The dressmaker is quite often perceived as someone who will mend, alter, repair, replace and sometimes, god forbid, even make a garment and do it for next to nothing and unfortunately many dressmakers themselves have fallen into the trap of trying to compete with the High Street in order to stay in work and are always busy but poorly paid.

I was passed a job last June from a dressmaker who didn't have enough time to finish the six silk bridesmaids dresses she had taken on for a September wedding. At this point she had only made one and it had taken her three weeks to complete and she expected each of the others to take the same amount of time so was worried that she wouldn't make them in time which is why she passed them onto me. When she told me how much she was charging the girl I was in shock, she must have bought over £400 worth of fabric on the strength of a £50 deposit, a whole roll of silk, a whole roll of lining and one of net all at retail prices, she said that she buys from them because 'the people are so nice', they can afford to be when they're taking that much money off her.

She was also making wraps, bags, cravats, breast pocket handkerchiefs and a veil for the girl who wanted to pay no more than £1000 for all of it! When I asked why she was working for so long for so little money she said that if she charged more she wouldn't get any customers as they could buy cheaper in Debenhams. I did point out that she was working for less than 50p an hour, but I see that she is still advertising in Devon Weddings magazine.