Sheila May started designing/dressmaking as a little girl making clothes for her dolls.  The dolls clothes were cut out from her brothers’ odd socks and stitched together on her grandmother’s old treadle singer sewing machine.  She progressed to making clothes for herself and for her friends.  She has always had a passion for designing and making.

In 1984 she gained her first fashion qualifications, City and Guilds, Creative Fashion,  and started a business designing and making individual bridal gowns and evening dresses.  Sheila May designs have been featured on the cover of the national 'You and Your Wedding' bridal magazine, and other publications.   After 13 successful years she felt it was time to pass on the knowledge she had acquired as a designer and resolved to become a teacher.  She studied for an additional four years to obtain a BA (Hons) in Fashion Design Technology and a PGCE in Secondary Education and became a textiles teacher in 2000.  Sheila May loved teaching but missed the excitement of the commercial world.  She decided to design communion dresses, and showed her first collection at the Premier Kids Exhibition in Birmingham.  This proved extremely successful and for three years designed and made communion dresses that were sold to shops throughout Southern Ireland including Arnotts in Dublin.

It was at this time that her daughter, Nasseem, decided to train in fashion. Nasseem spend two year studying for a Btec Diploma in Fashion and qualified in 2003.  The success of the communion wholesale business combined with Nasseem’s enthusiasm for fashion led to the opening of Sheila May Couture in January 2008. 

Why not visit the shop at 960 Bristol Road South, Northfield B31 2PE. Open Saturdays 10.00 – 5pm and Sunday 12.30 –3.00 pm. Weekdays and evenings by appointment only. Telephone 079200 31744

sales@sheilamaycouture.com