Caroline has her future sewn up

SEAMSTRESS Caroline Paterson has turned her hobby into a business — and has been so successful she has had to take space in a unit in Royton town centre.

Caroline has been making dresses and clothing for herself, family and friends since she was 11, and now, at 36, has opened Strictly Dress Fever in Shepherd Street.

A mother of four young children, Caroline was finding space increasingly difficult in the family home in Royton and was constantly fielding questions from her husband about the growing business.

“I keep telling him I’m building an empire,” laughs Caroline, who is deadly serious when it comes to her sewing and creative skills.

She has taken space in order to grow the business, which supplies bespoke bridal wear — mostly bridesmaids’ dresses and waistcoats and cravats for pageboys — and dance attire for both sexes.

Caroline said: “We specialise in bespoke dancewear, bridal wear, menswear — this comes under our other brand name Navy Blue — and sell Roch Valley dancewear and shoes, fabrics, haberdashery, sewing patterns and rhinestones.

“We have hundreds of pattern books so people can choose anything - we can even mix and match. In fact, we can make them almost anything,” she says taking a break from a busy shift.

When business gets too hectic Caroline is able to call upon the services of Celia Davies, from Rochdale, who takes time out from her studies for a textile degree at Bolton Institute, to ease the workload.

It is all a long way from the accounts department of SSL plc at Trafford where Caroline spent much of her working life. Surrounded by sewing machines, garments and bolts of cloth she is obviously in her element at Strictly Dance Fever, already planning the next phase of her development by casting envious eyes at the empty unit next door as she prepares to expand.