About Fiona
My name is Fiona, my sewing journey began twenty years ago. I have been handmaking bags for many years. Most recently my work took on a deeper meaning, after losing a close family member, I turned her tartan woollen skirt and cotton dresses into memory bags for our family. The response was so overwhelmingly heartfelt that I launched a bespoke memory bag service.
This was the beginning of Forever in Fabric.
I know what it means to hand over something irreplaceable. I treat every garment as if it were my own.
What people want to know
Can I have more than one bag made from the same garments?
Yes. Depending on the size of the clothing and the style of bag chosen, it is often possible to make multiple bags from a single collection. I can also supplement your fabric with my own to ensure the whole family can have something.
How long will it take?
Each bag takes approximately two days to make and I operate a waiting list. If you have a special occasion in mind where you plan to gift the finished bags, please let me know when you get in touch.
Do you offer delivery?
I take local orders only and do not offer delivery or postal services. This keeps things personal and reduces our environmental impact.
Currently serving Reading and South Oxon. Local drop-off and collection only. Current waiting list: approximately one month.
My philosophy
Slow craft
In a world of mass production, I choose a different path. Every bag I make takes up to two days of focused, careful work. I deconstruct the garment, stabilise the fabric, cut with precision, and sew with intention. The price I charge often does not cover minimum wage for the hours invested.
I am not a factory. I am a maker. There is one of me, working in one studio, on one bag at a time.
Sustainability
By repurposing the textiles that already exist, cotton shirts, tweed jackets, curtains, dog beds, I give new life to what would otherwise sit unused or be discarded. I work with local customers only, reducing packaging waste, cutting out shipping emissions, and keeping things personal. Every choice I make is guided by a commitment to doing things carefully and considerately, for people and for the planet.
Integrity
I treat every garment as if it were my own. All items are carefully laundered in non-bio detergent before I begin, ensuring your finished bag is clean, preserved, and ready to carry for years to come. I know that handing over a loved one's clothing requires an enormous amount of trust. I do not take that lightly. I will always tell you honestly what is possible with your fabric, and I will never begin work until you are happy with the plan and the price.
What I make
I specialise in bespoke memory bags made from the clothing and furnishings of people, and pets, who have passed. I work with a wide range of fabrics and a selection of bag styles, from compact crossbody bags to generous totes. I can also make bespoke bags for customers who simply love beautifully made things and want a bag crafted from premium haberdashery fabrics, including Harris Tweed and Liberty cotton lawn.
Every bag I make is one of a kind. There is no production line. Just the cloth, the craft, and the story behind it.
Where I work
I am based in the Reading and South Oxon area and currently take local orders only. Every bag is made by hand, in my studio, by me. There is no outsourcing and no shortcuts.
I maintain a waiting list to ensure every project receives the time it deserves. If you have a specific deadline, a birthday, an anniversary, or a memorial, please do let me know when you get in touch so I can do my very best to accommodate you.