Meet Faiza Khan of TailoredByFaiza in Mesquite

I started sewing and crocheting as a hobby. Professionally, in the beginning of my career here in the US, I started as an accountant. While expecting my first child, “Tooba,” I wanted to sew so many things for her. So my husband “Mohsin” got me a sewing machine (he has been my greatest support throughout this journey). Since then, I don’t remember a single day spent without sewing. Be it as little as a simple hem but I sew almost everyday.

I grew up in a family where ladies use to enjoy sewing for their children. I still remember the beautiful smile of my mother when she used to dress me up in the dresses she use to sew for me. She always had an eye to sew things neatly and creatively. It was always more than just sewing. Even though she never learned sewing. I wonder how she managed to make things so beautifully. Maybe it was her hidden talent and I inherit it from her. Being blessed with our daughter, me and my husband decided that I should stay at home and look after her until she grew up to go to school. Meanwhile, I started offering these services from home and people appreciated my work. That’s how this all started. One thing that helped me pull this all together is attention to details. I always listen to my clients and try to serve them in the best possible way. Besides that, I love to learn new skills and finds it interesting to combine different set of skills together. These additions definitely helps me grow professionally too.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?

Not at all. Converting a hobby into a business can never be a smooth road. Sewing, embroidery, or crocheting, as a hobby, is an art of creating things without limitation, guidelines, instructions, time constraints. However, business is a completely different story. Then be it as little as a home-based business.

My biggest challenge is to align my profession with motherhood. Sewing and embroidery needs time. Certainly, my kids deserve my time too. I have to prioritize things every single day. It’s more like a battle. Listening to clients, accommodating them, creating new products, raising my kids has not been an easy path. My little one, “Areeba” is turning three soon and loves to mess up with my supplies and inventory. So far, my studio has been her favorite play place in our house. Whereas my older one is 5 years old and shows high interest in most of my work. Both together , makes it tough to pay attention to details. Besides this, my husband ‘s job requires traveling too. That’s like a cherry on the top.

On the other hand, my location has been the biggest challenge in serving my target market. It amazes me that people from Frisco, Irving and McKinney drive to Mesquite. The nature of this business requires custom measurements. No matter how much we avoid repeated trips, bridal or party wear requires the client to make a few trips. However, when it comes to embroided goods and products, I often drive up to my clients, offer them a more convenient and closer pickup location or meet them up halfway.

Another challenge is to be creative. Often, clients come to me asking for something I’ve never made before. What encourages me is their faith in my work. It does help me launch new products too. However, making new products requires trials and errors. Sometimes, I have very less time to meet the client’s expectations. But the happiness of people when they see the final product is something to cherish.

We’d love to hear more about your business.

Perhaps, that’s something I’m still figuring out as I keep adding new skills to this business. TailoredByFaiza offers tailoring, embroidery, crochet and knitting services. Mainly known for tailoring and alteration services. Over here in the US, it’s challenging for people to have custom fittings of their ethnic wear. That’s when people come to me. I understand that everybody type is different and never believe in following industry standards. I try to work around the type of fittings a client is comfortable in wearing.

Apart from that, it’s been a year I started offering embroidery services. And totally in love with how it’s coming along. TailoredByFaiza makes embroided masks (logo/personalized), baby beddings, embroided kitchen towels, hand towels, baby blankets, baby bodysuits, toddler shirts, felt pouches, monogramming, etc. I totally love the freedom of being as creative as I can be when it comes to embroidery. TailoredByFaiza specializes in making personalized gifts items. Personalization makes any gift stands out. I feel the emotions behind every gift and try to reflect that love in every item by combining my sewing and embroidery skills. It takes a lot of effort to reflect an idea, emotion and love of a client into a product, yet keeping it practically useful. But once it’s ready, the happiness of my clients pays it all off.

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