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I, Anita Jane, was born in 1951, an only child, whose Mother was mad on dressmaking, embroidery, knitting and crochet. So it was inevitable that I would follow in her footsteps. I sewed and embroidered at Junior School and won a few accolades and I have a piece displayed in Guildford Cathedral.
During my education at Senior School, dressmaking was my only passion, and the piece I designed and made for my 1st year in 'A' Levels caught the eye of an assessor at the London College of Fashion, who then offered me a place on a Degree Course, with the ultimate position of being accepted as a Court Dressmaker with backing from Liberty of London.
Unfortunately, my Father saw no future in my passion and made me leave school and sign up as a Bank Clerk where I stayed for 10 years. During that time I went to night school, went through one marriage, married again to a marvellous man and became pregnant at the grand age of 44 with my third child. When she started school, my husband told me to 'go and do whatever I want, as it was now my time'....so I did.
I went to every needlework class I could enrol in (including a Millinery Course at the London College of Fashion) passed my City and Guilds in Tailoring and Pattern Cutting, and then finished the first year in a Fashion and Design Diploma. Unfortunately, my Mum became ill so I had to stop to nurse her and by the time she was back on her feet the course had packed up through lack of Government funding.
I found a school in Nottingham and would go away for days at an end, learning about the construction of bras, knickers, & camisoles, intending to make them for customers, but the price of the lace was too much for customers to afford. But at the same school I went on a course to learn how to make Victorian Corsets and became hooked!
Four years ago I started my business Anita Jane Bespoke Victorian Corsets making Corsets and since then I have made hundreds of beautiful Corsets for beautiful women who want to emphasise their assets in stunning made-to-measure Corsets.
In 2008 I was awarded with 'Membership of the Guild of Essex Craftsmen' for my work.
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