ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Inside her northeast Rochester studio, Brooke Burch’s creativity comes to light while threading her needle and her foot on the pedal.
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With the hum of her sewing machine, Brooke breathes new life into an old skill.
“I decided I was going to be a clothing designer when I was about 11 or 12,” Brooke said.
Meticulously taught by her grandmother, Brooke has always been curious about fabric and design.
“I was kind of a hyper child. She knew I needed a creative outlet,” Brooke remembered.
Passionate and determined about her craft, Brooke went on to study fashion design, fine arts and business at University Wisconsin Stout.
Shortly after graduating college and returning to the Med City, Brooke had a baby and knew she wanted to get her business off the ground.
“I wanted to get my business off the ground so I could support my family,” Brooke shared. “I was doing a lot of craft and art shows, making jewelry, trying to meet the right people.”
Brooke didn’t really get her foot in the door until a local coffee house opened up its space to let her teach lessons.
“That was only like two and half years ago. So since then, it’s just been booming,” Brooke explained.
It wasn’t long before she had her own studio. Her own space to alter and create.
“I’ve been collecting vintage for probably nine years now and I’ve always loved old clothing,” Brooke said.
Most recently starting a new business venture, also inside her northeast Rochester studio, a fabric boutique called ‘Bitz and Piecez’.
“Lots of kind of off cast materials and a lot of them happen to be vintage,” Brooke said.
Brooke also has a vintage clothing rack with pieces she altered, but the biggest part of her business now is inspiring other designers.
“I just love to see my students pick up new skills and I think they just appreciate being able to home themselves,” Brooke said.
Brooke’s lessons accommodate people of all ages and ranges, teaching them a skill they can carry with them for the rest of their life.
It wasn’t always easy, Brooke explained it was hard to get people to trust her as a young business owner.
“I really just needed people to take some chances on me,” Brooke shared. “I always tell young business owners and entrepreneurs to not give up. You know, they had to change the plan a little bit, but you’ll make it in the end.”
One of Brooke’s proudest moments was when her work was featured in Minnesota’s Fashion Week in 2014.
For more information on Brooke’s sewing lessons or designs, click here.
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