A Couturier's Tale

Creative Business

10 Nov

Let me introduce myself! I’m a couturier and an award-winning dress designer who specialises in designing bridal wear and dresses for special occasions.

I grew up in a family where for generations mothers taught their daughters to sew. My mother’s sewing machine lived on the dining room table, and it still does. In time my sewing machine would often be whizzing into the small hours as I made my own clothes too.

One thing led to another (with a few significant detours along the way!) I studied fashion design at Burslem College of Art and trained in Couture in London, and but by bit life all began to make sense.

I launched my first business, Sarah Willard Couture, in 2005. To begin with, it really was a kitchen table enterprise, enabling me to work from home and care for a small child. Very quickly it was successful and staff, a studio and then a shop soon followed.

As result I’ve trained dressmakers and designers who have gone on to work for big names in the business. And my couture dresses have been worn across the globe, from London to America, Australia and Asia.

I’m absolutely passionate about fashion and Couture and the processes involved in creating beautiful garments, and will talk about it for hours if you let me! I became renowned for simple and uncluttered elegance and subtle detailing. Old fashioned couture techniques were used to handcraft heirloom dresses to be treasured forever.

I’ve a trophy cabinet with the shiny fashion awards I’ve collected along the way, but winning Wedding Dress Designer of the Year 2017 at The Wedding Industry Awards was the icing on the cake!

Wedding Dressmaker Designer Of The Year 2017 Trophy

However I realised I needed a new challenge. When I began to study fashion I didn’t have the aim of being a bridal designer. It was to find a way of creative expression, and to make original and timeless clothes that would fit me perfectly (as nothing that I bought from a shop ever did!)

I wanted to make wardrobe heirlooms that I really wanted to wear and treasure. And I really enjoy teaching and training. So “To Gather And Stitch” is my way to combine the two, help you to create clothes that you want to wear. The plan is to make the world of Couture accessible to anyone who can thread a needle, step by step, one garment at a time.

I’m developing couture dressmaking courses, where you progress your sewing skills. There will be patterns and kits too. I can’t wait to support more people to stitch their dream wardrobe.

I’m so excited this adventure. And I’m hoping that you will follow me on the next stage of my dressmaking journey.