Repurposed Life. Alterations Included.
I have been struggling to find a job for the past couple of years. I come across so many where I am on the border of getting something, but get rejected at the last minute. I had found a part-time job but lacked a proper commute that wasn't public transportation, and I didn't own a car, which didn't take me far.
I was hired somewhere, but after a couple of weeks, I was let go because my supervisor did not respond well to my independence. Instead of offering guidance or correcting mistakes, which I will admit I made, I received reprimands, and the role ended quickly after it began. I had lost the job the day I'd started.
There are very long lists of reasons and rants about that experience, but this isn't my platform to share them.
Fast forward to April 2026, when I walked into a sewing shop after seeing an advertisement for an assistant position. I had never used a Juki, which was a requirement. When I walked into the shop, I told the person I didn't have experience with industrial machines and that I wanted to volunteer, intern, and learn from here. As interested as she had seemed, she'd given me a run around, where I didn't end up sitting at a table until June 1. No training. No display of expectation. It was a rough day. I had to watch YouTube on how to use that machine, and it kept screwing up every minute, and I wasted a whole hour there without any supervision. She didn't help me, didn't provide any feedback, and then never got back to me.
How hard is it to get an intern who really, really wants to learn from you? Evidently, it's impossible.
One thing I noticed while I was there was a glimpse into her pricing approach. The hem project was priced far too high. I won't share the exact amount, but I wouldn't pay that much to have those trousers hemmed. That said, I do have the skill to do that type of work myself.
I spoke with a few people afterward, and they weren't sure what a reasonable price would be either. It could be because I buy secondhand clothing 99% of the time, but it made me question the value proposition. It's hard to justify paying three times the cost of thrifted linen pants just to have them hemmed.
Then…
I was shooting my shot in the dark. I posted on Facebook in several places that I can offer affordable alterations, such as hemming, etc, for a low price. I got a lot of comments on my post, and through that, I have managed to get some clients. So far, I have worked with at least 3 people who have required my services. I am following up with others who showed interest.
As I work on these projects, I am learning about labor costs. My prices are too low for these projects, but I also want to learn and start a slow-sewing business. Slow with clients and slow with the process. If an established store charged $40 for a project, I am charging $20. Partially also because the less you charge, the more pieces of clothing you will get to fix. Such idea also supports a sustainable lifestyle. Am I interested in editing a prom dress? Probably not. But pants, dresses, skirts, that people are thrifting and want to fit their body style, that is the goal.
My goal, and always has been, to support body positivity, get queer and BIPOC energy out in the world, and support a sustainable lifestyle. I want the world to be sustainable, and I also want to pursue a sustainable business. AKA sustain a business ($$.)
I am a long way from making a dent in this world for myself, in the anti-fast-fashion universe, or in getting out there to support thrifting, sewing, and body positivity. But if the last few months have taught me anything, it's that "be scared, but do it anyway."
If I hadn't pursued the things I am passionate about, if I hadn't reached out to the thread shop and supposedly "got rejected," I wouldn't have posted on FB re: alterations, created flyers to post around my neighborhood, and published business cards. I would still be sitting here, without a blog post to write, and smiling about the changes I have already made for myself.
That may be the point of my life. Be scared, but do it anyway.
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In conclusion, I've created a Google Site to share with anyone interested. The link is included here: https://sites.google.com/view/bostonfitandfix/
Overall, the experience has given me plenty to think about and plenty to pursue, and it's a reminder that our perceptions of value are often shaped by our own habits, skills, and priorities.
That's where things are right now. Be well.
