From costumes to customs
Christine Dempsey has been sewing since she was a little girl. For the last four years, this 41-year-old West Saugerties resident has been making clothing for Renaissance Faires as well as corsets and bodices she sells on the web. [She also teaches belly dancing.]
She’s been working out of the same building the whole time, but only recently decided to open up a storefront, “because I saw how successful Matt has been,” Dempsey explained.
Dempsey said she began attending Renaissance Faires as a teen on Long Island. There, she saw how well clothiers did supplying faire-goers with traditional Medieval wear. With skills her mother taught her, plus high school classes and a year at the Fashion Institute, Dempsey launched a successful web business.
Next, she got into corsetry, which was a natural transition. But Dempsey soon discovered that not only costumed ladies were interested in her wares.
“Corsets make women look beautiful, and make them feel good as well,” she said.
She uses her own designs and patterns and does custom orders as well.
But while most of her business is making Renaissance wear, she wants to begin to move away from that. “The Renaissance popularity is declining,” she said.
As a belly dance teacher, she has begun to design and make dance wear. She’s also making more traditional dresses, and hopes to have racks of her own designs in the shop soon.
Currently her product line can been seen and purchased at her husband’s new tattoo shop on Mill Street in Woodstock, called Ed Dempsey Tattoo Company. He also designs armor for Renaissance Faires, which are available at his shop.
Dempsey’s items can be found at www.bdywear.com or www.crimsongypsy.com. Her store hours vary, and she said it’s best to call her at 845-594-8673.
As for Gleason, he just smiles when asked about the lower Partition Street commercial revival and points to an open storefront across the street. He says that in the coming weeks, it will be an Asian food market.
“We have unique shops down here, people should come and check us out,” said Gleason.
So far, people are listening.
For more insight into the local economy, go to Ulster Publishing’s hudsonvalleybusinessreview.com.
