At the age of 12, I discovered a passion for sewing in my home economics class, which laid the foundation for a whole new world of creativity in my life. As the years passed, I found joy and fulfillment in creating figure skating dresses for my granddaughter. As she progressed in her skating journey, I delved into the world of custom costume design, crafting unique outfits for her single and ice dance pair competitions. This newfound love for making custom costumes continued to grow.

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Word of mouth spread, and soon I was creating custom figure skating dresses not only for my granddaughter's friends but also at the request of a second granddaughter’s ballet teacher for her senior troupe's annual Nutcracker ballet performance and various ballet competitions. Through these experiences, I honed my skills in costume design and construction, constantly learning and refining my techniques.

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Driven by my passion for creating one-of-a-kind costumes, I decided to pursue my dream of starting my own business. In 2016, "San's Tailored Designs" was born, a small home-based venture where I take care of every aspect of costume making, from design to the final stitch.

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As my business expanded, I had the privilege of being commissioned as a custom costume maker for figure skating, ballet, and dance competitions. To enhance my productivity and cost-efficiency, I continuously seek out new software and methods. A vital part of my process is pattern making, which allows me to transform the initial design concept into a tangible pattern for constructing the costume. For the majority of my projects, I utilize a computer-assisted drawing (CAD) pattern making software that enables me to create my own patterns from scratch. This innovative tool has unleashed my imagination and amplified my creativity.

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For me, creating costumes is an art form. I take great pleasure in merging my love for sewing with a myriad of creative expressions, each tailored to reflect my client's role in their performance. Each new project presents exciting challenges and opportunities to breathe life into an outfit from scratch, crafting a costume that not only fits comfortably but also exemplifies and enhances my client's performance on the ice or stage. My journey as a costume designer has been a remarkable one, where my passion and skills intersect to bring enchanting visions to life.