December 31, 2024
Pictured left to right: Chamber Ambassadors Julie Shriver with Beacon Credit Union, Terry Engstrand with White Oaks Bison Farm, Amber Basham with Life Care Center of Rochester, and Chamber Board Member Lindy Breeden.
Please enjoy this interview with Owners Ebony and Ivory:
Describe some of the services you offer:
Rochester Mending & Alterations is a Full Service Sewing Shop that provides all kinds of professional alterations, miscellaneous mending, and custom project sewing and design. We are truly Full Service in that customers regularly trust us with many different kinds of alterations; from their $3,000.00 wedding dress to remaking their Grandpa’s old vinyl tractor seat (including foam) to hemming their favorite pair of jeans – and everything in between and beyond. If it is something that was sewn – Rochester Mending can alter, mend, or restore nearly every item whether the item be clothing, costume, upholstery, leather, auto, marine, shoes/boots, or even stuffed animals and dolls. Mondays at Rochester Mending are reserved for onsite jobs repairing or remaking items too inconvenient to move – like boats, or large sofas. Mondays are also reserved for our customers that are house or wheelchair-bound due to disabilities. In addition to our Mending and Alteration Services, we also provide professional Dry Cleaning Services for clothing, hats, comforters, area rugs, winter coats, and formal wear.
What inspired you to open Rochester Mending & Alterations?
Precision sewing is a skill that was passed down directly to the sister owner/operators, Ebony and Ivory, by three living generations of older family members. However, professional quality sewing and natural fiber textile sales is documented to extend back in the family tree for many more generations. Sewing and textiles have been a part of the owners’ lives for as long as they can remember – as are the many stories describing the attention to detail and pains that older generations took over their and their families’ garments. The inspiration to open a shop to the public came from the sisters seeing a need in the area for a truly Full Service Sewing Shop as a service to the local community. With younger generations sewing less and lifestyles becoming more dependent on ready-made clothing – offering mending and alteration services is a way to preserve, renew, and refit clothing and/or other upholstered items, in a cost effective and sustainable way. Instead of throwing clothing or chairs away (due to ugly edges, loose elastic, “bagginess,” a broken zipper or low quality sewing) and going out to buy new –– a professional sewing service can help families, and those on fixed incomes, save money – as well as the time it takes to leave town and re-buy certain items brand new. Members of the community should always consider themselves welcome to use the shop as a resource for learning about different textiles and fabrics, finding out where textiles come from, or getting information for how to best care for a certain textile or fabric. Formal sewing classes are also available at Rochester Mending for those seeking to choose, use, and care for a sewing machine of their own.
Are there any services or expansions planned for the future?
This year we are working to grow our wedding suit and tuxedo side of Rochester Mending & Alterations by catering especially to brides and grooms seeking local wedding party services. Back in January, Rochester Mending & Alterations began renting & selling Jim’s Formalwear suits and tuxedos; a partnership that came about thanks to Mike Rich from Richie’s Men’s Wear. Mike thought a suit and tux service would be a ‘good fit’ for Rochester Mending – given the suit and tux alterations already provided at our shop – and, so far, he has been right! Friday afternoons at Rochester Mending are now reserved for private wedding parties – and our staff is currently working with Gualtieri’s Bakery, here in Rochester, to have baked goods catered for our wedding party guests; in addition to other special “extras” that we offer to help make large-party tux and gown fittings special occasions to remember.
What tips do you have for someone seeking alterations?
Your imagination is the limit when it comes to clothing alterations and custom sewing projects. One of the things we enjoy most is helping bring our customers’ imaginations to life. If you have an idea, please feel welcome to stop by and try your design idea by one of us here at Rochester Mending – we will be able to give you a good idea about whether your project is doable, such as what kind of price you would be looking at, the amount of time it would take, what kind of fabric and materials would work best – so on and so forth. You can always take the information you receive and shop around – but do rest assured that sewing services at Rochester Mending & Alterations are professional quality, pricing is standardized whenever possible, and we work hard to make sure our customers are happy; we strive every day to produce results that are as good as, or better, than what is sold in box stores. As a Full Service sewing shop the staff at Rochester Mending have the diverse skill set, experience, supplies, and appropriate machines to help you get your alterations done right - and looking just as good as new.
How can Fulton County residents get ahold of you?
Get ahold of us here at Rochester Mending by stopping in at 706 Main St., here in Rochester, or by calling us at 574-223-8090.