Hello my name is Lena, I am a dressmaker, fabric addict and a director of Sateen, the online fabric store. There is a growing interest in dressmaking and demand for wider choice of fabrics and better service in this area. This website has been created to give you better choice of fabrics, bring sewers together, share knowledge, skills and promote this fine craft.

I had arrived to New Zealand many years ago form a country in Central Europe called Ukraine.

I can not remember exactly when I started to sew, it seems I have been sewing always. But I distinctly remember my cousin’s Barbie doll she got on her birthday. I thought the pink short dress she was wearing was uninspiring, so I had made her a  blue velvet-and-lace ball gown. I was not interested in dolls, but what they were wearing.

My interest in sewing got a big boost at school from my “Domestic Science” teacher. The fantastically gifted seamstress and domestic goddess - she was making ALL her clothes including undergarments. She made me believe in myself, taught me how to make a straight seam and pay close attention to smallest details. Under her guidance I started sewing clothes for myself.

And sew I did!

Armed with mom’s extensive fabric stash, her old wardrobe “gems” and Burda magazine I was unstoppable! I was making all the clothes I could master from the most outrageous fabrics I could find. My patient mother had never denied my right to wear my creations, only occasionally questioning the length of some of them. She doesn’t like sewing herself, because cutting the fabric makes her nervous. I, however, never had the cutting problem, I lacked patience! If I wanted something made, I wanted it NOW! I had sewn my first made-to-order garment at the age of 17.

In 2001 I had moved to New Plymouth, New Zealand. What a change it was! From the rush and the lights of multi-million-people city to a sleepy town on the coast. I had spent a year trying to figure out where I fit in, lost without my surroundings and my beloved push-pedal cast iron Singer. Spoiled by choices in Ukrainian fashion stores, I couldn’t find any clothes I would like to wear and no fabrics in craft stores that would inspire me. I got a job in a local pharmacy and had spent a few years getting used to the new country and new way of life. The relaxed way of life had influenced me so much, I had taken on playing violin as a hobby.

Much later, when I married Stefan and we had bought our home, I got another chance to go back to my sewing. I had set up a room in a basement ( originally destined to be a man-cave), bought the equipment and the biggest cutting table I could fit in the room. I finally got my own sewing room back, my sanctuary, my retreat!  And the sewing mojo came back with a vengeance. I had bought books from US, I had ordered my rulers and tools from UK. I took sewing and pattern making classes to freshen up my skills. I was sketching up designs while pottering in my vege patch.

My husband would not let me go to fabric stores by myself and had taken on a role of a “voice of reason”, otherwise I could happily spend hours and hundreds of dollars there! Now I still spend large on fabrics, but not at the fabric stores.  I choose the best available in New Zealand and continuously update my range. I make garments out of latest and trendiest fabrics which now I can offer  to you.

Of course, I could not have done it without Stefan. Being a very grounded person, he was

a back bone of this project, organiser and delegator. It must be his Croatian blood, or maybe karate training, or his IT background. Somehow he still finds time to enjoy his motorcycle and occasional tenpin bowling game.

And here we are, the proud owners of Sateen, the online fabric store.

Why online? -- Because it is easy, safe and and convenient.

Why fabrics? -- What else??

Here are feedbacks from some of our customers:

Great fabric, prompt emails and service, thanks

Debbie Anderson, Hamilton

Quick delivery and very good quality material. Many thanks for easy to use service.

Dayle Olding, Morrinsville

Tee Ganz, Tokoroa

Very helpful and efficient - I would recommend buying from them.

Kaye Hatton, Auckland

Thank you Lena for a fabulous shopping experience with you, thank you for your warm and friendly manner, the peter rabbit fabric is just delightful and will be perfect for our project, I wish you all the best with your business and hope to shop with you again soon, kind regards, Lynette

Lynette Holschier, Napier

My fabric arrived today and I am thrilled to bits, the pieces that I chose were just as the photo showed them. I was delighted to see that each piece had it's own tag explaining what the cloth was and how to care for it, a very nice touch. I will definitely be purchasing from Sateen again, thank you Lena!

Di Carbon, Wanaka

Super quick. And i am very happy with the product. Thank you!

Carolin Hahn, Coromandel

Absolutely no hesitation in dealing with Sateen. Fast service and great product. Thank you!

Paige M, Auckland

Lou Cooper, Christchurch

Great service and so easy to buy on line. Very happy with fabric. Fabric is described accurately. Thanks

Deb Beazley, Paihia

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