You’ve come to this page to find out more about my business. Thank you!
I’m Victoria Pender and I created Bloomsbury Square in early 2015 in order to make it much easier for you to find gorgeous fabrics and haberdashery for your dressmaking.
I learned to sew at St Margaret’s Convent School in Midhurst, West Sussex, in the south of England, where the lovely Sisters taught me their traditional sewing skills in dressmaking and embroidery. We learned to sew using the manual black and gold Singer sewing machines, turning the wheel with one hand and guiding the fabric with the other. I still like to hand baste seams and mark tailors tacks with thread!
Studying, creating a home, parenting and a high-pressure business career in corporate reputation management meant little time for sewing. Slowly, I drifted away from dressmaking and forgot all about it. A few decades later, I decided to take a break from the corporate world to re-balance the important things in my life.
I found my way to local sewing classes and re-discovered my love of sewing (plus my stash of fabrics bought in the eighties and nineties.) The experience brought back all I had learned and more. I found sewing again really rewarding. So many new things on the market, new techniques and gadgets! But it was hard to find good quality fabrics that would be right for my wardrobe and style.
I spent ages researching the fabric industry and realised that I could bring back the luxury fabrics and haberdashery that I longed to find again and to make them easy to buy via online shopping. I could connect with the online global sewing community and be part of something special in the UK and worldwide.
I started Bloomsbury Square from a single rented room in 2015 and I am now based in a Unit in Chichester, West Sussex, UK stocking nearly 2000 fabrics and haberdashery.
I hope you find a a piece of trim or a beautiful fabric to inspire you in my online shop. Happy Browsing!
Best Wishes
Victoria