Today we’d like to introduce you to Valarmathi Shanmugam.
Hi Valarmathi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My sewing journey began when I was 16 years old. I come from a small family in a village in Tamil Nadu, India. My father is a farmer, and my mother also worked as a farmer. My father believed sewing was an important life skill for girls, so he bought me a sewing machine and enrolled me in a one-month sewing class.
During that class, I learned how to sew simple items like petticoats and kerchiefs. But after the class ended, my real learning began through my own curiosity and passion. One day, I carefully removed all the stitches from one of my mother’s blouses, placed each piece on fabric, traced it, cut it, and tried sewing it back together myself. That became my very first sewing project.
When I gave the blouse to my mother, it was not perfect and it did not fit properly, but she encouraged me and appreciated my effort. Her support became my biggest inspiration and gave me the confidence to continue learning.
After that, I started sewing my own dresses using whatever materials I had. I would take ready-made dresses, place them on fabric, and try to recreate them by observing and practicing on my own. Slowly, sewing became more than just a skill — it became my passion.
After my marriage, we moved to Bangalore. There, I had better access to the internet, and I started learning even more through YouTube videos. I explored different patterns, techniques, and styles, and I continued sewing more dresses on my own. Every project taught me something new and helped me improve my skills.
Seven years later, we moved to the United States. Here, I noticed that many people wanted custom-made clothing designed specifically for their body measurements. At that time, I realized that although I could recreate a dress from an existing sample, I still needed to learn professional measuring, calculations, fitting, and pattern adjustments. So I dedicated myself to learning those skills as well.
Through experience, practice, and many trial-and-error moments, I continued improving. Every dress taught me something. If a mistake happened, I learned how to identify it, correct it, and make the next design even better. Over time, this journey gave me confidence not only in my sewing abilities, but also in my ability to teach others.
That confidence eventually led me to start Valars Fashion, where I now combine fashion design with sewing education. One of the most rewarding parts of my journey is teaching kids and beginners how to sew, helping them build creativity, confidence, and life skills through fashion.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a completely smooth road. One of my biggest challenges in the beginning was that I did not have formal training in fashion design or tailoring. I learned mostly by observing, practicing, making mistakes, and teaching myself step by step. In the early days, I only knew how to recreate dresses from existing garments, but I did not fully understand body measurements, fitting, or pattern calculations.
When I moved to the United States, I realized that customers wanted custom-made clothing designed specifically for their measurements and style preferences. That became a turning point for me. I knew I needed to improve my technical skills, so I spent a lot of time learning measurements, fitting techniques, calculations, and garment construction through practice, online resources, and experience.
Another challenge was balancing family responsibilities while continuing to grow my skills and business. Building confidence also took time. In sewing, not every dress comes out perfectly the first time. There were many moments of trial and error, but each mistake became a learning experience. Over time, I learned how to identify problems, correct them, and improve my designs.
Today, those challenges have actually become my strength. They taught me patience, persistence, and the importance of continuous learning. They also gave me the confidence to teach sewing to others and encourage kids and beginners to believe in their creativity.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Valar’s Fashion?
Valars Fashion focuses on custom clothing design, alterations, and sewing education for kids and beginners. What started as a personal passion for sewing has now grown into a business centered around creativity, confidence, and community.
At Valars Fashion, I specialize in creating custom-made outfits tailored to each client’s style, measurements, and preferences. I also offer sewing classes where students can learn practical sewing skills while expressing their creativity. One of the main goals of my business is to make sewing approachable and enjoyable, especially for children and beginners who may be learning for the first time.
What sets Valars Fashion apart is my personal journey and hands-on approach. I am mostly self-taught, and every skill I learned came through dedication, practice, and real experience. Because of that, I understand the learning process deeply and enjoy encouraging others to grow their confidence through sewing and design.
The part I am most proud of is being able to inspire creativity in others while building a supportive environment for learning. Seeing students create something with their own hands and feel proud of their work is one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
I want readers to know that Valar’s Fashion is more than just a fashion business. It is a space where creativity, learning, and self-expression come together. My goal is to continue growing the brand while helping others discover confidence and joy through fashion and sewing.
How do you define success?
For me, success is not only about business growth or financial achievement. I define success as being able to do what I love while positively impacting others through my work. When I see someone feel confident in an outfit I created, or when I see a child proudly complete their first sewing project, that feels like success to me.
I also believe success means continuous learning and growth. My journey started in a small village in Tamil Nadu with very limited resources, and through hard work, self-learning, and persistence, I was able to turn my passion into a business and teaching opportunity. That itself feels meaningful to me.
Another important part of success is inspiring others. If my story encourages someone to start learning a skill, follow their creativity, or believe in themselves, then I feel I have accomplished something valuable. For me, true success is about creativity, confidence, community, and making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Valarsfashion.com
- Instagram: valars_fashion
