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Master tailor Basima Bagdady learned to sew by making her own coat at the tender age of ten.
She now delights customers with high quality and reasonable prices at her shop in Fairfield, CT. |
Basima Bagdady opened a tailor shop because when she’s away from her sewing machine, she actually misses it. A master tailor who can make your dress fit like a glove, Basima also designs spectacular garments, luxurious draperies, pillows and much more. In this interview in her colorful shop on a hot July day, Basima revealed how as a child in Syria she made her own winter coat, and how fearless learning became the key to her business success.
Madeline: How long have you had your own business?
Basima: Three years.
Madeline: How did you get into fashion?
Basima: Thirty five years ago in Syria, my mother taught me to sew, when I was 10. She was a tailor and designer for 45 years. I loved sewing as a child. I started taking scrap fabric from my mother’s store and designing dresses for my dolls. When I was older, she made me create my winter coat--which I would actually have to wear--all by myself, with no help. She just watched me and gave me instructions, without actually touching it. I learned it the best that way, and I am thankful that she taught me that way.
Madeline: So your mother was a big inspiration?
Basima: Yes, yes. She taught me a lot of things.
Maddie: What made you start Princess Alterations and Design?
Basima: At first I did not speak English, but after working several jobs at once (at bridal shop, a tuxedo store, and more), I took time to learn, learn, learn the English language and the ways of the American tailors and designers. I would always carry around an Arabic book, and when people would teach me English phrases, I would write them down in the book. I would have two columns--one for English and one for Arabic. I also taught them my ways. Then, as I became more fluent in English, my desire to start my own company grew. Now that I would be able to communicate with my customers, I could start my own business.
Madeline: What's the thing you like most about your job?
Basima: Everything. I especially love designing my own dresses. Everything's an inspiration to me. I will be watching TV and something will come on that inspires me, and I'll whip out my sketching book and start drawing. Or sometimes I wake up in the morning with an idea already in my head.
Madeline: What makes your business unique?
Basima: I like to do a perfect job, and I like to make designs different from the usual--designs that stand out. I also incorporate my culture into the store, with belly dancing outfits and beautiful formal wear from Syria. I feel that I have the talent to create anything. I love making children’s dresses as well as curtains, cushions, drapes and more.
Madeline: You also said that you love your customers. Want to talk a little about them?
Basima: To me, my customers are like friends, family. I love everyone and everyone loves me. I love to make people happy, and do something extra for them that surprises them and makes them always remember me.
Madeline: When I saw your store, the first thing I noticed were the quirky dolls on display in the window. It's not something you see every day. What inspired you to put those on display along with regular mannequins?
Basima: I like to make my own designs, and when I make prom dresses, I make a doll-sized version as a sample. When people want to see what dresses will look like, I just make a sample for them
Madeline: Something else that stood out to me in your store are the intricate and luxurious curtains that frame the mirror outside the dressing room and the back wall. You said you also like designing those (along with cushions, cover chairs, couches, etc.) What do you like about it and why?
Basima: I like to be professional with every job and challenge myself in order to make a customer happy. I never tell a customer that I can't do something; I'll get it done. Something I like about making curtains is that with a dress, it's the customer’s choice to do everything and tell me exactly how they want it. With curtains, though, I feel that since the room can't talk, the finished product turns out to be more my own original design with no outside influence. I love seeing the finished product, seeing what the whole room looks like and how it's transformed because of something I envisioned in my head.
Madeline: What are you hoping to do in the future with the business? What are your goals?
Basima: One day I would like to open up other stores, and make my own collection for Fashion Week. I also wish to make a class to teach people how to sew anything and everything from scratch. And although I am hoping to expand my company, my goal is for every employee I hire to be trained to treat customers the way I've always treated customers now: like family. Above all, I always want to continue making unique and different designs.
Princess Alterations & Design: 454 Tunxis Hill Rd., Fairfield, CT.
Phone: 203-543-6769
