I, Anita Jane,  was born in 1951, an only child, who’s 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, my dressmaking was the only passion, and the piece I designed and made for my 1^st year in ‘A’ Levels got 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 and 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. But on her starting 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 needle work class I could enrol in ( including a Millinery Course at the London College of Fashion)  and passed my City and Guilds in Tailoring and Pattern Cutting, and then finished the first year in 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 Bra construction, knickers, camisoles, with the intention to make them for customers, but the price of the lace was too much and people were not prepared to pay the prices, but at the same school I went on a course  to learn to make Victorian Corsets and became hooked!

Four years ago I started my business 'Anita' 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.

This year I have been awarded with ‘Membership of Essex Craftsmen’ for my work.