Episode 36: From Betsy Ross to Audrey Hepburn
Although not a common combination, Mae’s father was a career Marine and an avid sewist. A direct descendant of Betsy Ross, he was born into a family of sewists, including his mother and grandmother. Mae grew up watching her father create quilts on his BERNINA machine and it was his love of sewing that inspired her to start sewing at the age of six. Mae was nine when her mother caught her cutting up her skirts and enrolled her in sewing school.
Even as a child, Mae was frustrated by the “by the book” approach of her sewing teacher. Although she had ideas for making her own clothes her way, the school’s strict adherence to the formal pattern-driven designs prevented her from doing so. Today, she’s free to create her designs on her terms, whether she’s sewing from a pattern or bringing her own vision to life.
Mae’s passion for sewing is driven by her belief in body positivity. “I know everyone is shaped differently. Some people are taller, shorter, or larger in some areas, and smaller in other areas. I want everyone just to look good, no matter what shape they are. So I do a lot of custom work.”
Mae’s clients run the gamut—some are thin with very few curves, some are larger and curvaceous, but the one thing they have in common is that they all look great in the clothes Mae designs for them. Mae often makes clothing for her clients, without ever meeting them. She discusses their style and ask questions to help her determine the best shapes, like “are you bigger on the top or the bottom,” or “what are your measurements.” If a person doesn’t know their measurements, she asked them what size they usually wear and goes from there.
Mae’s designs are comfortable and classic and are inspired by the timeless styles of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Whenever she makes a dress or an outfit for someone, she wants it to be something they’ll look great in 10 years from now; something that high-quality and won’t out of style. She believes that clothes should make a woman feel good about herself every time she wears it. (1:46-8:38)
Mae has had a lot of challenges in her life, including being hospitalized for COVID. When her doctor told her she had a 50/50 chance of surviving, she decided then and there that if she survived, she was going to always make time for what she loved, and that was sewing. And that’s exactly what she did. When Mae isn’t working at the fire department, she spends her time immersed in sewing: from learning more about it to experimenting with different tools to creating new designs. She shares how different life challenges led her to where she is today and says that her dream for the future is to sew full-time, and to help everybody look and feel their best in their clothes, and comfortable in their own skin. (8:40-26:27)
If you’d like to reach out to Mae after hearing her inspirational story, you can go to her website and email her or find her @Mae_Burrows on Instagram.
If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.