The Hidden Power of the Needle: A Unique Toronto Event Bringing Women Together Through History, Culture & Conversation
On March 24, 2026, The Sororum brought together a wonderful group of women at Toronto’s historic 401 Richmond Street West for The Hidden Power of the Needle—an evening of history, culture, food and meaningful conversation.
For women searching for women’s groups in Toronto, opportunities to meet new people, or simply more interesting and meaningful things to do in the city, this evening captured exactly what The Sororum was created to offer.
We believe making new connections as an adult should feel natural. Sometimes all it takes is the right setting, a fascinating subject and a room filled with women who are curious about the world around them.
And on this particular evening, we found all three.
Discovering the Women Who Helped Shape Toronto
Our evening began inside 401 Richmond Street West, one of Toronto’s most fascinating cultural spaces.
Located in Toronto’s historic Garment District, the beautifully restored heritage building has evolved into a vibrant home for artists, galleries and cultural organizations. Its history also made it a particularly fitting setting for an evening exploring women, clothing, work and economic independence.
Guests began the evening with a self-guided visit to the Museum of Toronto's The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto. We are deeply grateful to the Museum of Toronto for granting our group exclusive access outside regular hours to explore the exhibit.
The exhibition introduced us to the stories of 52 remarkable women who contributed to the Toronto we know today.
Moving through the exhibition gave everyone an opportunity to explore and reflect, and naturally sparked conversations between guests.
It was also a powerful reminder that the history of Toronto extends far beyond the names we commonly encounter in textbooks and street signs.
Women were building businesses, creating communities, challenging expectations, raising families, making art, advocating for change and shaping this city all along.
Their stories simply haven't always been given the attention they deserve.
Food, Conversation & New Connections
After exploring The 52, we gathered together over a beautiful spread catered by Aphrodite Cooks.
These moments are an important part of every Sororum gathering.
While our events are built around interesting experiences, speakers and places, they are also intentionally designed to give women the opportunity to actually talk to one another.
Over food, guests compared what they had discovered in the exhibition, introduced themselves to someone new and settled into conversations that continued throughout the evening.
For anyone who has ever searched for ways to meet other women in Toronto or wondered where to find a women's community that offers something beyond traditional networking, this is the kind of environment we hope to create.
The Hidden Power of the Needle
The highlight of our evening was a fascinating presentation by Dr. Alanna McKnight, a Toronto historian and fashion scholar whose expertise gave us an entirely new perspective on women's history.
Alanna invited us to look beyond fashion as simply clothing or decoration.
What women wore and, more importantly, what women made, can tell us an extraordinary amount about their lives.
Clothing can reveal stories about class, economics, social expectations, labour, identity and opportunity.
And then there was the needle.
For generations, sewing was considered part of the domestic sphere and frequently dismissed as simply "women's work."
But Alanna showed us another side of that history.
For many women, the ability to sew provided something incredibly important: a way to earn their own money.
At times when women's economic opportunities were severely limited, skills traditionally expected of women could also become tools for greater independence.
Dressmakers, seamstresses and garment workers could turn their knowledge into income, helping support themselves and their families.
Something as small and ordinary as a needle could therefore represent something much larger.
Agency. Opportunity. Independence.
It was an incredibly thought-provoking way to reconsider both women's work and the objects that remain behind to tell their stories.
When History Becomes a Conversation
One of the things we value most at The Sororum is curiosity.
Our speakers aren't simply there to deliver a lecture and leave.
We want our guests to have the opportunity to ask questions, exchange perspectives, and continue exploring an idea together.
And Alanna gave us plenty to talk about.
Her presentation led to a fascinating conversation about women's labour, financial independence, fashion, social expectations and the ways traditionally female forms of work have historically been overlooked or undervalued.
By the end of the evening, we had a new perspective.
A corset, for instance, often carries a reputation for being restrictive, yet it was not actually designed or perceived in that way.
Women's work has never been insignificant.
Behind these pieces and fabrics are generations of women using creativity and resourcefulness to navigate the world available to them.
A Different Kind of Women's Group in Toronto
The Hidden Power of the Needle represented exactly what we envisioned when we created The Sororum.
The Sororum is a Toronto women's social and cultural community for those who want to meet new people, experience more of the city and continue discovering interesting ideas.
Our events bring women together through thoughtfully curated experiences. From private tours and historic venues to fascinating guest speakers, theatre, art, food and conversations about subjects we might never otherwise have the opportunity to explore.
You don't need to arrive already knowing someone.
Come on your own. Bring a friend. Meet someone new.
What connects us is curiosity and a desire to learn and experience more. Toronto is filled with extraordinary museums, historic buildings, theatres, artists, academics, authors, performers and untold stories. Through The Sororum, we're creating opportunities for women to discover them together.
Looking for Women's Events and New Connections in Toronto?
If you've found yourself searching for women's groups in the Toronto area and ways to make new friends, or simply unique Toronto events for women, we'd love to welcome you to a future Sororum gathering.
You don't have to be an expert in history, art, theatre or any of the subjects we explore.
You simply have to be curious. Because sometimes the best connections begin with a shared experience, an unexpected story and a really good conversation.
Join The Sororum community and be the first to hear about our upcoming events, private experiences and gatherings for women.
Inspire. Empower. Belong.
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