Hagerty Classic Cars - Vanessa Mathurin Featurette

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In STITCHES In STITCHES PATHWAY TO PATHWAY TO CAREERS CAREERS

Vanessa landed an internship at a

With her two years in the restoration

RPM FOUNDATION bb yy her SS tt ee first ff an LL omb arar ddprogram completed, Vanessa is now in Philadelphia after year.

RPMshop FOUNDATION an omb working on her bachelor’s degree in There she worked with the in-house

applied management, though you’ll still upholsterer, and the process fascinated VANESSA MATHURIN'S FUTURE find her helping out in the lab every day. her. “When I came back to school, I With her two years in thewith restoration Vanessa landed an internship at a IS INSIDE YOUR CAR In particular, she’s working instrucstarted working on one of the sewing With her two years in the restoration Vanessa landed an internship at a program completed, Vanessa is now shop in Philadelphia after her first year. tors to help bolster the program and machines, just practicing doing pleats program completed, Vanessa is now shop in Philadelphia after her first year. working on her bachelor’s degree in There she worked with the in-house develop on a greater focus ondegree upholstery. and channels and edges and welts.”

VANESSA Mathurin didn’t inherit her working her bachelor’s in There she worked with the in-house applied management, though you’ll still upholsterer, and the process fascinated RPM FOUNDATION b y S t e f an L ombar d As a young woman, 20-year-old She continued in the program and interest in cars. “My parents weren’t applied management, though you’llVanstill upholsterer, and the process fascinated find her helping out in the lab every day. her.

“When I came back to school, I VANESSA MATHURIN'S FUTURE essaher is ahelping rare sight male-dominated found a second internship, this time into cars. NoMATHURIN'S one I knew wasFUTURE into VANESSA find outininathe lab every day. her.

“When I came back to school, I at IS INSIDE YOUR CARschool.” Then In particular, working instrucstarted working on one of the Bonney sewing field, but sheshe’s reckons thatwith her passion upholstery specialist LeBaron cars, until I got to high IS INSIDE YOUR CAR In particular, she’s working with instrucstarted working on one of the sewing tors to help bolster the program and machines, just practicing doing pleats With her two years in the restoration Vanessa landed an internship at a for upholstery and her current focus in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

To help she started attending car shows and tors to help bolster the program and machines, just practicing doing pleats develop a greater focus on upholstery. and channels and edges and welts.”

VANESSA Mathurin didn’t inherit her program completed, Vanessa is now will shop in Philadelphia after her on business sets her apart withchannels living expenses, she and applied forfirst year.develop learning about classics, butinherit it wasn’t a on greater focus on and upholstery. and and edges welts.”

VANESSA Mathurin didn’t her working herwoman, bachelor’s 20-year-old degree in There in shethe worked with theand in-house As a young VanShe continued program interest in cars.

“My parents weren’t benefit her long term — especially in a andShe received a $2,500 grant from the until sheintoured Pennsylvania College As a young woman, 20-year-old continued in the program and interest cars. “My parents weren’t applied management, though you’ll still Vanupholsterer, and the process fascinated essa is a rare sight in a male-dominated found a second internship, this time at into cars.

No one I knew was into field with so few specialists.

“Because RPM Foundation.

This allowed her to of Technology in Williamsport that she VANESSA MATHURIN'S FUTURE find her helping out in the lab every day. her.

“When I came back to school, I essa is a rare sight in a male-dominated found a second internship, this time at into cars. No one I knew was into but she reckons that her passion LeBaron Bonney cars, until I goton to high school.”

Then CAR upholstery IS INSIDE YOUR In particular, she’s with instrucstarted on one of the sewing field, upholstery work isworking such a specific skill,” concentratespecialist on theworking experience, which set her sights career.

“I walked field, but she reckons that her passion upholstery specialist LeBaron Bonney cars, until I got toahigh school.”

Then tors to help bolster the program and machines, just practicing doing pleats for upholstery and her current focus in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

To help she started attending car shows and she says, “I might eventually end up included working with an advanced through the Automotive Restoration andfocus heron current focus Amesbury, Massachusetts.

To help she started attending car showsMathurin and didn’tininherit develop a greater upholstery. and channels and edges and welts.” for upholstery VANESSA her business sets her apart willthe with living expenses, shewith applied for learning about but it wasn’t running own shop, andand I think cutting machine paired to and on lab and had noclassics, idea something like“My parents As amy young woman, 20-year-old VanShe continued inCAD the program interest cars. weren’t on business sets her apart and will with living expenses, she applied for learning about classics, but itinwasn’t her long term — especially in a and received a $2,500 grant from until she toured College essa is adegree rare sight in a help.” male-dominated found a second internship, this time atbenefit into cars.program, No one I knew was into business will create complex patterns.

She wasthe also that was offeredPennsylvania as a degree benefit her long term — especially in a and received a $2,500 grant from the until she toured Pennsylvania College field, butso she reckons that her passion specialist LeBaron until that I got to high school.”

Then with few specialists.

“Because RPM Foundation. allowed her toBonney field of in to Williamsport she Before that, however, she’ll be exposed to aupholstery fullerThis range of materials, butTechnology I knew I had go cars, there.” so few specialists.

“Because This allowed her toTo help field of Technology in Williamsport that she car RPM forwith upholstery and her current focus in Amesbury, Massachusetts. she started attending shows Foundation. and upholstery work is such a specific skill,” concentrate on the experience, which setShe her got sights on a career.

“I walked looking for a position at a specialized including leather, imitation leather and her first taste of upholstery work specific skill,” concentrate on experience, set her sights on a career.

“I walked on business sets is hersuch apart a and will withthe living expenses, shewhich applied for upholstery learning about classics, but it wasn’t says, “I might end included working with an advanced through thework Automotive Restoration upholstery oreventually at—aespecially restorer benefit hershop long term inwith aup and received a $2,500 grant from the she various felts.

Her biggest takeaway until she toured Pennsylvania College and fabric when the 1970 she says, “I might eventually end up an included working with an advanced through the Automotive Restoration running my own shop, and I think the cutting machine paired with CAD to lab and had no idea something like field with so few specialists.

“Because RPM Foundation.

This allowed her to of Technology in Williamsport that she established upholster under whom she from the two months spent at LeBaron Chevelle being restored by her classmy own shop, and I think the cutting machine pairedon with CAD to which running lab and had no idea something like upholstery work iswill suchhelp.” a specific skill,” concentrate the experience, set her sights on a career.create “I walked business degree complex patterns.

She was also that was offered as a degree program, can apprentice.

Either way, it’s a far cry Bonney?

“You can never know enough. mates required new seat covers.

After business degree help.” create complex patterns.

She also that was offered as a degree she says, “I mightwill eventually end up included working withwas an advanced through program, the Automotive Restoration Before that, however, she’ll be exposed to a cutting fuller range of materials, but I had to go the medical field, where There’s something to learn, that,II knew she practiced withthere.” by stitchrunning my ownhowever, shop, andwhich Ishe’ll think is the machine paired with alCAD to from labvinyl and had no idea something likealways Before that, be exposed to a fuller range of materials, but knew I had to go there.” looking for a position at a specialized including leather, imitation leather and She got her first taste of upholstery degree will help.”end up. createor complex patterns.

She was also her business that was offered as a degree program, family hoped she’d ways a tip or trick new skill to learn.” ingShe seats for friends’ projects. looking for a position at a specialized including leather, imitation leather and got her first taste of upholstery Beforeshop that, however, be with an exposed to a fuller range of materials, upholstery but I1970 knew I had to go there.” or at ashe’ll restorer various felts. Her biggest takeaway and fabric work when the or atataa restorer various felts.

Her biggest takeaway and fabric work when theShe 1970 looking forshop a position specializedwith an including leather, imitation leather andupholstery got her first taste of upholstery established upholster under whom she from the two months spent at LeBaron Chevelle being restored by her classknows every upholstery upholster shop orVanessa at a restorer with an she felts.

Her biggest takeaway andby fabric when thefrom 1970 the two various established under whom months spent at LeBaron Chevelle being restored herwork classcan apprentice.

Either way, it’s a far cry Bonney?

“You can never know enough. mates required new seat covers.

After stitch in the seats upholster under whom two months at LeBaroncanestablished Chevelle being restored by her class-“Youfrom apprentice.

Either way, it’s ashe farofcry Bonney? canthenever knowspent enough. mates required new seat covers.

After her 1970 apprentice. way, it’sChevrolet a far “You can know new seat There’s covers. After medicalEither field, which iscry where alwaysBonney? something tonever learn, al-enough.fromcanthe that, she practiced withmates vinylrequired by stitchfrom thethemedical field, which is where There’s alwaysThere’s something to learn,toalthat, she practiced withthat, vinyl by stitchmedical field, which is where learn, al- her from she practiced with vinyl by a stitchChevelle class family hoped she’d end up.project. ways tip or trick oralways new something skill to learn.” ing seats for friends’ projects. family she’d end ways a tip or trick skill to learn.” ing seats for friends’ projects. familyhoped hoped she’d end up. up. ways aor tipnew or trick or new skill to learn.”her her ing seats for friends’ projects.

PATHWAY TO CAREERS

In STITCHES

Vanessa knows every Vanessa knows Vanessa knows everyevery Vanessa knows every stitch in in the seatsseats of stitch in the the seats of stitch of stitch inChevrolet the seats of her her1970 1970 Chevrolet her 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle classChevrolet project. her 1970

PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO

PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO PHOTO: STEVE LEGATO

Chevelle class class project. project.

Chevelle Chevelle class project.

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The RPM Foundation accelerates the The RPM Foundagrowth of the next tion accelerates the generation of autogrowth of the next motive restoration generation of automotive restoration and RPM preservation The FoundaThe RPM Foundaand preservation craftsmen through tion accelerates the craftsmen through tion accelerates the scholarships, formal growth of the next scholarships, formal growth ofmentorthementornext training training andand generation of autogeneration of autoship. more at ship.Learn Learn more at motive restoration rpm.foundation. motive restoration rpm.foundation. and preservation and preservation craftsmen through craftsmen through scholarships, formal scholarships, formal training and mentortraining and mentorship. Learn more at ship. Learn more at rpm.foundation. rpm.foundation.