Beauty in Every Body
I come from a long line of seamstresses and tailors. When I needed a dress or a costume as a kid, my parents would send me to one of my grandmothers. They would measure and pin and chide me in Spanish to stand up straight or the dress would be crooked. I thought everyone knew how to make clothes - How to turn a pile of white fabric into a First Communion dress that was way too puffy for a little girl who didn’t like frills; but still wore it with pride because my grandmother made it for me. I started learning how use a sewing machine in middle school and high school, redesigning everything that didn’t fit right the first time. When it came time to decide what to study in college, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
I wanted to make clothing for the people that clothing isn’t made for. Short people who petite pants are too long on. Plus size people who need something that’s actually made to fit their body and not just scaled up from a size 2. The size 2 people who can’t seem to find long enough sleeves. The people in wheelchairs who need pants that fit better seated than standing. The people who need bras altered to fit their prosthetics…
I believe that everyone should be able to put something on and have it fit the first time, just for them. I think the feeling of standing and being measured for something one of a kind is an experience everyone should have. I believe that your vision for a dress to match your dog’s dress to match your new couch is a vision that needs to be made real. I also believe that the person who hires me to make those dresses and that couch is probably my kind of person. Let’s find out!