For Nicole Harris, owner of Nicole’s Tailoring Boutique in the Metro East suburb of Granite City, sewing is more than a profession, it is a craft, an art form, and a way of helping customers feel their best during some of life’s most memorable moments.
Some might not immediately consider a tailor as a retailer, but Nicole sees things differently.
“I’m not selling dresses, but I am a retailer because I’m selling a service,” she said. “A service that’s almost like a dying industry.”
That perspective reflects the changing nature of retail today. Whether selling products or providing specialized services, retailers solve problems, build relationships and serve their communities. For Nicole, those community connections are just as important as the alterations and custom sewing work she performs every day.
A craft learned at home
Nicole’s passion for sewing started early in her life. She learned to sew from her mom.
“My mom used to make clothing for my sister all the time. I was always interested in sewing,” she said.
What started as a personal interest turned out to be a creative outlet. When her sons were young, Nicole began sewing medieval and Renaissance costumes for fun. The hobby generated extra income and eventually led her into bridal alterations and formal wear. Over time, she developed the highly specialized skills that define her work today.
“There is a big difference between sewing on a button and ripping apart a bridal gown and putting it back together, or replacing a zipper,” Nicole said. “Pretty much everybody can do a button, but not everybody can take apart clothing and put it back together. What I do takes years of training, expertise and a special eye.”
Nicole works on a wide range of garments entrusted to her by her customers, ranging from wedding gown alterations and custom garments to hemming jeans and creating sentimental keepsakes, such as christening gowns or bridal robes made from family wedding dresses.
Stitching together success in a changing industry
Nicole says she believes the rise of fast fashion has altered the relationship many consumers have with clothing.
“People can get items a lot cheaper now because they’re made a lot cheaper,” she said. “Years ago, you would only have so many items in your closet because they were made to last.”
The fast-fashion industry has dramatically increased the availability of inexpensive clothing, often produced with lower-cost materials and construction methods. While that affordability may benefit some consumers, it has also contributed to a culture of replacement rather than repair.
“The fabrics and everything are made cheaper,” stressed Nicole. “People are spending less money to buy those items, versus years ago when you would spend more on a wardrobe that would last longer because the fabric was made better and the way it was constructed was made better.”
At the same time, Nicole says the tailoring profession itself faces a challenge: a shrinking pipeline of new talent.
“I’m the only tailor or seamstress that’s around for miles. People will drive an hour to come here,” said Nicole who noted that she believes a decline of sewing education has contributed to the shortage.
“They’re just not teaching it (sewing) in schools anymore like they used to,” Nicole said. “I wish they still taught it because there are kids out there that are very interested in it. Because they’re not teaching it, I believe it’s impacting the industry, because we don’t have enough tailors or seamstresses anymore.”
Building a business that brings people together
Although Nicole has been performing alterations for more than 20 years, opening her storefront represented a major step forward. After leaving a corporate job in the bridal industry, she started her business from her home. As demand grew, so did the volume of work.
“Stuff was stacking up everywhere,” she said. “Finally, me and my husband looked at each other and were like, ‘I think we need to take a step.’”
Three years after opening Nicole’s Tailoring Boutique, Nicole says the response of customers has exceeded her expectations.
“When I first opened up, I knew that I would be somewhat busy just because there wasn’t a place in Granite anymore,” she said. “But in a good way.”
The business has become more than a destination for alterations. It has also become a draw for downtown Granite City according to Nicole.
“I get people coming in from other cities that are like, ‘We did not even know this was all down here,’” Nicole said. “It’s definitely helping downtown Granite City and helping people realize that we’re here.”
More than a job
For Nicole, owning her own business has created benefits far beyond the walls of her shop.
“Besides the financial stability, there’s a lot less stress doing what you love to do versus doing what’s just a job,” she said. “Yeah, this is a job for me. But it’s what I love to do. It’s fun.”
That success has helped provide opportunities for her family, including financial support for her children as they pursue higher education opportunities. But perhaps the most rewarding part of her work comes from helping customers prepare for important milestones.
“I love seeing customers come in,” Nicole said. “I am helping them look their best when it comes to graduations all the way through prom, through weddings. The fact that I played a big role in helping them look their best on their special day makes me feel awesome.”
Retail is about relationships
Like many successful retailers, Nicole believes relationships are the foundation of long-term success.
“If I could give somebody advice that’s going into retail, it would be to make sure you get to know your customer,” she said.
Those relationships often extend far beyond measurements and fittings.
“I get customers that come in and tell me their stories, their health problems, their family issues,” Nicole said. “Get to know your customer and your client, and they will get to know you and refer other clients to you.”
Her approach reflects a personalized experience that independent retailers can offer, and something that cannot be replicated by a website or a self-checkout lane.
“I believe Nicole’s Tailoring Boutique matters because not only am I providing a service that wasn’t in this area, but it’s almost bringing family-owned business back,” Nicole said. “My goal is to provide that ‘everybody knows your name attitude.”
In an era of fast fashion and growing consolidation, Nicole is preserving a craft that requires patience, precision and creativity. More importantly, she says she is proving that retail is about much more than selling products. It is about serving people, building community and helping customers create memories that last a lifetime.
