Alison Pordum completed her BA Honours degree in Fashion Design at Winchester School of Art in 1999. Her final collection was shown on the college catwalk during London Graduate Fashion Week.
Following her degree, Alison went to work for Maureen Rose Couture as a key member of the Queen’s dressmakers, creating couture day and evening wear. This role significantly enhanced her skills in fitting and construction. While there she gained extensive knowledge of couture dressmaking and honed her skills in embroidery, appliqué work and hand finishing to an exceptionally high standard.
In 2003 Alison was briefed by an exclusive children’s party business to create an entire collection of special dresses to reflect the brand’s prestigious image. She took her design inspiration from children’s fairytales and personally constructed the patterns, sourced fabrics and trimmings, and made the sample dresses. Alison then commissioned a local manufacturer to produce the collection while liaising with potential overseas licensees.
Throughout her career Alison has recognised that working hard and being conscientious reaps results. Alison strongly believes in the continuation of couture dressmaking skills, especially hand-finishing, and has a keen eye for detail which has enabled her to create outstandingly beautiful garments that look exquisite and fit like a glove.
Alison’s passion for designing and making bespoke outfits led to her employment at Buckingham Palace in 2004. A year later her skills and dedication assured her place as Dressmaker to the Queen. Alison left the Royal Household at the end of 2008 to pursue her long-time dream of running her own business.
During her tenure as Her Majesty’s dressmaker, Alison was responsible for the production of a range of outfits for the Monarch. This involved everything from design conception to final production, and all within budget. This work ranged from sourcing fabrics and trimmings; working from sketch form to the construction of patterns; cutting out, tacking to the first stage fitting; fitting the garments; adjustments to the garments; machining and hand finishing.
In this important role Alison led a dedicated team of three whom she trained in couture dressmaking. All the clothes were made to haute couture standard, using traditional skills and finishing.
Many of the outfits were worn for very special Royal engagements including birthday celebrations, anniversaries, church and cathedral services, premiers, world summits, and a raft of public appearances around the globe.