Hello, my name is Vanessa

​I have worked in the sewing and fashion industry for over ten years in a variety of roles and locations. I graduated with a first class BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textiles Design from the University of Portsmouth and stayed on at the university after graduating as the pattern cutting and garment construction technician. Alongside this, I ran classes teaching sewing machine and dressmaking skills and also managed to fit in a part time job as a sales assistant at Hobbs, which is where I gained much of my style experience.
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I went on to work for Johnstons of Elgin in Scotland as part of the construction team before progressing on to become the company's machine training consultant, training the new and existing staff members in order to improve efficiency and accuracy.    
On moving to London, I worked as a seamstress for a designer dress hire company, where I repaired and altered their extensive collection of designer evening and occasion wear, working with a vast range of materials and styles from lightweight delicate fabrics to heavily beaded designs.

​When I moved to Devon in 2014, I took the opportunity to set up my own business and Devon Dressmaker was born. I now work from my own home sewing studio near Chudleigh, taking on all types of dressmaking work. I also work at Make at 140 in Plymouth and Thimblestitch in Honiton as a sewing tutor.