Tag: About

Melissa grew up in New Jersey. On weekends she and her other cousins would spend it at their grandmothers house. This woman was strong and fierce, long before women were, she was a seamstress her entire life, taught sewing and crochet classes and divorced before people were. That is where it all began. At four years old Melissa was behind a Singer sewing machine with a knee pedal which, ready for it, had ONE stitch! More and more time was spent there. Going to senior centers to roll balls of yarn for the classes, hemming, sewing potholders. The big thing was a pillow with chocolate chips on it. Hand sewn though (always appreciate the machine).

When high school began every elective was fashion design (pre computers and she’s a terrible sketcher), even though she was there for cosmetology, summers spent on design courses,vintage clothing and rescuing retired race horses.

In her twenties her patient and beautiful grandmother passed away 😢. She also got a sewing machine with more than one stitch, It was a whole new world!!! Which is where the love of fabric began! There were so many options but sadly no one to share the excitement with.

In her thirties, she decided to have a child, as a single woman without the support of her family. During her pregnancy she started Phee (2014). But where did the name come from? Phee is short for Fiona, her now 12.5 year old Pomeranian. Fiona has alopecia, no teeth, bow legged, and severe anxiety.

With all the years of sewing and designing under her belt the challenge was finding quality fabrics. Every single fabric ordered goes through testing. The fabrics are worked up and washed multiple times. Because she understands that no one wants to spent their hard earned money and time on creating something that won’t last.

Now, for those of you who have ordered in the past, sometimes your postcards come with a fold in the corner, a crooked label, or your box is taped up like a child did it. That’s because a child did do it. On the days that Melissa’s son, Giacomo, isn’t in preschool, he is helping his hard working momma. He’s not a child that’s glued to the tv so he enjoys it. Helping her is teaching him work ethic, organization, numbers (sooo many numbers) and teamwork. Every day, the mailman comes to pickup the packages, Giacomo helps scan them and load them into the truck. Some days he doesn’t feel like helping, he feels like watching ‘number blocks’ or a documentary, which is totally unacceptable!! (Just kidding😜).

Melissa also makes clothes from the scraps and donates them to single women and foster kids, always donating behind the scenes and supporting other small business. Because in such a crazy competitive world, there is no reason to try to cut someone else down. Teamwork makes the dream work. She strives to be the forefront of quality fabric and brings it all to you at Phee Fabrics!