Sewing by Ying

Tucked into a small basement studio space of a Thunder Bay hair salon is Sewing by Ying, an alteration and tailoring business owned by Ying Zhang. Zhang majored in economics and international trade in her native China and worked for a couple of years in banking. But she says fashion was always her passion, and took courses so she could learn to sew, make patterns, create garments, and do alterations. She moved to Canada in 2015, and started working in a local menswear store, where she says she gained even more skills, before launching her own business. She says it’s helped her meet new people. “I’m getting [to] know more people,” she says. “People come to me and ask me [about it] and I’m very excited [to tell] them.” Zhang adds that it’s a satisfying feeling. “I’m glad I can help them.” You can find Zhang’s business on Facebook at facebook.com/ yingsewing