Crafted goods are having a moment. Or perhaps it’s simply that people are finally responding to what we’ve always known—that there’s something deeply meaningful about items made by human hands, especially in these chaotic times.

I’ve been working with my hands, creating one-of-a-kind garments since I first fell in love with sewing. Through every season, every trend, every shift in the fashion landscape, handcrafted pieces have always stood as beacons of enduring quality. These garments have long been recognized for their superior craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail—qualities that seem almost revolutionary in today’s marketplace.

In a world drowning in waste and fast fashion, it soothes my soul to see that we artisans are finally getting the recognition we deserve. There’s a growing hunger for authenticity, for pieces that tell a story, for items that will last not just through this season but through decades of wear and love.  Click here to see my attic gem collection.

Crafting

Crafting is the art of making something tangible through the unique vision of the artist. It’s the antithesis of mass production—each stitch carries intention, each choice of fabric reflects personal aesthetic, each finished piece emerges as a small act of rebellion against a culture of disposability.

When I create a garment, I’m not just assembling fabric and thread. I’m weaving together tradition and innovation, patience and passion, skill and soul. In an age of algorithms and automation, the slight imperfections that mark human hands—the subtle variations in seam width, the gentle curves where a machine might create sharp angles—these become precious signatures of authenticity.

Perhaps this crafted renaissance isn’t just a trend, but a return to what we’ve always known: that beautiful things take time, that quality outlasts quantity, and that there’s something irreplaceable about owning something made with love and intention.

Connections, stories and lasting beauty

In this moment of recognition, we artisans don’t just create clothing—we create connections, stories, and lasting beauty in a world that desperately needs all three.  From our ancestors to our current lifestyle it’s important to recognize where we come from and how we got to where we are.   From sketches to the final product working with me is an experience you will never forget, in fact it might become your new way of dressing!

Interested in working with me?  Reach out here

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Details Matter

This beautiful one-shoulder design has a see-through waistline and embossed details on the skirt. Hand-stitching is a feature of slow fashion adding a unique, artisanal quality to clothing. The layered see-though skirt has a horsehair hem that creates incredible movement as it appears to float around your body.

Compact for travel

The Morgan dress is a beauty, in addition, she’s also tough.  Thanks to the unique materials this dress can be rolled up and packed away for traveling. Just pop it out upon arrival and you’re ready for a glass of champagne!  Moreover, the color and design are perfect for summer garden parties, guest cocktail wear, social occasions, or even as a youthful Mother-of-the-Bride.

Watch for new neoprene pieces in the fall season. This material is taking off as a great option for everyday wear like dresses and jackets.  Exciting designs await the arrival of the new fabric.

Check out this find along with other unique pieces, looking for their forever homes.  As a matter of fact these are special, marked-down prices found at From The Vault.

Model:  @dorotka777

Photographer:  @Hardysphotos

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The history of caftans for women dates back to ancient times.  A caftan is a loose fitting garment that mixes ancient tradition wear with modern style.

In the early 1900 Paul Poiret a highly acclaimed Parisian designer opted to begin a movement to alleviate those highly designed tight fitting corsets of the late 1890’s by introducing caftan’s.  As a result, Poiret’s early 1900’s designer collection caftans became a high fashion statement.

Nowadays you can find caftans offered in many different fabrications, with different embellishments and many lengths.  Choices can be tee length, full length, with long sleeves or just grazing your elbow.

My go to favorite caftan right now is a silk burnout velvet (glorious to wear against your skin).  It has a cotton high turtleneck and cotton push up sleeves.  A perfect combination of luxurious fabrics to wear indoors or pair with leggings and boots when venturing out.

Is a caftan right for you?

Is a caftan right for you?  I’d say yes, as a wide range of body types can wear caftans with ease and comfort because of their loose fit.  It is your indiviudal, magical style that you project that will carry off the design.

With the onset of covid, many women and men alike are opting to wear caftans around the home, by the fireplace and soon to be outdoors by the poolside.  It’s a current trend that you don’t want to miss.

Editorial Publication in Elegant Magazine

My constant need for luxurious fabrics can now be found in my limited edition caftan choices.  We recently did a photoshoot of some of my offerings.  The editorial piece was published in Elegant Magazine for the New Year.  Here are some of those caftans.

Photographer:EJCarr/Makeup:Tiaja Pierre/Model:Samantha Joseph/Fashion:BrooksLTD

These  photos were taken on the streets of Denver, but it feels like a Mediterranean seaside scene.

We all are longing for those days when we can travel again to warmer climates and sit seaside. Even think Arizona or Florida.

Until then, a caftan is a good choice to add to your already full closet.

See these and more on my shop page here.

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What is Slow fashion?  It is a term that has been talked about for a long time.  The fashion industry has been amping up the awareness for slow fashion brands.

I googled the term and this is what came up: “Slow fashion is the movement of designing, creating, and buying garments for quality and longevity. It encourages slower production schedules, fair wages, lower carbon footprints, and (ideally) zero waste. —”

Let’s look at these three terms, quality, longevity, zero waste.

Quality

Investing in quality over quantity is something that will help our environment.  Look inside a garment before purchasing it.  At a young age, I remember my Mother buying me a dress when I took it home, I looked inside and saw the seams were already raveling.  I took the entire dress apart and re stitched all of the seams including finishing the seams so they wouldn’t ravel.  That was about 50 years ago!

TIP: seams need to be finished to prevent raveling.

Longevity

Longevity, from Webster’s dictionary this means  “long existence”.  We are seeing a large trend in upscale recycling stores becoming at the forefront of retail.  This is because quality vintage items can withstand the test of time, in other words, have a long existence.  It pleases me that some of my clients still have pieces I’ve created decades ago.

TIP:  recycle your wardrobe by putting a piece in the back of your closet and bring it out a few years later. It becomes new to you again.

Zero Waste

“The Zero Waste philosophy attempts to encourage a lifestyle that ensures as many products and materials are reused, rather than ending up in landfills. The clue really is in the name – ‘zero waste’ means trying to prevent anything from ending up in landfill or incinerator. The overall goal is to keep materials in circulation for as long as is possible, by ensuring numerous valuable lifecycles. Instead of discarding resources, the aim is to create a system whereby all of them are able to be reused again.”  (excerpt taken from google)

This is a large scale term for many items-plastic bottles for instance. However,  for the clothing business it means repurposing fabrics.

Repurposing fabrics into new garments, or new accessories has been a goal for my brand, using zero waste.

Here is an example of one of many pieces that I have used slow fashion in my designs.  I had the fabric in my stash for a few years as it was on the end of a roll.    I came up with this design for the ‘leftover’ fabric.  I didn’t quite have enough so I recreated the pattern design to include the yoke at the front of the garment to make it work. The creative juices produced a new design based on  zero waste.  The hand stitching slows me down, keeps me accountable in order to give you a unique piece that only you will have, a one of a kind!

Teodora Pogonat Photographer

See and purchase this piece in my new shop page here.

Thank you for the following, 2021 will start out as a continuing challenge, I am grateful for your ongoing support as we all filter through how to maintain calmness in the middle of a panemdic.  If you have any topics you would like me to address, please leave them in the comments below.

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Denim dress done differently with a tencel fiber seems to be a new theme for my brand.

“The (tencel) fibers originate from the renewable raw material wood, created by photosynthesis. The certified biobased fibers are manufactured using an environmentally responsible production process. The fibers are certified as compostable and biodegradable, and thus can fully revert back to nature.”

 https://www.tencel.com

As a result, tencel now becomes a sustainable fabric! TENCEL™ branded cellulosic fibers define a new standard of sustainability and natural comfort.  Also known as tencel lyocell.

Three new denim designs

Designing 3 different pieces incorporating denim gives  a new sense of awareness for my love of denim.  This caftan shape tencel dress  has movement in the body. Of course there are pockets to hold your necessary items.  It’s carefree, casual and comfortable for hanging around the house as well as going to beach.  The open arms has a peak a boo effect without baring too much skin.

The second one is a turtleneck style that is draped  into a tencel cocoon dress. A cocoon, it’s just that– you feel like curling up as if you were inside a cocoon.  With the turtleneck sleeve and neck element it protects you from the elements of mother nature when changing weather  arrives.  I’ve detailed it with hand stitching along the sleeve line giving it a slow fashion feeling.  Something I like to do in front the the TV on cold winter nights.

Lastly is a sweatshirt shape. This design on tencel has been treated with a pinkish color to create colorful, artful shapes along  the hipline.  As a result, separate appliques are stitched onto the garment on top of the pinkish dyed color in the garment.

See these pieces and purchase them in my shop here.

I trust denim will follow my branding as the new year develops.

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I am engaged with a facebook group one that is giving back during this pandemic 2020 crisis and  is connected with healthcare facilities and hospitals where the need is currently great.  Through this group my masks have been and will be distributed to those in need at this time.  The fashion and the sewist community has responded incredibly well in helping out.  For those of you interested in Colorado companies that have expanded to other forms of making PPE(personal protection equipment) check this out.

As I experiment I am committed to produce some of these masks quickly for their use.  Because I am a one woman operation I am limited to any kind of production.   In an effort to help, I would like to share what I’ve come up with for the end product, if you are able to sew masks, here is what I’ve researched.  The best pattern and instruction  I’ve used is from this Video which I then added my own version of what I think is helpful.  I use an electric sissor for this project as I am cutting more than one out at a time.  Since I have very little cotton fabrics on hand I am cutting into a king sized sheet that is cotton and polyester.  It’s best to use cotton as suggested in the video I just shared.

Sheets cut up for mask making

Finished mask

The mask is itself is relatively easy to construct.  I’ve chosen not to incorporate the nose wire or the pocket for extra filters. I am also using my knit stach (100% Cotton) from tee shirts that I have in my closet to create a softer feeling against your skin.

Tee shirt cut up

The quick part for me is adding the adjustable strings for individual fit.  Instead of stitching each string at the corners, which is time consuming, I suggest stitching a casing at the ends of each side (from ear to chin-think of it like a waistline drawstring casing).  Stitch the string which I am cutting to 54″, there is only one string to be inserted in both side casings and then tied at the crown of the head.  I knot the end of the strings to keep it from falling out and tack the string at the center of the casing so it does not get lost when washed.  When worn, it can be adjusted tight against the chin so there is no opening to allow debris to filter in.

I will continue to incorporate making these masks on a daily basis, in addition to my current work– but any extra help from the community is greatly needed.  If you have questions reach out here and I can connect you to the authorities I know that are distributing DIY masks.

Here I am wearing my mask on the somber side.

Here are some other links that may help you decide which way to make your own mask. Make your own mask.  The New York Times how to make face mask.  NPR came out with a very informative article read it here.

Important tips:  When you wear your mask, be conscious of how you take it off, be sure not to touch the fabric part of the mask. When you come inside from wearing it, be sure to ALWAYS wash it in warm water with detergent after each wear.  One never knows where the virus molecules will land.

  WEAR MASKS WHEN GOING OUT  You protect me, I protect you

Happy sewing.

Stay safe and stay home.

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Meet Jessica, a power house woman who I had the pleasure of dressing a few months prior for a Cancer League Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion show.

During our first consultation, we picked out the perfect fabric for her summer frock, took measurements and I sketched a design appropriate for the Kentucky Derby.  Fast forward to look at the fabric draped on my mannequin to see the grainlines:

Jessica had picked out several hat options and we chose one in particular that would be a subtle contrast to the color of the dress. I chose silk organza in that color for the lining which would show because of the high low hem and would be a subtle design detail.

The first fitting was a muslin to get the bust point and neckline in the exact place necessary.  The muslin was a bit small and needed adjustments, which is always the case and it’s why we start with a prototype.  

After the corrections are made and a new muslin is cut, I use that as my pattern to cut the fashion fabric out and then the sewing begins.

At the second fitting I tweak the fashion fabric on Jessica’s body. You can see from the photo below that in order for the dress to fit snuggly at the waist I have to take it in and insert structures so that when she moves the dress stays taut.  

At the final fitting we have a good time documenting the final garment. It was most important to me that the bodice fit perfectly, that no bra lines are showing and that the décolleté is correctly exposed.

The hat needed some decoration to set the dress apart so I added white feathers which went with the whimsy style of the dress.

As I mentioned above, relationships are often formed during the dress design process. Jessica and I have a lot of future plans together. Both of us being breast cancer survivors, we are passionate about empowering women for early detection and self-examination. Jessica has started an organization to help educate women, called Night Out with “The Girls”. She has creative ways to make the educational process effective and fun. Definitely check it out!

Thank you, Jessica, for choosing me as your couturier for this project. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for our next venture! 

You can also read more about this project on Denver Post’s Your Hub!  

Looking for a custom designed dress for a special occasion?

Whether you’re looking for a truly unique wedding dress, an elegant mother of the bride dress, a creative gala or party dress, or other artful ensemble creations, reach out to Brooks LTD for a design that suits you and fits perfectly! Contact me online or call 303-573-3801.  

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I recently attended the show alone, since a friend was not able to attend the preview that day. It was cold and rainy outside, which made it the perfect time to see such an exciting event indoors. I thought it was very interesting for me to see the show by myself, and I think I retained more of the details since I could really concentrate on the entire show.

I saw over 200 couture designs, as well as videos, sketches and dozens of great photographs. The curator, Florence Müller, did a beautiful job articulating many designs in her audio review.

The fashion house of Dior was first founded in 1947, after World War II, and the exhibit’s first display showed the “New Look” of their initial couture garment from this time period. The piece is very tailored, but with a softness and a feeling of femininity — hopeful that women were longing for that femininity after the war.

Although the design looks simple, the intricate shaping and details make it iconic and revolutionary for its time. Not everyone was happy about the turn of this kind of fashion after the devastating war, especially since it was a luxury collection available only to the wealthy during a time of rebuilding for the world.

Fast forward to today, and this look has been the inspiration for the future designers of the house. The exhibit featured an updated dress modeled after the original New Look from 1947, with new details adding a soft, yet strong sense of tailoring to create a feminine look. The pleated sleeves are creatively attached at the shoulder, the waist is softly defined and the contrasting pleated skirt is alluring and feminine. As you can see in the image below, there’s even a beautiful headpiece to go with the look, created by Stephen Jones of Dior — who I was fortunate enough to hear speak at this event before the show opened!

Yves St Laurent was Dior’s protege at the time of his death and became the head designer, and each time I walk through the exhibit (to date I have attended four times), a quote from him resonates with how I interpret what I design:

“Being a fashion designer is to make women attractive by taking into account their body, their gestures and their attitudes.”

Having this exhibit at my fingertips has enabled me to understand what I set out to do in my own small way over 40 years ago. I love to help women feel beautiful by expressing how they feel when they wear a beautiful design — made especially for them.

Below are a few photos from the exhibit (on the left) alongside of some of my own designs (on the right). We are all heavily influenced by our surroundings and other people. Seeing this exhibit helps me feel that I am on the right track. My blue gown has hand made 3D embellishments. My stylized bow (bottom right photo) is placed stragetically at the center back neck.   There are many details in the garments displayed that I have learned from and I trust my memory will somehow incorporate something from this exhibit in my future collections. I appreciate always learning something new. You can even check out some of my latest lifestyle fashion designs here! 

My favorite room from the exhibit was the flower garden. Dior and his predecessors loved flowers and gardening and it’s apparent in the clothing designs. Not only was I overwhelmed  with the elegant garments, but the mannequins even looked like they were floating on an invisible display. I can’t imagine the work it took to get each detail perfect when setting up this show. Needless to say I floated out of this room with a huge smile on my face.

Take a look at this video which features how the dresses were transported and set up for these magical displays:

The Dior exhibit is a learning experience that all ages and genders can relate to. After all, as the curator Florence Müller explains in the audio:

“Fashion is a form of art that deals with human beings. This is what makes it unique among the arts and makes it so challenging. The body is a shape that is restless, always moving, always changing, just like the imagination of the couturier.”

There have been moments in my 40+ year career when I’ve been told that my clothes are, “too much fashion and not enough fantasy.” I found that to be quite a challenge as I believe that art and fashion go hand in hand no matter if it’s fantasy, reality or a little of both. This exhibit confirms my belief.

I can’t wait to go back, time and time again, until the show ends after March 3rd. If you’re hoping to visit the exhibit, head on over to the Denver Art Museum’s website for more information.

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Here are some helpful questions to ask during your initial consultation with a custom dress designer:

What might our timeline look like?

Be sure to communicate with your dress designer about when your event is before ordering a dress. This will help you both to better prepare for how much time you have, when fittings should take place, and approximately when you’ll be able to pick up the dress before the big event.  We usually allow 6-8 weeks for a custom gown and less time for smaller projects.

My clients are always happy when I can incorporate pockets.

What are my price options?

Custom designed dresses can vary in price in a few key ways. If you already have a specific budget range in mind, talk about your ideal and maximum budgets for this product. This helps in determining the design elements and the fabric choices.

We require a deposit of half down at the time of the order, one quarter before we cut into the fashion fabric and the balance upon delivery.

Which fabrics might work best with our vision?

Designing a custom dress should be a collaborative experience. After you explore ideas that may work for your wedding or special event, ask your designer’s opinion on which fabrics might be best for bringing your ideas to life.  Certain fabrics will respond to specific design lines.  Let your designer be the guide for what is best for your ensemble as a designer has the expertise you are looking for.

How many fittings will I need and are fittings included in the cost?

Typically, you may only need a couple of fittings, but for more extravagant ideas there may be more required.  At Brooks LTD we pride ourselves in having samples for a client to try on before the fitting process begins. Below is an example of a muslin prototype that has the fit and design lines that the final garment will have.

Talk with your designer about the numbers of fittings. At Brooks LTD, additional fittings are included in the overall investment of the dress design, once a price is quoted we do not change our price unless the client adds something to the original request.

What types of undergarments should I wear?

Every dress design will be unique, so ask your designer for thoughts on appropriate undergarments to wear in a way that will be flattering and won’t negatively impact the way the dress looks on you.  It is very important that you as the client bring or wear the exact underpinnings to each fitting as that determines the fit, so it’s a waste of time to have a fitting without appropriate undergarments. And don’t forget: shoes are also part of the fitting!

Delivery of the final product.

At the final fitting you will try on the finished product which will be pressed and ready to go.  We prefer to take a few photos for our records, we ask each client to pose on delivery day. Each gown is packaged so that it will travel well, whether it is locally or headed for a drive to your venue.

Contact a Custom Dress Designer in Denver, CO

Whether you’re looking for a truly unique wedding dress, an elegant mother of the bride dress, a creative gala or party dress, or other artful ensemble creations, reach out to Brooks LTD for a design that suits you and fits perfectly! Contact me online or call 303-573-3801.  

Thank you to Frances Photography for these great photos!

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Not only is a custom-designed dress made to fit your body, but you’ll love being able to wear something tailored to your fashion vision and style — especially if you have something extraordinary in mind that is more specific to your individual personality.

But when it comes to working with a custom dress designer, there are a few important things to look for before your commitment. Here’s what you should look for in a dress designer to find one that’s right for you.

Experience & Expertise

When you meet with a potential designer, ask how long they’ve been in this line of work. Those with more experience will often have a better perspective on the dress shapes, colors, and fabrics that can help you create an entirely unique ensemble. Hiring a designer is also requires trusting in their expertise and guidance, so you’ll want someone who can bring a professional opinion to the table.

And although there are many clothing designers out there, find someone who has a background in creating high quality ensembles (such as gowns, dresses, skirts, jackets and blouses) so they can better suggest the right fabrics and style for such an important event.

They will also know the right questions to ask you in return, making the design process smoother and more transparent, so you clearly understand each step the entire way.

Portfolio

This tip may sound obvious, but it can be one of the most important to helping you find the right designer. Look through samples of work they’ve done in the past. See which dresses they’ve designed that you may or may not want to borrow inspiration from.

Honesty

You should feel comfortable with the person you’re working with, and this requires a good amount of honesty and transparency. It’s better to hire a dress designer who is up-front about what may or may not be possible (say, with certain fabrics that may not match the style you’re going for), than someone who says “Yes” to everything and doesn’t achieve your vision in the end as they promised.

Creativity & Artistry

You aren’t looking to have someone create a custom dress if you’re hoping to wear something unoriginal, so look for a designer who thinks outside the box!

Ask for their insights, ideas and opinions. Creating your dress should be a collaborative effort in order to bring an out of the ordinary design to life. Work with an artistic dress designer who uses creative design elements, and you can feel confident as you walk into your event with an ensemble that is truly “yours”!

Contact a Custom Dress Designer in Denver, CO

Whether you’re looking for a truly unique wedding dress, an elegant mother of the bride dress, a creative gala or party dress, or other artful ensemble creations, reach out to Brooks LTD for a design that suits you and fits perfectly! Contact me online or call 303-573-3801.  

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