Carson shop promotes styles made in America

Trinity Winslow is on a one-woman mission to get people to buy American, and she's fighting that battle one dress at a time.

Winslow opened Gypsy Junction Sewing in May, a small shop on Fairview Drive where she designs and produces her own line of dresses and accessories.

"I'm proud of the fact that everything is American-made," Winslow said. "I'm really trying to promote that right now, American business, American economy, shop locally to strengthen our economy."

The racks are filled with a variety of creative designs, from sun dresses to period clothes.

"I have a theme going on right now, retro Americana," she said. "These have a '50s influence, and I'm working on adding dresses that go back to the '30s and '40s styles, with a modern fit."

Winslow said the clothes are hip enough for young people, and older women find them attractive, too.

"They are definitely high style and not for everybody," she said. "The fabric is modern, but the style is kind of a vintage pattern. At the same time, I can do the custom work to make whatever they want."

Everything in the shop right now is for women, but Winslow is working on sewing a line of men's shirts with different styles, like rock-a-billy bowling shirts.

"It's just me, and it takes some time to build up the inventory," Winslow said. "If a guy comes in and wants any kind of shirt, I can make it."

A few months ago, Winslow was looking for a store to sell her dresses on consignment, but couldn't find one.

"So I started looking at shops, and I thought, I can open a shop," she said.

One thing that convinced her she could be successful was the demand for alterations. She said the businesses she knows that do alterations are flooded with work, and she has plenty of jobs coming in.

Alterations are growing because people with limited incomes are trying to make their clothes last longer, Winslow said.

"I can fix these clothes instead of people throwing them out, and I can make them look nice," she said.

Besides clothing, Winslow also does upholstery, curtains and other home fabric items. This week, she just finished an upholstery job for a boat. Winslow also does leatherwork, period costumes, and bridal and formal wear.

"I can sew anything," she said.

Prices for dresses run $20 to $50, which Winslow said is not much more than people would pay at a big department store.

"This shop is not very big, but that's how I can keep the cost down, too," she said. "It's perfect for me."

Trying to stick with American-made products does pose its challenges. Winslow said she is working on a line of soft-soled women's shoes after unsuccessfully searching for shoes for herself that aren't made in China.

She also has a line of hair clips with silk flowers, but is having trouble finding a supplier who makes the flowers in this country.

Winslow said she is hopeful that when the freeway exit on Fairview opens later this summer, it will bring more people into the shop to see her designs. Until then, she will just keep sewing up new creations, and enjoying her new business.

"It's just a lot of fun. I love it."