MRB Design and Alterations

I am Meghan Rachel Bambach of MRB Design and Alterations. I began my love of sewing and creating when I was just a small child. I remember watching my Grandmother and Mother make stuffed animals seeing them turn them inside out and thinking I can do that too! A sewing machine was always available in my house so I was always sewing and creating toys or clothing for my dolls! Growing up I was always a plus sized girl, and like many other girls didn’t love shopping because I never could find anything that fit.  After realizing that I could find clothing and alter it to my body shape it helped me realize that it wasn’t my body that was wrong, it was the clothes! Giving this feeling to other women is my career and life mission!

Into high school I continued my love of sewing, although I remember being embarrassed to be seen sewing because it was not "cool" so I would turn off the lights in my sewing room at night so people walking by my house wouldn’t see me sewing and I would sew in the dark. But I loved being able to draw a picture and make it! Through high school at EDSS I would create my own prom dresses or semiformal dresses for me and my friends. I felt this was amazing, my friends wanting me to make them dresses!! I would sit in the hallways during my spares and instead of studying Math or English I would design and sketch Oscar dresses for celebrities. At the end of high school, I was going to choose Graphic Design or Fine Arts to study but I wasn’t really sure about either.  Then one of my teachers went above and beyond. This teacher sought out a private art school in Toronto and recommended they contact me, saying how talented I was in fashion design and sewing.  I am truly grateful and indebted to this teacher to this day to have seen this inside me. I met with the Dean and they offered me a Scholarship.  I attended the International Academy of Design and Technology.  Learning from a private school and receiving my diploma in Fashion Design has helped set me up to create my own business with confidence, refining my skills in many different aspects of being a fashion designer. But it is always an everyday learning experience!

I graduated in 2006 with my diploma in fashion design with an overall percentile of 98%, I moved back home from Toronto I went back to my afternoon job at Weston’s Bakery.  After finishing Fashion Design school and loosing my passion for sewing for a while and being sucked back into my factory job I decided to take a chance! The factory was downsizing and giving out packages so I took a package after 13 years of dedicated work and I said goodbye to my Weston’s family to then went to work in my own industry.  I began a job working at an alteration shop in a mall, and quickly they could tell I was talented and would be a huge asset to their team.  But working in the industry is like sweat shop labor if I am being honest.  I paid 80K plus for private school but working in my industry for minimum wage. I had to accept this fact until my student debt was paid off.  The level of knowledge I gathered during this time was worth all the struggles. Building my name by word of mouth or refrence I have always strived to give my clients good quality sewing for fair pricing.  That’s what I want everyone to feel when working with me. That I only want the best for them and want them to feel their best! After 11 years of paying off school debt I was finally able to leave my fulltime sewing job and go full time working for myself! It was a dream come true! I worked for 3 more years to save up to finally move out of my parent’s house and venture out on my own again. Moving into my home October 2019 which houses my shop, salon and workspace.  Since Covid-19 began it is very difficult for many small businesses to stay open but I will fight and not give up! During this difficult covid19 time I have been honored to not only be nominated but receive the Diamond Winner for KW Readers Choice award for Dress Maker. To be honored with this award and to be chosen and recognized by my community has given me the strength to keep fighting to keep my small business open and going! For every stich I have made on my sewing machine has brought me to this point and I truly appreciate everyone's support!

I have never been a typical fashion designer. I don’t know popular labels or care to wear them. I have always been a big supporter of second hand or thrift shopping.  Seeing what the fast fashion industry is doing to the earth is devastating to me! The fast fashion industry and then women still not feeling good in those garments instead of altering them, is devastating to me. Landfills rising with clothing that’s polluting our earth. I want to STOP this! One day I was shopping a popular second hand store and I went down an isle I had never gone down before. Something caught my eye! It was fabric but when I looked at it, I saw a prom dress! That moment I realized I could purchase beautiful second hand fabric. I began creating one of a kind creations from this fabric! Saving all this beautiful fabric from the land fill and hand making it into one of a kind garments. I began with prom dresses then wedding dresses and then causal clothing styles.  When I design these creations, I’m inspired by the materials and designs organically flowing though my hands.  Sewing and creating is life to me and realizing people want to purchase my designs and support saving the earth through my one of a kind designs is a true blessing. Each dress I believe has a dress destiny. One special person meant for one special dress.

To everyone who has supported me ever, I appreciate you for allowing me to be who I am, to be an artist and too feel loved. I am always here to help!

Update December 2023

Hello to all my followers and supporters of MRB Design and Alterations. Through the last 3 years ive been fighting to keep my small business open and running. Covid really took the biggest toll on me and my small buisness loosing everything because of covid has been devestating. But I am a fighter and will never give up! And because of all of you and all my supporters and believers in me I am still here and still fighting to keep my small buisness! I truly want to thank each and everyone of you who has ever used my services and entrusted me with your sewing. From the bottom of my heart thankyou and thankyou for your continued support!

 XO Meghan

Eviction Notice! July 2024

I want to apologize to anyone who emailed or messaged me during the month of July. I was late on email responses and was unable to accommodate any rush jobs and I’m sorry.
On July 5th I was told by my landlord that he would be selling the property I rent at and would be evicting me! To say I was beyond devastated was an understatement! The short timeframe I was given was overwhelming and traumatic!! I’ve been here in my home for nearly 5 years and I was totally blindsided.  I began my search for my new rental home. Rental Real-estate is a unique industry and very overwhelming process but I had to find a place that would except me and my little fur family-my senior dog Duke and my senior cat Kitty as well as except my business and have a perfect layout. This wasn’t an easy task! I want to take a moment and thank my Mom for coming with me to all the viewings so I wouldnt have to go through this process alone. After finding a perfect home I was up bided and lost that opportunity and was again devastated and had to start the process all over again. But sometimes there is a bigger reason for things when they don’t happen. This past Friday I signed my lease on my new perfect home. It is only 12 minutes from my location now and in a beautiful and quiet neighbourhood. I will no longer have my address on the internet. It will only be given when an appointment is confirmed and booked. This will help me have some privacy and not have people just show up to my house. I will be moving in for this August 1st.
Tenants beware and always stand up for yourself and your rights. Thankyou you everyone who shared personal stories about their own situations that truly helped me with information and made me feel not so alone!!
I’m excited now for this new adventure and I hope you will all follow along with me to this new location! I personally will be transporting all the work so your garments are safe in my trustworthy hands. Everyone who has been so caring and understanding Thankyou! Everyone who has a prebooked apt I will be reaching out to give you my new address. I plan to be reopened for Monday August 5th so everyone’s timelines are still on perfect schedule! Once I’m settled I will share more information about location and parking and pictures of my new salon! Thankyou again for everyone’s ongoing support now and over the many years. MRB Design and Alterations is excited to welcome you at our new location and Thankyou always for the ongoing support!!

XOMeghan

August 1st 2024

Welcome to my new home and home of MRB Design and Alterations! I will only be giving out my address to confirmed appointments to help ensure my privacy and not have people come knocking at my door without an appointment. PARKING is ONLY in my driveway. See the arrows in the pic. Please park to the left of the driveway. If you come to your appointment and you see a car in the driveway you will have to wait and come back when the car is gone and I’m finished the appointment. Appointments are by the hour. Please don’t come to appointments more than 10 minutes early or 15 minutes late. If you are more them 15 minutes late you will have to reschedule your appointment. Once you are parked come on in to my front door I will meet you there. If I’m a minute or too late to the door please don’t ring the bell I will be with you in a moment. I really look forward to showing everyone this new adventure I’m on and excited to have this wonderful new salon space to share with you all!! My house came with mirrors built in SEW it was like it was made for me!! Email me at meghanrbambach@gmail.com or Google MRB Design and Alterations for all platforms and information!! Thankyou again for all being SEW supportive!! Meghan at MRB Design and Alterations