I developed an interest in sewing and textiles from a young age. My French grandma was a seamstress, and my great aunt was a textile artist. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, they had a profound influence on me. I would spend time with my great aunt and her textile group, where she taught me about sewing, fabrics, and dyeing techniques. During our summers in the South of France, my grandma ‘JaJa’ would teach me sewing and knitting. I spent hours at the plastic table on her veranda, practicing what she showed me and sketching my own designs.

I later studied Womenswear and Knitwear at Kingston University and spent a year abroad at Hong Kong PolyU. However, after completing numerous unpaid internships in fashion, I began to feel disheartened by the industry. Fashion design had become heavily computer-based, and I felt increasingly disconnected from the hands-on making I loved. I decided to move back to my hometown of Hastings and began working for the textile sewing company Merchant & Mills and later on, worked in costume for london’s west-end shows.

In 2021, I launched Melodie Clothing. I started by selling made-to-order garments online, using sustainable, high-quality fabrics and offering a more customisable approach to clothing. Customers could choose fabric colours, adjust lengths, and provide specific measurements—creating a more personal and thoughtful buying experience.

While making these garments, I also began teaching a beginners’ sewing class for adults in the evenings. Teaching allowed me to connect with the local community, share something I’m deeply passionate about, and inspire people of all ages to sew again. I found it incredibly fulfilling, which led me to expand my classes and, in 2023, open my own sewing workshop.