful Mansion setting only enhances the learning experience for my students, making each class truly special.”

KHY offers a range of creative classes for all abilities, from beginners to improvers, for kids and adults. Check out their schedule of taster sessions, courses and one off workshops, across daytime and evening classes.

You can also follow them on Instagram here for all the latest news and updates.