We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bethany Rizor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bethany , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Sewing and designing has been a part of who I am starting from a very young age. It really all started at the dining table when I was about seven. But as a matured I did not even consider sewing and designing a valid career. I was always involved in the arts and knew that one day I would be some sort of creative professional. I’ve dabbled over the years in architecture, fine arts and also journalism. But I consistently found myself drawn back to sewing.

I think there was this stigma that being a fashion designer meant you had to move to New York or LA, and that deterred me as a young woman from pursuing that avenue. It felt like a fantasy I couldn’t achieve. Do I wish I would have gone to a professional school to learn my craft? Part of me does. I think we all feel at one point of time or another that we aren’t where we thought we would be at the age we are. That’s the price we pay for setting goals for ourselves. Life happens but I cherish the experiences I have had over the years.

The most important skill I think I missed out on, really was the design process from the idea to the storefront. Right now, I create one of a kind garments and I am working towards a line of my own. But figuring out how to get my drawings and concepts to a manufacturer to sell in stores and boutiques is my obstacle as of late.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started sewing when I was very young. My mother, sister, and friends of ours set out to make dresses for a mother daughter banquet. I fell in love with the process then, picking out fabrics and the patterns and seeing the project come together. It inspired me to continue to make things from then on.

Ever since I have found myself sewing one thing or another. I joined the Army National Guard when I was 19 and my job was a laundry shower and clothing repair specialist. As a guardsman I had to still maintain a civilian job. For a while I sewed car wind deflectors for a Ford supplier. And I dabbled in upholstery here and there too.

It wasn’t until I moved to Grand Rapids in 2012 that I considered sewing as a full time career. I had a little experience in tailoring and was looking for a job. I happened to find an opening at Joseph A Bank as a tailor and I applied. I didn’t get the job initially but I worked my way into the position. I then moved to Men’s Wearhouse and continued to sharpen my skills. Up until this point I only knew mens tailoring and made dresses for myself.

I had put my resume on Indeed and LinkedIn looking for a new job…. And Jeanne from A Perfect Fit Alterations reached out to me and asked if I wanted to learn bridal. To this day we joke about this. “It will fun’ she said” and it is. Jeanne really helped me refine my skills and gave me an environment to be creative in. I really loved working there and I miss it still.

But I knew I wanted to build a business for myself. I looked up to and envied Jeanne for all that she had built and I wanted to do that myself. I had a little bit different idea of how I wanted my business to operate and what I wanted to offer my customers. So I said goodbye to APF and the comfort of a solid job.

Now I have my own shop in between Creston and Comstock park and I offer alterations, and custom gowns or garments to my customer base.

I really wanted to do a hybrid shop with a boutique for my customers and workshop in the back. The boutique is coming along slowly. I would love to house some local vendors products on my shelves.

But I also wanted to offer a fun environment for others to learn my craft. Sewing is such a dying art and I would like to teach and inspire others to learn and grow in it. It’s really amazing what you can do with sewing.

As of right now I am offering Sip & Sew events to the community which I would love to do once a month. It’s just a 2 hour fun evening sipping and learning the skills of sewing. I’ve also had interest for sewing lessons that I am considering entertaining. We will see.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I started my business in my basement in 2018. I started small and had zero capital. I borrowed and bought equipment as I needed. My previous boss Jeanne really helped supply me at first. She provided equipment that she had extras of and that really helped. I really don’t think I could have gotten started without her.

When I decided to open a storefront in April it really only needed cosmetic work. I maxed out two credit cards, worked full time for the National Guard and part time at the shop to help pay for the updates.

I think the key was maintaining a full time job until I felt comfortable letting go. Even now I am not sure that was the best choice but I am working through it. It’s been a struggle to pay all the bills but I have a good feeling about 2023.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2019, I partnered with Dearly Loved Bridal to bring her customers specialized alterations. She rented some square footage to me in her Lowell shop, and for a summer we were in the same building slinging dresses.

Being in the National Guard has it challenges. Your duty status can change at a moments notice. In November of 2019, I was presented an opportunity to complete my journalism school for the Guard. This was a goal I had been waiting to accomplish since 2013. Even though I was invested in this new business I was working on, I made the decision to close my business temporarily to move to Maryland for 6 months and complete my training as a skilled journalist.

Well sure enough, Spring of 2020 rolled around and the world was turned upside down. I was at a military school during most of the scary part of the pandemic. In hindsight this was a blessing. We quarantined for two weeks and then got back to the grind.

When I came home, it seemed silly to start back up with the business since what I did was sometimes face to face interactions.

I still had the shop in the basement, so I did alterations for customers who were comfortable being in close proximity and that was it. To supplement my income I took a job back with the Guard full time.

I was fortunate to have alternate means of income throughout the entire pandemic. But because I was working full time I did not even consider the pandemic relief funds other business were getting. My income for the clients I did have didn’t seem like enough to ask for help.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.altrdthreadco.com
• Instagram: Altrdthreadco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/altrdthreadco?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: Bethany Rizor

Image Credits
Miah Photography, I’ll have to get you the other names of photographers.