Cypress resident runs sewing business from home

A love of sewing since childhood inspired Cypress resident Candy Lyon to open her dressmaking and alterations business, Candy Kay Couture, in 2010.

"Both of my grandmothers were seamstresses and taught me how to sew," she said. "In the past I made [clothes] for family and friends, but it was just for fun."

When Lyon and her family moved to the Cypress area nearly three years ago, she wanted to start a business out of her home.

"My husband kept telling me I needed to sew because that's what I like to do," Lyon said. "He built my website for me, put me online and got me busy."

Lyon can alter or make cocktail, wedding and bridesmaid dresses or other creations in a few weeks time.

"If I have a customer who isn't sure which direction to go in, I can pick the fabric for them," she said. "Then I have some customers who are very specific and bring fabric and ideas in mind."

Since she opened, most of Lyon's business has come from word-of-mouth and the Internet.

"I have several customers who have friends who are managers of stores at the outlet mall, so they give my cards out quite a bit," she said.

Because she markets her business through the Internet, Lyon has worked with several clients from outside Cy-Fair.

When Lyon meets with a customer for the first time, she takes their measurements and gets an idea for what they want. If a client brings in a pre-made pattern it takes Lyon two weeks to complete a project, as opposed to three if she makes the pattern herself.

One of Lyon's most popular orders are bridesmaid dresses, but she also makes clothing for holidays, special events and school dances.

"Halloween was fun because I did a lot of neat masquerade ball gowns and dresses," Lyon said. "I've also done several charity ball dresses. Those are always unique."

Since she runs her business alone, Lyon's daughter occasionally helps her cut patterns.

"I'm hoping in a year I'll be able to hire someone come in and help me out, because I've pretty much hit my limit of what I can do myself," she said.

Options at Candy's

Candy Lyon can create an endless possibility of dresses in categories such as:

• College spirit dresses
• Bridesmaid dresses
• Wedding dresses
• Evening gowns
• Prom and homecoming dresses
• Cocktail dresses

Candy Kay Couture, 15422 Juniper Cove Court, Cypress 832-350-0120, www.candykaycouture.com