Leiren Designs will soon close its Ballard store at 8309 NW 15th St.
Owner Madison McBride shared the news on Instagram, saying she’ll be holding a liquidation sale on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Items for sale will include sewing supplies and patterns, sample gowns and suits, furniture, shelves, and rugs.
“For years, I had the absolute honor of taking someone’s dream and turning it into something they could actually wear. I got to work with clients who wanted something more than what they could find on a sales rack — something personal, something completely them. And together, we dreamed it up,” she wrote in her message to customers.
McBride grew up around traditional Norwegian needlecrafts, which sparked her interest in sewing and design. Her work has focused on bridal alterations and custom garments, along with ethical fashion and support for Indigenous arts.
In 2024, Leiren Designs won the People’s Choice Best Bridal Shop in The Seattle Times’ Best in the PNW awards.
McBride told My Ballard that she’s closing for several reasons.
“A big part of the closure has to do with having 4 month old twin girls who need me constantly,” McBride said. “Another has to do with the cost of living here and being able to charge enough to keep my doors open, even before having kiddos.”
McBride also said she thinks that fine-skilled tailoring is becoming a dying art. “Folks think if they spent $800 on a dress, there is no way their alterations should be as much or more,” she added.
“I got to live out so many lifelong dreams — having my own design house, being my own boss, creating runway shows, traveling for work, working on photo shoots, seeing my designs published in magazines, winning awards, being honored as Best Custom Designer. Most importantly, I got to build something from my own imagination and watch it become real,” McBride shared.
Photo: Leiren Designs