The people of Fabrique!
Lora Simonds is the owner of "Fabrique!". She was a dressmaker for over 20 years and specialized in bridal. Lora believes that sewing with unique fabrics is the quickest way to develop a personal style, be creative and have fun all at once. She loves the idea of contributing to the Dallas fashion scene where sewing and fashion are making a dramatic come back. She has a merchandising background combined with dressmaking skills that specialized in bridal. After twenty years of sewing for the public she decided the North Texas area needed a fine fabric store for the best fashion fabric. Her husband suggested she open a store with style and fashion forward ideas to excite the sewing public. After two years of brainstorming, a trip to New York and a hearty dose of hard work, Lora created her "Fabrique!". The store teaches advanced sewing techniques using the newest tools and design elements
Carol Foley taught at Stephens College in Columbia, MO for over 20 years. She wrote the "Pattern making" book with Jeanne Powell that is available at Fabrique. She teaches the Beginner, Intermediate and Skirt classes too. Carol is available to talk with you on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday about these classes.
Lauren Rusten has been with Fabrique since June of 2009. She graduated from Baylor University with a Fashion Design degree. She has always enjoyed playing with fabric whether it is through manipulation techniques, print designs, or fiber dying. Lauren has a good eye for color and fabric combinations. Her responsibilities here include visual displays, inventory, website design, writing the blog, writing the newsletter, and customer service with a smile! She now sells custom bridal head pieces, veils and silk flowers on Etsy @ HOUSEofLOVELY
Tanya McCullah has been sewing since she was a little girl in Russia! She has sewn as a hobby and continues to sew and teach sewing in her free time. She started out learning and sewing with a Juki industrial machine. Since she's been in the US, she has come to love sewing with the Juki home machines because they are so similar to the industrial machines. With her unique background and experiences, Tanya brings a new flavor to the store.
Penny joined the Fabrique! family in March of 2010. She first learned to love sewing in home ec class in high school, when she made a bathrobe (which she still wears). Her interest was rekindled with a few classes at the Austin School of Fashion Design, where she met her mentor and partner in crime, who introduced her to the world of costuming. Penny continues to add skills to her arsenal for both costume and garment construction, thanks to the talented ladies of Fabrique!
Sue Gibson came to Fabrique! In January 2011. Like so many ardent seamstresses, she started on her grandmother’s floor making doll clothes with scraps, and never stopped. Sue has sewn all types of garments, including formals and wedding dresses, baby clothes, lingerie, and tailored coats and suits. After wearing out a Singer and an Elna, she now sews on a Janome and lusts after a Juki! Sue says her favorite thing at Fabrique! is helping a customer realize her vision for a special garment, and hearing her say “Oh! That’s exactly what I wanted!” She enjoys being able to spend time with her customers, whether it’s picking out the perfect buttons to spice up a favorite jacket, or finding the exact silk and lace that a bride has been dreaming of. The worst part of the job is trying to keep her fabricoholism in check!
Bridget Jernigan is the one and only local native of Dallas, where she began sewing at the age 11 and won 1st place in an Art/Science Fair for her dress & shirt entries. Six years later she took on another sewing challenge, her prom dress. From there it all fell into place so she majored in Apparel Design & Manufacturing with minors in Retailing and Art at Texas Tech University. After graduating she enhanced her fashion retailing working at various boutiques before joining the Fabrique! family in May of 2011.
Meg Muller recently joined “my favorite fabric store” after being a customer and taking classes over the last few years. She learned how to sew from her Mother when she was 12 years old. After sewing the right side to the right side (as opposed to the wrong/right side) she enrolled in a local YWCA sewing class and made a beautiful blue flowered cotton suit which began her passion for sewing. Her real job in supply chain management moved her all over the country. In order to have unique business attire she continued sewing and taking classes including from Linda Lee of “The Sewing Workshop” while living in California. Now she can’t believe she gets paid to spend time at a fabulous fabric store and be with creative, knowledgeable “fabricholics” who are passionate about creating beautiful couture. Like Sue, it’s time to retire her 20 year old Bernina for Juki sewing and serger machines!