Maria's Tailoring
About Me
My name is Svetlana, and I am the owner of Maria’s Tailoring.
My mother, Anastasia, in fashion college. Moldova, 1975.
My mother, Anastasia, in fashion college. Moldova, 1975.
I’ve always felt it was my destiny to be a tailor – there was no other option as far as my inspirational mother, Anastasia, was concerned. My mother was a seamstress who worked at a clothing factory in Moldova, and it was her dream for me, her only child, to follow in her footsteps.
A dress I designed for my degree in Fashion Design. Moldova, 2006
A dress I designed for my degree in Fashion Design. Moldova, 2006
When I was 9 years old, my mother would bring home excess fabric from the factory and put me to work making 30 tote bags each week for us to sell at the village market. It wasn’t long before I began experimenting with my own designs, even making myself a miniskirt to wear to school. I then studied Fashion Design at the Technical University of Moldova, where I developed my unique style.
The full set of crochet dresses I made for university. Moldova, 2006
A dress I designed for my degree in Fashion Design. Moldova, 2006
Another crochet dress I made for a wedding party. Moldova, 2008
Another crochet dress I made for a wedding party. Moldova, 2008
Me working in Maria’s Tailoring. Edinburgh, 2019
Me working in Maria’s Tailoring. Edinburgh, 2019
In summer 2019, I moved to Edinburgh and found a job at Maria’s Tailoring, which was named after its previous Portuguese owner.
I bought Maria’s Tailoring. Edinburgh, 2020
I bought Maria’s Tailoring. Edinburgh, 20XX
When the shop was put up for sale, I seized the opportunity and bought it, keeping its original name because of its location opposite a church, since Maria is Portuguese for Mary. Around the same time, I found out I was pregnant and so, of course, I called my daughter Maria.
Maria’s Tailoring. Edinburgh, Today
Maria’s Tailoring. Edinburgh, Today
And there you have it, a beautiful family story that spans three generations!