Elisabeth Kerr specializes in bespoke wedding gowns.
The Monroe resident owns and operates EK Designer Gowns, a full-service alterations and gown shop on Heiss Road in Monroe.
More than 18 years ago, Kerr began with alterations out of her home.
“I got in contact with Wedding Creations on M-50 and she got me started with a business,” Elisabeth Kerr said. “I’ve always been sewing.”
As a young girl, it was Kerr’s mother, Diane Masse, who taught her how to sew. By the time Kerr was 14, she was making her own clothes.
In a remodeled barn on her property is where she sews, manages the day-to-day operations, meets clients and stores her private collection of gowns.
She markets her business through her website and Facebook. Much of her work comes from customer referrals, and her workload is getting busier. Her busiest season is May through October.
Kerr has a part-time employee, Monroe resident Tracy Dicesare and will get help with customer service from her daughter, Aliece Baker of Monroe, during her busy season.
“We work by appointment only,” Kerr said. “We do alterations on all women’s formal wear and we sell wedding dresses, so we specialize in customizing so none of our dresses have to stay as is. I do all the in-house sewing and I am also fitting every customer.”
Kerr can design and create a gown within three to six months. She has made custom wedding dresses for brides living in Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Toronto, Canada.
“Some brides will show us pictures of the gown they want, and we recreate and make the gowns,” she said. “Most of the brides try on our dresses and then tweak the ones we already have.”
There are approximately 150 dresses in Kerr’s collection.
Erin Drange of Taylor bought her wedding gown from Kerr and customized the dress by adding sleeves, rhinestones and a matching veil using the same lace that is on the dress.
“In our private collection, gowns run from $1,400 to $1,700 on average,” she said. “When you come in with a brand-new custom design and you want us to create it, that is typically around $2,000 to about $3,000. That is the average.”
She said since renovating the barn, there has been an increase in business.
“In a course of a month, we will probably alter 100 dresses during our busy season,” Kerr said.
When it comes to trends, she said a V waistline or basque waist that features a fitted bodice that extends below the natural waist, tapering down into a distinctive “V” or “U” shape at the front, is popular.
“It is either lace or no lace and off the shoulder. It is always changing.” Kerr said. “Ivory is the new white.”
The flexibility of hours and working in the community where she lives is what Kerr enjoys most about owning her own business.
“The Monroe community is nice and enjoyable to work with. I do like the interaction with people and they seem to be comfortable when they are here,” she added. “But I think the freedom to work out of your home and have the flexibility is the American dream.”
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe’s EK Designer Gowns creates custom wedding dresses
Reporting by Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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