How It Started: A Lifelong Passion for Historical Dress
My fascination with historical clothing began almost as soon as I could hold a needle. My grandmother first taught me to sew when I was about five years old, and I quickly became enchanted by the idea of recreating the past through fabric and thread. By seven, I was glued to films like Les Misérables (Anthony Perkins), The King and I (Yul Brynner), and Gone With the Wind—captivated not by the plots, but by the costumes. As soon as the credits rolled, I would dash to my play clothes, trying to stitch together my own versions of what I had just seen on screen.
Without any formal training, I taught myself to sew on my mother’s machine—often in secret. The stitches may have been crooked, but the passion was unstoppable.
At twelve, I attended my first Civil War reenactment—the 125th Anniversary of the Battle of Bull Run—and sewed my very first “day dress” inspired by North and South. The dress was synthetic satin and far from historically accurate, but the kindness and encouragement of reenactors lit a fire that never went out. I began haunting libraries and museums, studying original garments, and refining my techniques with every project.
Though I once dreamed of attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, life steered me toward other callings. Scholarships drew me into studies of engineering, political science, multicultural education, instructional design, and eventually an MBA. While my professional path has been wide-ranging, sewing has always remained the throughline—an enduring craft and passion that continues to shape my work today.
The Pause & The Comeback
In the early years, I created under the name Rebecca’s Reproductions, but life shifted. I stepped away from sewing for clients to focus on single-parenting my first three children and working as a government contractor for the Intelligence Community and Special Forces. It was the right season for that chapter—but the love of historical costuming never faded.
Now, with a new husband, my fourth child, and a return to the business and art I adore, I’m overjoyed to be stepping into this new era of BeespokeVintage. I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead—whether it’s custom garments, pattern restoration, or historical events.
Let’s create something truly special together!
