It was a very unusual scene, the building displayed an old and abandoned looked. We all were very surprised arriving at Harlem Textile Works, an organization located on 122 at 3rd Ave.

Inside we climbed a couple of flights to get to their spot, a fully operating floor. There were shirts and tables everywhere, a pile of art work hung over the door as we walked in. Although it was hot, the atmosphere was very exciting.

Harlem Textile Works was founded in 1984 by Kerris Wolsky, who suffered an untimely death in the spring of 1998. It was originally established as a program that was part of the Children's Art Carnival, a Harlem-based arts and crafts school, which is now administering many summer youth jobs to kids around the city.

Later, Harlem Textile Works broke off on their own and turned into a nonprofit organization. Each year, Harlem Textile Works help set up programs relating to arts and designs. Their mission is to provide education and employment programs as well as opportunities for students interested in those fields.

Harlem Textile Works is currently New York's only fabric design workshop, and their employees find it a great interest to continue passing on this passion for art. Kerris A. Wolsky, director and President of Harlem Textile Works thinks it's "a passion for exposing young people to the beauty and vitality of pattern design and hand printing techniques." She puts her knowledge on others by giving lectures and demonstrations at Harlem Institute of Fashion.

Harlem Textile Works welcomes the public to visit their facility. Their goal is that the public will notice them and take advantage of what they have to offer. They welcome interns and anyone else who is interested in learning the arts.

This organization prints designs on all fabrics. They provide shirts as well as designs for the community. Printing their arts on things like hand bags and other small and fashionable looks for ladies and men, besides their designs are as many of us will say " buttah."

186 East 122st between 3rd and Lexington Ave.

212-534-3377 or 690-2971

The Harlem Textile Works web site

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