Turning up the skinniest of driveways
opposite the Almond Train on Main
Road, McLaren Vale, you come across
the humble structure that is home to
‘She Sews’.
But once inside the tiny beige building, a veritable Aladdin’s cave
opens up. And there, in amongst the brightly-coloured jewellery and
accessories, the French lace, the sumptuous silks, the smooth linens,
and rows and rows of extraordinary handmade dresses, you will find
owner and seamstress extraordinaire Megan Caldersmith.
It is quite a modest base for someone of such extensive talents.
Megan is an artist, seamstress, stylist, designer, mother, collaborator
and entrepreneurial business owner. We are lucky that she and her
family chose to call the Fleurieu home after time spent in Adelaide,
Western Australia and the Coonawarra.
Megan’s grandmother Pearl was a very accomplished lace maker
and dressmaker. She supplied the Women’s Work Depot in Adelaide,
a co-operative that opened after the First World War, where talented
women could sell their handmade items to contribute to the earnings
of their household. These timeless skills were passed onto her
daughter, Megan’s mother Ros, and in turn to Megan.
Megan learnt to sew at just five years old. While she loved fabrics
and sewing, her first passion was art. After school she enrolled in a
Fine Art degree at Underdale, majoring in photography and textiles.
But Megan worried about the limited commercial applications of
her chosen study path. She decided to transfer into a Diploma in
Fashion, majoring in marketing. For Megan, it was so important to be
able to make a living in a job and industry that she truly loved.
Megan had spent a number of years working in the fashion industry
in Adelaide, notably Dynamix BodyWear and Puddle Duck Designs,
when an interesting opportunity caught her eye. Betrothed Bridal
Boutique on Kensington Road was up for sale at the same time
as Puddle Duck Designs was closing its doors. She discussed this
opportunity with then colleague at Puddle Duck, production manager
Nikki Atkinson, and the two decided to form a partnership, running
the Betrothed business successfully for twelve years.It is at this juncture that I should point out that Megan is a full-blown,
diagnosed, license holding, borderline crazy wedding addict! She
admits to this happily, even when I may have been unable to stifle a
small groan and eye roll, giving away the fact that I am not so much
in the wedding-loving camp. Megan loves absolutely everything about
them, especially the dresses, the ceremony and being able to be a
part of someone’s special day. So, owning a bridal boutique was her
true happy place. The accolades and awards for Betrothed flowed >Page left: Fashion pieces constructed in embroidered lace handmade at She Sews. Above: Owner and seamstress extraordinaire Megan Caldersmith with a vintage lace
collar made by her grandmother which will soon be incorporated into a custom piece.