Under the Seam

This creative professional seamstress shop, new in 2012, is owned by Kelly Cassady, a young woman who earned her stripes with a degree in fashion design from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and an internship in New York City.  But Cassady has also worked in the costume shop of The Lost Colony and been sewing since she was 13 years old, so she has a broad understanding of her craft.

Kelly's specialty is custom sewing and dressmaking, but she also does basic alterations as simple as hemming to sizing down your mother’s old wedding dress to fit you for your traditional dream wedding. She can design a dress from scratch, from the pattern to the fabric to the final fit, and her plans include a line of her original day dresses made from exquisite vintage fabric and cloth woven from eco-fibers. She also sews custom swimsuits, quality hand made pieces and fine sewing projects, although she won’t create items like tailored 3-piece suits.  Once her dream for a sewing studio is fully realized, she plans to have numerous industrial sewing machines available so she can teach sewing and design at the shop. Hours are by appointment, so call ahead if you plan to visit.