By Corina – Jul 13, 2025
Every Cori Tailor piece begins in a small workshop in Iași, Romania — not in a factory. These handmade designer dresses for women are crafted one at a time by Corina, using a trusted collection of tools that bring each design to life.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to create a custom designer day dress in Europe or a vintage-inspired designer cocktail dress, here’s a peek at the actual tools behind the seams:
1. Sewing Machine – Brother BQ25
This reliable machine handles everything from crisp cotton to delicate pânză topită. Every seam in our designer retro-style midi dresses is powered by this workhorse.
2. Overlocker (Serger) – Brother 1034DX
For smooth, long-lasting finishes inside each garment. This is the secret behind our luxury handmade day dresses looking polished and professional — inside and out.
3. Adjustable Dressform – Adjustoform FG314 (36/42 EU)
This is where your dress takes shape — literally. Corina adjusts the form to match your unique measurements, a key step in crafting sustainable designer dresses tailored just for you.
4. Tailor’s Scissors – Premax & Marco Polo 12
A precise cut makes all the difference. Corina uses her Premax Soft Touch scissors, a sturdy pair of Marco Polo 12 Tailor Stainless, and even a vintage pair stamped 24 STAB to shape the fabric for our handmade designer cocktail dresses (EU).
5. Chalk & Fabric Markers
Marking out patterns cleanly and precisely is essential, especially for vintage-inspired handmade cocktail dresses with intricate darts, pleats, or bodice shaping.
6. Measuring Tape & French Curve
These are the tools that ensure each garment — from a custom-fitted day dress to a flowing skirt — is made with intention. No guessing, no shortcuts.
7. Steam Station – Silter SPR/MN 2000M
A perfectly pressed seam elevates any piece. Our high-pressure steam station ensures flawless finishes on handmade designer dresses for women that are meant to last.
8. Pattern Paper & Drafting Tools
Every unique silhouette starts here. Many Cori Tailor patterns are hand-drafted, refined, and tested — including those used in pieces like the Daisy Dress, one of our most iconic designer dresses.
9. Ironing Board – Vilde 140x39x92
From crisp pleats to smooth bodices, this large, stable surface helps us finish every edge perfectly. Even small tools can play a big role in our commitment to slow fashion.
10. Patternmaking for Fashion Design – Helen Joseph-Armstrong (5th Edition)
This textbook is a behind-the-scenes favorite in our studio. It has shaped many of the complex silhouettes you’ll find in our sustainable designer dresses for the EU, from the Blossom Dress to the Sandy Dress.
Bonus: Studio Setup
Our atelier is organized using a Spaceo Kub 6-module unit with colorful storage boxes where materials, threads, elastic, buttons, and tools live in harmony. Because an organized space leaves more room for creativity and care.
🌸 More Than Tools — A Philosophy
These tools may seem simple, but they’re part of how we create designer dresses that last. Whether you're wearing a playful cotton dress or a tailored piece like the Freya Dress, you're wearing hours of skilled, thoughtful work.
Every stitch is made slowly, intentionally — by Corina, for you.
No stock. No waste. Just vintage-inspired, custom-made beauty.