OUR BEGINNING 1969 – 1980

Patsy, that’s me, a Southern girl who loved to sew, met and married Joel Aiken, a Southern boy who loved business and was born with leadership and entrepreneurial skills that would take us places together!

At first – those places were ‘ Over Here & Over There!’ as Naval Aviator and Bride. Creative and memorable places and high-flying achievements.

Ten years later, holding down the ‘base’ while Joel was high flying for love of our country, my creative excitement was taking off also, as our children, Weston and Holly, were bursts of energy, willing fit models and quality testers for my earliest designs! We were living in Coronado, CA and I sold my hand-sewn designs at my friend’s boutique in that charming little city, Patsy Aiken Designs was “in business!”

Friends rode their bikes over to help sew, and all of this activity took place in a room over our garage, with a closet door as a cutting table. Rumor has it that there are still pins in that shag carpet!

THE MIDDLE 1981- 2016

Joel joined business forces with me and became our navigational compass! He directed finance, managed data with custom designed software, and oversaw production-planningI managed the product design, development, and manufacturing of more than 500 styles a year. Together we coordinated a team of more than 125 talented employees and built a family business designing and manufacturing children’s apparel, bedding, swimwear, and accessories for more than 36 years.

Our collections were sold in upscale department and specialty stores for the first 20 years, and later exclusively by a team of nationwide Sales Consultants for our home-party brand, Chez Ami.

AT THIS MOMENT

Although we no longer manufacture apparel for children, our fit-tested patterns and embroideries are now available as PDF downloads, so you may create classic, and age-appropriate layette, toddler and pre-teens - dresses, shortalls, swimwear, gymnastics and tennis apparel for future generations to come.

We look forward to sharing these designs and experiences that have shaped our little company and its heart. SEW SOME LOVE! xo, Patsy and Joel