Auntie Sewing Squad
In March 2020, performance artist/comedian Kristina Wong was getting ready to go on tour when Covid-19 shutdowns in the United States began and halted those plans. In response to the pandemic and the federal government’s failure to provide enough personal protective equipment to medical, frontline, and essential workers, Wong started sewing homemade masks. However, when requests turned from two or four masks to hundreds, she realized she would need a lot more help in order to meet these demands. Wong then started a Facebook group, looking for people who knew how to sew or were willing to learn. This group evolved into the Auntie Sewing Squad, officially founded on March 24, 2020, with Wong humorously adopting “Sweatshop Overlord” as her title. Since then, they have grown exponentially into a network of hundreds of “Aunties” of all ages and occupations across the country.
In many cultures, “auntie” is used as a sign of respect and affection for women, even without familial relations. While most members are Asian-American women, there are also “Uncles” and non-binary volunteers, and members from a variety of ethnicities and races. Since everyone involved in the Auntie Sewing Squad is a volunteer, they are also supported by “Care Aunties,” who provide them with food, community activities (such as Zoom yoga classes), and more.
Over 504 days, the Aunties have shipped more than 350,000 masks all across North America. On August 15, 2021, the Aunties retired from sewing masks. Now that masks are mass-produced and more available, they can rest, but they recognize that the pandemic is still not over. The organization has not disbanded and it has moved on to other projects, such as working toward systemic change.
The Aunties wrote a book about their experiences, The Auntie Sewing Squad Guide to Mask Making, Radical Care, and Racial Justice, and collaborated with the Kronos Quartet on the film Radical Care: The Auntie Sewing Squad.
Sources
More about Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord:
Audio Description of the Friendship Quilt
Listen to an audio description of the friendship quilt that the Auntie Sewing Squad made for writer/performer Kristina Wong, on display at The Armory throughout the run of Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord.
Anti-Asian Sentiment During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Kristina Wong emphasizes the affects of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic in her show. Learn more about the resurgence of AAPI hate and the affects it had on these communities.
Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord Plot Summary
Spoiler alert! A brief overview of Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord.
Timeline of Events Mentioned in Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord
This production highlights many recent worldwide events. Check out this timeline to understand the order of these events in detail.
Kristina Wong: An Artist Statement
The playwright and performer of Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord discusses finding the balance between humor and sincerity to tackle difficult subjects in her work on stage.
Reviews of Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord
"This social commentary — both fierce and darkly funny — was the theater experience I didn’t know I needed. I left feeling I could almost wrap my mind around what we’ve been through and inspired to meet the next news cycle with more compassion and ...
Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord Reading List
Calling all readers! Multnomah County Library put together a reading list inspired by our production of Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord.
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