This is the story of an enterprising Italian who, born with the passion for tailoring and with fashion running in her blood, she traveled the length and breadth of the world and then landed in a small town in Berkshire, not far from London, and found there too the opportunity to express her vocation, becoming a seamstress Reading.
Ilenia has a husband and a 7-year-old daughter. He has lived in Reading for 5 and has just started his first business in Great Britain. Coming from a family that has always had garment companies and clothing stores, the choice could only be one: to remain in the sector and conquer the English with the quality and craftsmanship of the Italians. His new creature ("to be looked after like a child") is called The Tailoring and is located in the center of this town of less than 250 inhabitants, one of the many that revolves around London and where many move to avoid the crazy prices and the frenzy of the metropolis.
A seamstress in Reading: the origins
Where do you come from?
My family is originally from Cagliari. When I was 13 we moved to Milano. At 20 I left for Santo Domingo, where I spent some wonderful years, 9 in all. Then North America, Boston and New York. So I went back in Italy, where I lived between Cagliari and Milan again. Finally 5 years ago I left with her husband and daughter for Reading.
A life always on the move!
Already. For generations my family is in the clothing and garment business. The shifts we have made over the years have been necessary to follow the business. TO Santo Domingo we had a large factory, with over 300 workers working on the sound of the meringue. A wonderful experience, I was young and if during the day I worked in a factory where I took care of the organizational and commercial aspects - in my family the creatives, the artists for a long time were my mother and my sister - in the evening I went to dance. Then the contract expired and my parents returned to Sardinia. My dad retired, while my mom opened a clothing store that she still has today. I, on the other hand, have chosen to change everything once again.
A seamstress in Reading: traveling the world
Where did you go this time?
I moved to the United States and for a while I did a completely different job, so I met my husband and, although my sister was now based in New York and worked for the big names in Italian fashion, I had to choose whether to follow my boyfriend in Italy where he should have finished his studies or stayed there and entered the world of fashion. I chose love and a return home. In Italy I worked as a manager of large stores, but I soon realized that it was not for me: I had always worked for myself and not for others. So I opened my first clothing store in Milan. There were so many things to do, also because in the meantime I had a little girl to look after.
How did you decide to leave everything again to go to England?
This time it was the my husband's job to face another move. Engineer in the Oil & Gas sector that in Italy was getting worse and worse, he found an excellent opportunity in England. We decided that the best thing was to accept it, but that I would still be in Italy for a while. I divided myself between Milan and Cagliari. Then 5 years ago I left too.
A seamstress in Reading: the beginning of the adventure
Was the impact with the British reality hard?
From a business point of view, yes. And then also for the climate: I missed the heat of Santo Domingo! For some time I was looking for a job in a clothing store, as that was my profession. Unfortunately I was too skilled and experienced to do it shop assistant but I couldn't find it as a manager. Eventually I brushed up on my craft skills and got a job in a tailor shop that had just opened here in Reading. After two years, however, I realized that it was time to do something for me.
A seamstress in Reading: the bet
Hence the idea of tailoring.
What I offer is a step up from those who do repairs and tailoring on clothes here in the UK - and who are mostly affiliated with big chains. Knowing in depth the clothes and how they are made, it is difficult for me to fail recover the garments that bring me. Then we create also tailored suits, which is the other great service we have. The ability to intervene even in the most complex cases, the care for every single piece, so that it can be worn again and is indeed something beautiful to wear, which makes its owner proud, the care in creating a relationship with the customer that goes beyond just the greeting-request-payment is making us grow and today I have 5 seamstresses who work with me.
And think that we started with very little savings! Unlike Italy, however, here they are many tools that help you create your business and they provide you not only practical suggestions but also financing: banks, government agencies, associations. The base was good business plan, which has opened several doors for us. It also allowed us to get loans to get started in no time. Thankfully you don't have to wait months for an answer, it comes in weeks.
A seamstress in Reading: the future
What do you see in your future?
Continue to be a seamstress in Reading, but not only! On the one hand we have (my husband is also my partner in the business) great projects for La Sartoria, with the idea of opening other stores and who knows, maybe in the future to arrive in London. On the other hand, my husband will resume traveling. He found work in the United Arab Emirates and the minimum contract duration is at least one year, with returns every 3 months. It will not be easy!
