What is the Retro/fit Pattern Company?

Retro/fit introduces a new line of bridal and evening sewing patterns inspired by styles of the past. Featuring four elegant patterns named from the movie icons of the '20s, '30s and '40s: Ava, Dolores, Emma and Myrna. Designer Carrie Bishop is renowned for and unparalled in her experience and expertise creating beautiful, vintage-style apparel.

About Carrie Bishop, creator of Retro/fit patterns:

“It all started with Barbie—my parents bought me a Barbie doll but refused to buy any of the expensive clothes. So they bought me a little handcrank sewing machine (thank goodness they were actually selling Barbie patterns) and I started making clothes for my doll. And genetics must’ve played a part, as three of my aunts were seamstresses and my great-grandfather from Slovakia was a tailor.

Fast forward…as an environmental design major at California College of Arts & Crafts, I developed an interest in thrift shops and vintage clothing - where else do you shop when Mom and Dad are no longer buying your clothes? Much to my parents’ chagrin, this led to a post-graduation stint of sewing one-of-a-kind western shirts and selling them at craft fairs.

Ended up in NYC in the '80s with a novelty glove business called Glove Affaire. I was one of a handful of New York designers doing high-end gloves for major department stores, and created a moderately priced line for brides and proms that was sold nationally through Edward Berger bridal millinery. My gloves were featured on the cover of Bride and Seventeen magazines as well as in numerous editorials.

I have collected and worn vintage clothes for years and have finally merged my love of vintage and sewing into an elegant new line of patterns. My devotion to the films of the '20s, '30s and '40s, and their beautiful icons, brought about my patterns' names: Ava, Dolores and Myrna.

Most pattern companies offer minimal choices for wedding dresses and largely ignore vintage fashions. Women that want to wear vintage for their wedding may find a dress they love, but will it be in their size? Enter Retro/fit Patterns—patterns with a past and a bright future in bringing classic styles to modern times.”

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