Victoria McCoy grew up and was home-schooled in Huntsville, a city in northern Alabama located near Florence. She moved to Florence in 2010 to go to college where she received her degree in psychology from the University of North Alabama. Victoria uses her sewing skills to create costumes for local theater groups and is also a member of a local burlesque troupe. She joined our production team in 2016, where she started in the cutting department. She has since grown her skills and her love of machine sewing. If your machine-sewn garment has the initials VM on the label, it was made by Victoria.
AC: What do you enjoy most about your job at Alabama Chanin? Has your role changed since you started?
VM: I love being able to come into work and create beautiful garments for a truly caring company. I started my job at the cutting table—cutting out garments to be hand sewn by the artisans. Now I sew pieces by machine, and I really feel like I’ve come into my element.
AC: What drew you to working at Alabama Chanin?
VM: I was initially drawn to the aesthetic. I have always enjoyed the look and practice of hand stitching. The clothes that Alabama Chanin makes have a beautiful level of detail. I was also very impressed that a company that celebrated handcraft existed and that it happened to be where I live!
AC: What is the one thing you are most proud of creating in your personal life?
VM: I am most proud of my wedding dress. I learned so many new techniques during the process like lace shaping and entredeux. It truly was a labor of love.
AC: What is your favorite thing to make (or favorite part of the making process) at Alabama Chanin?
VM: I’m not sure if I have a favorite garment to make, but I really love picking up a large stack of pieces to be sewn and challenging myself to get them done in a certain amount of time. It’s a fun competition with myself.
AC: What is your first sewing or making memory?
VM: My first sewing project was a pair of pajama shorts. They were purple with embroidered butterfly patch on one of the legs. The turned out pretty terrible, but I was still so proud!
Look for more of our team tomorrow as part of our Fashion Revolution series on #whomademyclothes.
Sure enough, I do have handful of VM pieces! It is so nice to know who made my clothes indeed. Thank you!
You made my dress! Thank you.
Victoria, Thank you for making my Rib Skirt. I love it! It fits well and is the most comfortable piece of clothing I own. There is something “connective” in knowing who made my clothing; putting a real person to a real process. Again, thank you, Alabama Chanin to being true to your vision. Laura.