The Seamstress
Grace Mae
Background
From the classroom to the fitting room
My path to alterations started at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where I earned my Bachelor's degree in Fashion and Apparel Design in 2024. Throughout college I worked in the university's Costume Shop as an Alterations Assistant — fitting, pinning, and tailoring costumes for theater and dance productions each season. The work was detailed, deadline-driven, and taught me to handle everything from delicate chiffon to structured performance wear with equal care.
After graduating, I joined David's Bridal as a Lead Alterations Specialist, working directly with brides to make sure their gowns fit perfectly for their wedding day. High-stakes work under real deadlines — it deepened my technical skills and my understanding of what it means to show up for someone during one of the most important moments of their life. When I stepped away to build my own business, I brought that knowledge with me and left behind the volume pressures that kept me from doing the work the way I know it should be done.
Going independent means every client gets my full attention — not a fraction of it. I work by appointment only, give honest timelines, and take pride in garments that leave here better than they arrived. In 2025 I also completed a Master's degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations — because running a client-first business means being as intentional about the relationship as the craft itself. I'm based in Pittsburgh, and when you bring something to me, you're trusting me with something that matters.
“Deadlines that are real. Craftsmanship that shows.”
What I Stand By
Honest Timelines
I will never overcommit and underdeliver. Every timeline I give you is one I can keep — because your event date is not negotiable.
Precision Craft
Formal training in fashion design, hands-on work in a professional costume shop, and experience as a lead bridal alterations specialist means I've worked with the full range of fabrics, silhouettes, and fit challenges. I bring that foundation to every stitch.
Personal Attention
I work by appointment only, which means when you're here, you have my undivided focus. No rushing, no distractions.
Why Independent
Working for myself means working for you.
“When I worked in a corporate shop, the pressure was to move fast, book more, and never slow down. I got very good at working quickly — but I missed the part of this craft that actually matters: giving a garment the attention it deserves, and giving a client the time to feel comfortable. Going independent let me do both. I don't overbook. I don't rush. And I don't work for a quota. I work for the people who trust me with something that matters to them.”
— Grace Mae