Custom Dress Making

The following is an excerpt from the Rhode Island School of Design.

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“Up to the early nineteenth century, there was no way to mass-produce clothing. So women got their clothes in one of three ways: they bought them used; they made them; or they had them made. As the nineteenth century progressed, however, new machinery improved the manufacture of clothing; extended rail systems made distribution of ready-made clothing easier; and the telegraph and telephone streamlined the ordering process,thus allowing the rise of department stores that could control the costs of inventory while offering the latest merchandise to their customers. At the turn of the twentieth century, retail trade in ready-made clothing was poised to take off.

“In 1900, fashion dictated that a woman’s body be tightly corseted and that her gowns–as dresses were then called–be tightly fitted over the corsets.Ready-made dresses could not provide the perfect fit, so women who aspired to be among the most fashionable and who could afford it still sought the services of custom dressmakers. The complex draping of the fabric and the elaborate trim and ornaments used to create these gowns also required the expertise of professional seamstresses.

“A custom dressmaker provided the most personal of services to her clients.She tookthe client’s measurements and recorded them in a book for future use. At least once during the process of making a gown, the client would have to come in for a fitting, in which the partially completed garment would be tried on and adjusted for the right fit. Women of the wealthier classes preferred that these intimate transactions take place in comfortable settings, with dressmakers they knew.The idea of going Downtown to a new department store with unknown fitters and seamstresses was out of the question.”

So how does this all apply to you?

We know that your time is precious, so as an added service we offer to come to you.  Our meetings can either be in the the comfort of your own home, or in the beautiful atmosphere of HMTQ. 

At that time we will select from a number of luxurious fabrics chosen for their ability to fall against the lines and natural curves of the feminine figure.  Your garment will be uniquely designed to tell the magnificent story of you, so we will take extensive measurements. 

We will then produce a muslin for you to try on, which is an inexpensive fabric that allows us to get the perfect fit prior to the finished garment.  The process takes approximately 6 weeks from the time of the initial meeting. 

At HMTQ you will be introduced to superior personal service, as we embrace the history of custom dressmaking allowing every woman to feel like royalty. Contact us for more information.