COVID-19 has done a number on many local businesses in the area. It wiped out regular schooling and all that came with it, including prom.
“I was really bummed I missed prom. I love the prom season,” said Megan Alanen, owner and seamstress at The Stitchery in Superior.
Bits of bead fly up from a pair of pliers as Megan Alanen crushes beads on a wedding dress at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. Rather than removing a string with hundreds of beads on it, Alanen crushed a few beads in the area while making alterations to the dress. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)
It would have been the first prom season for the new business that opened up on Tower Avenue in February. Alanen estimated that 25% of her yearly income would have come during prom season. But that didn’t happen.
But not all was lost. She started making masks to supplement her income and to stay afloat.
“Then in May, it just blew up,” Alanen said.
Megan Alanen trims off part of a bridal train of a dress after shortening it at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)
After an April with no fittings whatsoever, her phone started ringing off the hook from brides who were going to move ahead with their weddings. The Stitchery is working on 69 weddings from June through September.
“It’s gotten crazy in here,” Alanen said.
So along with all the wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses, they are still getting the regular fixes: zippers, missing buttons, alterations and orders for more masks. I enjoyed spending an afternoon in the shop taking a closer look.
Megan Alanen sews lace back onto the train of a dress after shortening it at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)
Laura Dahlin looks over work that was done on a wedding gown at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)
Megan Alanen sticks pins into a cushion at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)
Megan Alanen rips a seam from a wedding gown before moving the zipper to a lower position at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)
Megan Alanen’s safety glasses project from her bold hair as she crushes beads from a wedding gown at The Stitchery in Superior Tuesday, July 14. (Jed Carlson / jcarlson@superiortelegram.com)