Association Members – Option for Red Blazers

Association Members – Option for Red Blazers

During the recent Association Council meetings consisting of the Division Presidents and the Board of Directors as part of the 2025 Gimli AGM, there was a discussion about red blazers. There are several options available for obtaining a red blazer and all are of the members choice. The goal of the Association is to identify options for our membership to procure a well-fitting blazer at reasonable price wherever you are located in the country.

For some background, my wife Deb and I own and operate the Medicine Hat Fabricland franchise. Deb has been with Fabricland as an employee, manager and owner for the past 40 plus years. We considered providing an option to obtain a red blazer a few years ago but didn’t want to be in competition with other suppliers; however, as a result of the Association Council discussion, she has provided an option that is now available to Association members.

Some Association members have been paying over $1,000 to have a blazer made with some taking over a year to construct with varying degrees of satisfaction being realized. The retail markup for fabric and related materials is substantial and Deb can source most of this at wholesale. She will provide fabric, crest, buttons, lining, hair canvass, interfacing, shoulder pads and construction in an inclusive package that is considerably less than the retail price charged by various suppliers. She has retained a former Fabricland employee that is a talented tailor who owns a sewing business called Sew Necessary in Medicine Hat and has designed a measurement sheet with 13 measurements required to make a blazer. She just completed a test case for a Lethbridge Division member who was more than pleased with the quality, price and timely production of the blazer. Deb is running this off the corner of her desk and is not wishing to make any profit from Association members. She can produce a tailor-made blazer for a total of $525, GST included. There is no sales tax in Alberta, but shipping and further alterations are the responsibility of the member.

Anyone wanting a blazer can send an email to Deb at sewinglady913@hotmai.com

She can also be contacted on her cell at 403 315 0232 for consultation.

She will provide a measurement sheet via return email. Upon receipt of an E-transfer of $525 Deb will then provide the sheet to the tailor and she will construct the blazer with an approximate 6–8-week turnaround time. When the blazer is complete Deb will contact the member respecting shipping costs and send the blazer to them.

Any inquiries on this can be provided directly to Deb at the email and phone number as noted above.

Bob Byers