Renee Pinell ~ Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Formal Member

Sewing for 55+ years. And still love it!

What professional title do you use?

Alteration Specialist

How long have you been sewing professionally?

10-15 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

How to expand my business.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Completing gowns for women and seeing their faces light up with joy with the results.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

Contract work out and/or expand my social networking to build a brand.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I offer shortcut zipper replacements.

Website genevaalterations.com

Jennifer Varner ~ Canby, Oregon

Formal Member

In 2020, Jennifer Varner launched That Sew Fits by Jen, out of her original business in 2007, That Sew Fits!. Sewing has been a passion for Jennifer since the age of 12. For Jennifer, creating garments is a blend of creative problem solving, technical skill, and sculpting with textiles! Refashioning garments and making ideas come to life through custom sewing services is on the top of her list as most rewarding but Jennifer enjoys using her skills as a tailor to alter and repair clothing. Sewing education, clothing preservation and restoration, and textile waste reduction are other important focuses of her business.

What professional title do you use?

Professional Tailor and Seamstress

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Bespoke tailoring

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Customer interaction

What goals do you have for your business in the next 5 years?

My goal is to open a community sewing space that meets more than just the sewing needs of customers. I want to have in house childcare, small cafe, and alterations along with the community sewing space. This business model is based on the home-welcoming, meeting needs, and learning together.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I have been in business now for almost one year. I am a part of a great community and am looking forward to expanding soon! I have new product ready to go online and am in the beginning stages of building curriculum and finding a place to start sewing classes.

Website thatsewfitsbyjen.com

Facebook facebook.com/thatsewfitsbyjen

Instagram instagram.com/thatsewfitsbyjen/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jennifer-varner

YouTube youtube.com/channel/

BBB https://www.bbb.org/us/or/canby/profile/tailor/that-sew-fits-by-jen-llc-1296-1000105391

Mimi Jackson ~ Hollis, New York

Formal Member

Mimi Jackson is a collaborative custom clothing designer and dressmaker who has owned her own custom clothing business since 1997. A native New Yorker, she studied fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology, and later supplemented that training with costume design experience while studying at Washington University in St. Louis. As the creator of findadressmaker.com, (a dressmaker and sewing teacher referral website) she helps potential clients find appropriate sewing professionals to execute their projects. Her experiences working for the Butterick/Vogue pattern company, textile companies, high end designers, and wardrobe and costume for movie and television productions, have all fueled her insatiable appetite for many aspects of the custom sewing profession. As a member of the board of MSDP/MAS certification program, she hopes to help facilitate, inspire, encourage, and encourage other sewing and design professionals to pursue the mastery of their craft.

What professional title do you use?

Collaborative custom designer

How long have you been sewing professionally?

20+ years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Bra-making.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Draping.

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

To have an assistant.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I am the NYC tour leader for the American Sewing Guild once the pandemic lifts.

Website mimijackson.com

Website findadressmaker.com

Website shopthegarmentdistrictnyc.com

Instagram @shop_the_garment_district

Facebook I Love My Dressmaker

Facebook Shop the Garment District

Anna Light ~ Lititz, Pennsylvania

Emerging Member

I'm Anna Light. I'm a patternmaker and draper for live theatre, television and film. I have a master's degree in costume production from Boston University. For the last 8 years I have been a draper for the New York City Ballet. I also work as an independent contractor for a variety of industries; making soft good props for Broadway shows, working as a tailor on photo and video shoots, tailoring and wardrobe maintenance for live musical performances as well as costuming for television and film productions. Recently, my family and I moved from NYC to Lititz, PA where I am working on establishing my tailoring business.

What professional title do you use?

Draper, tailor, patternmaker.

How long have you been sewing professionally?

10-15 years

What is something that you have always wanted to learn?

Small business marketing, pattern grading, technical design for fashion.

What is your favorite task to do in your business?

Patternmaking and construction

What goals do you have for your business (or yourself professionally) in the next 5 years?

I'd like to purchase a house that will allow for a dedicated professional studio and fitting space, develop a strong marketing & adverting plan and buy an industrial blind hemmer, coverstitch and serger.

What else should we know about you or your business?

I am transitioning from my career in NYC working for NYC Ballet and TV/Film to starting and operating my own small business in Lititz, PA. I am hoping to find a balance between my tailoring and costume business and raising my 5-year-old son. It's important to me to keep in touch with my professional contacts and to stay relevant in the costuming industry even though I am no longer working in a major metropolitan area.

Website annalight.com