Seamstress gives your wardrobe a new look
Alauna Mann is a bit of a closet clairvoyant.
It's not that she's keeping her skill a secret. It's that she knows what's in your closet, as if she sees it in a vision.
There's that jacket you bought a few years back but hardly ever wear because the lines look dated. There's the blouse in that color that looks fantastic on you, but it's too boxy. And there's the pants that need to come up an inch at the hem.
You might think you have nothing to wear, but all Mann sees is fashion potential in your closet.
Mann is a seamstress who will re-hem your pants and make other alterations, but she's also a designer who will revamp those old styles into something current.
And if you still can't find something to wear, she'll design and make you something from scratch.
At 21, Mann has just opened Á la Mod Á la Mode, her own design and alteration studio, in her hometown of Naperville. She's actually been offering her design and alteration services for about four years, beginning her business for a competition while she attended Naperville Central High School. And she's been creating clothes even longer.
Mann gives us a peek at what it's like to start a business.
Q. What is your background?
A. Sewing is a legacy that has been passed on from generation to generation, starting with my great-grandmother. I have been taught by my mother and grandmother, but have also taken some college-level sewing classes to avoid missing any techniques.
When and why did you strike out on your own?
A. I originally started my business as a part of a business competition in ACT-SO through the NAACP. ACT-SO stands for Afro, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics. My personal goal in competing was to start a business that could help me and my family save money. I was an ice skater at the time, and competition dresses were just too expensive, so I started designing my own dresses.
While this concept was helpful for me, it didn't incorporate my biggest goal, which is helping others. Over the course of the past five years, I have taken the opportunity to study fashion from a few perspectives.
I have focused on the idea of helping people to find clothes that fit them and doing so for a reasonable price. With the economy being in shambles for the past few years, I have discovered people are really receptive to my theories on clothing, and that is what pushed me to go out and make strides toward helping people.
How did you know you could be successful?
A. I knew that I could be successful when I started to tell people about the services I provide. I like to refer to the way I do things as the "old-fashioned" way. My customers really love the idea of coming into a boutique-like setting and having a one-on-one consultation about what they want and what I can do to make it happen. There really aren't a lot of places that provide clothing services by appointment anymore.
What challenges are you facing?
A. The biggest one I currently struggle with is finding the right people to hire. My vision and goals are very specific and I don't want them to get lost in translation.
What's your niche in the market?
A. My niche is alterations and clothing reconstruction. Everyone knows what alterations are, but clothing reconstruction is a twist on this well-needed service. With reconstruction, my clients have the opportunity to bring in clothes they already have in their closet and have them "revamped" in a way that will make the clothing unique. Essentially, the whole concept is green because it is a way to recycle clothes without getting rid of them.
I also design custom clothing on an individualized basis. All of my designs are one-of-a-kind and are guaranteed to be flattering.
What sets your business apart from competitors? Who are your competitors?
A. My competitors offer their services in a completely different venue from me. These competitors include dry cleaners and alteration stores in the mall. For dry cleaners, alterations are not as big of a focus as actual dry cleaning. At alterations stores, alterations are the only focus.
The difference between my business and these businesses is that I focus on alterations just as much as custom clothing.
Also, if a client brought a jacket from their closet and wanted to have it reconstructed to give it a different look, these businesses most likely would not be able to help in any way. The focus of my business is to bridge the gap between alterations and design so my clients can get more for their money and do it all in one place!
How broad is your customer base?
A. My customer base reaches all over the suburbs and as far as Chicago.
What changes are you making to weather this economy?
A. I try not to let the state of our economy get to me, and it is never easy. The way that I try to combat this is by pushing the alterations and clothing reconstruction aspect of my company.
In a good economy, people buy new clothes and bring them in to be altered. In a bad economy, people might not buy as much new clothing but they have clothes in their closet that can be reconstructed and made to look new.
Where would you like to see your business in five years? In 10 years?
A. In five years, I would like to have a few high-profile clients under my belt. Maybe Michelle Obama, or even Oprah! In the next 10 years I would like to have a larger staff of seamstresses and a couple more locations in the Chicago area.
Overall, I hope my reconstruction concepts can revolutionize the clothing industry, because money is not as disposable as it used to be and I truly believe in helping people to appreciate what they have and look highly fashionable at the same time.
How has technology changed your industry?
A. The biggest change triggered by technology would be the Internet. A Web site naturally globalizes any business. The Internet provides the opportunity to do business online, and it also provides the opportunity to use the "word-of-mouth" technique virtually and at a faster pace.
For me, the Internet has helped me gain respect as a business owner. Because of my young age, people wonder whether I am capable of running a "real" business. Once people talk to me and use my services, they stop questioning my capabilities. But before that, they are able to get a preview and synopsis of my business just by looking at my Web site.
What trends are you seeing in the industry?
A. I am finding that the only people who do custom work, out of their homes. This makes it harder to advertise and publicize their business.
What advice do you have for someone looking to hire a professional in your industry or to use a business like yours?
A. Everyone has clothes in their closet that they don't know how to wear or what to wear with. Everyone also likes for their clothes to flatter them.
Honestly, there isn't really anyone out there who combines design with alterations; it is always one or the other. If you struggle with figuring out what to wear and how, I can help you to either wear something you already have, or start from scratch and design a look that is just for you. My services are something that only celebrities have used in recent years, and now I am making these services accessible to everyone.
If you have questions about what to bring in for reconstruction or what could be designed for you, we can figure it out together.
How does your business support the community?
A. I support the community by volunteering, and I especially enjoy supporting youth. Some of the programs that I support are ACT-SO, TSTM and KATHY. These are all minority programs geared toward high school students.
I personally have a passion for inspiring youth to become entrepreneurs. Within these various programs, I conduct workshops on skills that are vital to being a successful entrepreneur. These workshops cover various topics, such as presentation skills, networking, marketing, Web site development and idea development.
I also do speaking engagements about how I got to be where I am today. I am currently offering an internship position for a high school students to come in and learn firsthand what it takes to run a business.