How I got started as a pattern maker: Heather Menzies

By Guest Author on Jan 5, 2009 at 5:14 pm

My name is Heather Menzies, I’m a pattern maker who got my start in the fashion industry just after I graduated from Michigan State University with a Clothing & Textiles degree. I had been working at Dayton Hudson for about a year as a tailor and also part time at a custom bridal house as a seamstress. A friend of mine called and said she was moving to New York and asked me if I wanted to go. I jumped at the chance. I sold my car for $2000, packed up my cat and sewing machine, and moved. I had exactly 8 weeks to get a job before my money ran out and I landed a position as an assistant designer within a month. It was a stereotypical garmento job. Everything that is negative about the garment center was there. You got to the ‘loft’ office by a rickety and dark freight elevator, the place was filthy, the designer was moody and screamed at EVERYONE, and to top it off the owner of the company was a lecherous and creepy guy. BUT, it was a job and it got me started. As it turned out -I hated being a designer! Too many choices and details etc, and I found it overwhelming.

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