Northants bridal seamstress – called ‘fairy godmother’ by bride – named finalist for regional award
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Mariejoy Walters, known as MJ, founded MJMakes in Oak Road, Brackley back in 2011. She began by offering personalised, embroidered and sewn items and gifts, and added a wedding dress alteration service years later.
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Hide AdMJ was a long-standing member of staff at Tesco and while she was on maternity leave following the birth of her son, she indulged in her sewing hobby – which she first started as a child.
Having discovered that many people needed someone who could sew and there was demand for what she could do, MJ went down to part-time at Tesco and ran MJMakes alongside that.
It was four years later, in 2015, when she took the brave step to begin offering bridal alterations.
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Hide AdMJ is approaching 10 years of running her business full-time after leaving her previous job, and she says this is when the bridal side really took off.
When asked her proudest achievement since setting up the business, MJ told the Chronicle & Echo: “Taking the brave step to become a bridal seamstress and the feedback I consistently get from brides makes me feel very valued. It’s nice to be part of someone’s really special moment.
“I love my job and I love that I can earn some money doing something I really enjoy. As a young person, I never considered this as a career opportunity. Someone recently called me their fairy godmother and that is really rewarding.
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Hide Ad“There’s many years before my son gets married, he’s only 14 and I only have a son. To play dress up with lovely ladies is just a joy.”
MJ is a regional finalist in the bridal seamstress or tailor category at The Wedding Industry Awards, with the chance of being named best in the East Midlands in November and progressing to the national final.
Not only does this recognition celebrate the care and attention to detail that MJ brings to each project, but her passion for empowering brides to feel confident in the way they look.
“It’s really exciting and I’m proud,” said MJ. “I’d be blown away if I won as I’m up against some talented ladies.”
For more information on MJMakes, visit the business’ Facebook page here.
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