Different genders, age groups, ethnic groups, different nationalities, etc, etc, all bring ideas, skills, open minds, and a gazillion other things to the collective table. When a store owner/manager is their own best customer, they don't go far. If their "guild" is merely a clicky little club for their handpicked/vetted few, then my suggestion is to find a different store/guild, or start your own. I would bet that someone on this site could make a suggestion that would be within 30 to 50 miles of wherever your hometown is. Come to think of it, the repair persons in the shop I go to happen to be men, and they can all sew, as well as, repair.