Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Smith.
Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was growing up, no one in my family went to get their clothes tailored, so being a tailor wasn’t on my radar as a kid. My mom made all my costumes and hemmed things, but wasn’t really an avid sewer. When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist. So, after graduating from an arts magnet high school, naturally I pursued my artist career at a private arts college in Kansas City (KCAI) with a full-ride scholarship. I had every intention of being a painter, but declared fibers to be my major by my sophomore year. Once I got a taste of working with textiles and creating things you could feel, I was hooked. During my undergraduate, I learned the chemistry of dying different fibers, weaving those fibers, and standard sewing construction, and pattern making techniques. I’ve always loved working with my hands and doing detail work as part of my creative process. In 2009 I received my BFA in Textiles and Fiber Processes. I was fortunate enough to start working with a second generation Russian tailoring family during the recession when most career fields were struggling and not hiring. I worked for them, apprenticing for 2 years, learning the proper way to read chalk marks on a garment, work room terminology, and the mechanics of industrial sewing machines.
During my sewing career of almost 15 years, I’ve worked in many different facets of the sewing industry.
I’ve worked for a bridal designer making dresses from scratch, at a luxury department store for years fitting all sorts of garments, mom and pop shops, custom menswear stores, and even managed a team of sewers for law enforcement and uniform sewing!
In an a career thats heavily reliant on apprenticeship, and having good mentors, I’ve been very lucky to learn from rooms with diverse knowledge from all over the world. Its taught me as much about people as sewing.
After having private clients on the side while working a full-time career for over a decade, I opened The Sewing Smith almost 3 years ago in July of 2023. When I first opened I did all kind of alterations. Everything from patching jeans and hems to bridal and tuxedos. I’ve done whole wedding parties, multiple generations in a family, heirloom re-designs, and costume work for recording artists and their stylists.
As much as I love the diversity that general alterations brings, I have a soft spot for weddings. These days I’m a 99% bridal business, and have great relationships with other local wedding businesses. When I got married, in 2016, I was lucky enough to have an heirloom dress in my family. My grandmother had her dress made for her in 1951, and it was worn by my aunt and my mother before me. It’s a unique experience to have an heirloom dress, and everyone has a different way of honoring the original wearer. I have clients who want to totally re-design it or do very minimal adjustments. I’ve made robes or small accessories out of dress fabric as well.
I love making my clients feel at ease and informed about the process and educating them on their options. I tell my clients all the time “I don’t make decisions in here, I just give you your options and support the choices you make. This is your body, your dress, and your day.” It’s never ok, to tell some else what they should look like or how they should feel. I’m a body positive tailor, so it’s my job to ask questions and support whatever priorities they already have. My 3-step bridal process is designed to take all the stress out, and keep things as transparent as possible.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I left my full-time job in sewing management I was burnt out hard. I had been sewing for over a decade, and was slowly loosing my creative side to exhaustion. It was a huge leap of faith, but after years of entertaining this idea, I finally saw a way forward and took the plunge. In the beginning it was all word of mouth. living in the moment, booking out 2-3 weeks in advance never knowing what was next. It was very hard to get out of the worker mindset and into ownership mode. The first year in business was hard, but I gained some loyal customers that would stabilize me enough to survive to my second year. My second year in business things gravitated to 2-3 months booking in advance and doing 50% bridal work. Now in my third year, I’ve gravitated to 90% bridal and are booking weddings for 2027.
Another struggle I had was figuring out how to be a one-woman show without the threat of burnout. Work/life balance is an ongoing struggle for most people I think. Setting up all my routines, and processes took a lot of time, but enabled me to streamline my process and set daily/weekly limits for myself.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a body positive tailor here in Nashville. That means all bodies are welcome here no matter what size or how you identify. I specialize in giving brides a one-on-one experience with the highest level of care. There are there main pillars to my business: Transparency, Education, and Advocacy.
Transparency is important for trust. I provide a full a-la-carte style estimate with pricing because no one likes secrets or surprises! Thats what creates stress. Educating my clients on all their options and what each investment looks like keeps us both on the same page every step of the way. Also, by providing all the information and pricing up front, I’m able to give my clients a way to advocate for themselves. I can support whatever priorities they have whether it be financial, vision, or their comfort zone. As a trauma survivor advocacy work is very important to me.
My 3-step stress free process starts with a free 45-60 minute phone consultation. We talk about all the alterations options, their prices, and every wish on their list. At the end of the consultation I send them a link to their estimate thats available 24/7.
The second step is to schedule their first 2-hour bridal fitting. Thats when the real magic happens! During the in- person fitting, we go over every aspect of the dress and refer back to the original conversations and concerns that were discussed during the consultation. All the alterations are pinned and they get both visual and physical confirmation of how things are going to be. We decide on a bustle style and pin . We do a sit test and go over any tips and ticks about wearing the dress from walking, sitting, and dress care.
The final fitting and pick up is the last step. This is where they get to make sure everything is exactly how they want it before they take it home. I take a bustle video for them to have on their phone because there are too many brides who stress out about who is going to know how to bustle their dress! Now it’s just a text message away and no one needs any training ;). When I say stress free, I really mean it!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Books:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bassel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
Tell Me What You Want by Charlotte Fox Weber
Pricing:
- Average Bridal cost $800-$1,200
- Average Bridal Ball gown $1,000- $1,400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://the-sewing-smith.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_sewing_smith/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesewingsmith.nashville/
- Other: https://share.google/gLkE3LZodB0w2dUP7
