A woman has revealed how she created the designer dress of her dreams from a pair of £5 curtains from a thrift store.
Sophia Brown, 41, known online as Velvet Jones, spent hours cutting and sewing fabric inspired by Teuta Matoshi dresses that sell for thousands.
The London-based burlesque artist and costume designer known online as Velvet Jones has posted a video showing how she made her fabulous dress.
Since then, her video has gone viral with over 250,000 views and thousands of users wanting their own version.
Sophia Brown (pictured), 41, from London, says she wants to show that anyone can learn to sew and they don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Burlesque artist Sophie shows off floral curtains she found at a thrift store before transforming them into a dress.
Sophia wanted to show people that they don’t have to spend a lot of money to make amazing clothes, and posted a clip showing how she turned thrift store curtains into a stunning strapless bustier dress.
She spent hours cutting and sewing fabric after being inspired by Teuta Matoshi dresses that sell for thousands.
Sophia told Jam Press that she was invited to her partner’s friend’s wedding and had “nothing to wear.”
The London-based costume designer known online as Velvet Jones has been sewing for 26 years but only launched her own business in 2019.
Sofia loves dresses by Kosovo-Albanian designer Teuta Matosi, like this floral number, but they can cost upwards of £1,000.
She says she “wanted a fabulous dress” and has always “admired princess dresses”.
It turned out that Teuta Matosi’s dresses were her favorite, but she could never afford such a price.
Sofia has been sewing for 26 years, first taking up a needle when she was 16, but turning it into a profession only a few years ago.
She said, “I have always enjoyed designing clothes since I was a child. Fashion steering wheel as my favorite toy.
“I spent hours designing outfits. I loved watching the Oscars and drawing dresses.”
Sophia holds a degree in fashion design and trained with bridal designers during her university studies.
However, she never pursued fashion design as a career and instead took a job in marketing, admitting that “I didn’t believe in myself”.
Sophia studied fashion design at university but didn’t have the confidence to make it her career.
However, on the side, she made things for herself, and work colleagues always admired and complemented her outfits.
She says she remembers when she got her first order from a work colleague who wanted a party dress, she went home ‘crying’ because she was ‘flattered’ that someone believed in her and ‘trusted’ her to make her the dress. dress.
Then in 2019, Sophia quit her job and made her dream come true by making suits and dresses.
Back in 2017, before starting her own business, Sophia spotted the curtains she used for a viral dress at a charity shop in Margate, Kent.
She is also a burlesque artist and costume designer. Pictured is one of Sofia’s designs.
She said, “I fell in love with the print and saved the fabric for ‘something special.’ Together with other seamstresses, you will find that we have bags of fabrics that we have been collecting for years for “something special” and they are never used.”
It took her two weeks to complete the dress while working on other costume design projects and other work as a burlesque artist.
After finishing the piece, she shared it online, where thousands of people commented on how amazing it was.
One said: “Vooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Another wrote: “The talent is unreal!!”
The third one said: “OMG!!! Blown away!! What a talent, this dress is amazing!! I want this.’
A fourth added, “This is a serious skill. the pattern matches perfectly even on the back.”
Sophie at work on her dress. It took her two weeks to complete and the material only cost £5.
Sophia Brown shows her process of making a curtain dress. Although she has a lot of experience, she says she wants to show that anyone can master the skill and they don’t have to spend a lot of money.
The fifth said: “Wow!! It’s just amazing and you look great in it.”
Sophia says she was “overwhelmed” and that she still gets comments and likes to this day.
She says everyone was very positive and several people ordered the dress through her videos.
Even though she has a lot of experience, she says she wants to show that anyone can master the skill and they don’t have to spend a lot of money.
Sofia added: “Sewing is a very rewarding skill. It’s really underrated.
“My big advice is to go for it.”
She says it’s not a rave and practice makes it perfect, explaining that she’s constantly learning and watching YouTube videos.
“There are so many techniques to learn. The possibilities are endless.’
You can visit Velvet Jones at VelvetJonesburlesque.com.