She’s 16. She Sews Suits. She Mentors Interns.

Two years ago, I couldn’t wait to finish school so I could start my training as a seamstress, Valentine told us. Now I’m the one who mentors the interns that come to our sewing school.

We just have to tell you about Valentine — our best cousin ever. She’s 16, talented, and one of the most dedicated people we know. While many teens are still figuring out what they enjoy (and we get that!), Valentine already knows what she loves and is building her future around it.

We asked her to share what her sewing apprenticeship is really like — from how it all started to pattern-making, wedding dresses, and her big dream after graduation.

“I thought it would just be sewing. I was wrong.”

When we asked how she’d describe her apprenticeship as a seamstress, Valentine said she used to imagine it was all about fabric and a sewing machine. But the training goes much deeper.

We work on everything that comes before the act of sewing — designing, sketching, pattern making, and theory. The training is really complete.

A passion that started at age 11

Valentine’s interest in fashion began when she was little. She would draw outfits and dreamed of making her own clothes.

I started doing internships when I was 11. I made shorts, pants, and some amazing fashion sketches. Becoming a seamstress was my first idea — and I stuck with it.

A day in the life: from theory to tailoring

My day begins with theory classes. In the afternoon, we move on to pattern-making, fashion sketching, technical drawing — and of course, sewing practice. Everything we learn is connected to the job — no more math, science, or geography. It’s all focused on the skills we actually use.

Pattern for a bustier I made for a first-year student

couture — Music was the theme for this design — here’s the full look

Valentine is also the youngest in her class. Students at her sewing school range from 15 to 34 years old — but that never stopped her from jumping in and learning fast.

She’s currently working on a custom dress for a client, a project that can take two to three weeks. She has already made baker uniforms and is about to start her most exciting project yet — a wedding dress for her teacher.

In just two years, I’ve learned so much. I’ve created complete outfits from start to finish: skirts, dresses, suits…

The hardest parts?

Some parts of the training are more challenging than others.

I don’t dislike theory, but memorizing fabric types, elasticity, care instructions, fiber content, and fabric grain direction isn’t easy. Pattern making also takes time to really understand — but once it clicks, it starts to feel creative, almost like sketching a design. And it’s super important: if the pattern is wrong, everything that follows will be too.

And when it comes to sewing, precision is key.