Sallie Belton (West, 2001-2003) is making waves in the tailoring industry. Sallie was integral in setting up ‘Suit the City’ in 2007 and it all began when she went on work placement from her Business & Management Course at Oxford Brookes University. Eight years on, the company is flying high and is recruiting franchisees and ambassadors around the UK.
Sallie says, “When I was at school I dreamt of joining the Police Force, but once I went on placement the opportunity to start a business from scratch came up, and I just loved the whole concept of being involved in this rapidly-growing sector.”
She continues, “I enjoy the role of Technical Director at ‘Suit the City’ on a number of levels. The stuffy old world of tailoring has become a highly technical business, and I relish the challenge of liaising with the factory, managing clients and training our franchisees and ambassadors in the skills they need to run a successful business.”
One of the key things that attracted Sallie was the idea of ‘real clothes for real people’. She adds passionately, “Why should people be excluded from looking good just because they don’t fit the ‘ideal’ that the fashion industry promotes? My oldest client was 96 and tiny and my tallest client is 6ft 10” tall. I have fitted disabled people and sports personalities and, because everything is made-to-measure with infinite choice of fabrics, colours and bespoke details, individuals can express their personality. Nothing could be more distant from the fickle world of mass-produced throw away fashion.”
If you would like to know more about ‘Suit the City’, feel free to contact Sallie:sallie@suitthecity.com www.suitthecity.com