Zaiyre Originals began in the late 1970's as a hobby and gradually grew into a wholesale/retail business in 1980's.
Patty Hughes, owner/designer/seamstress, has been creating clothing since 1958. She specializes in customized clothing for her clients in a wide variety of areas.
Patty and her husband, Howard, have been involved in many hobbies/interests over the years and each of these has seemed to have brought about a new area for design possibilities.
A background in Middle Eastern and Hawaiian dance led to the creation of costumes for many professional dancers all across the country, and over twenty year participation in historical re-enactments found yet another outlet for their expertise. They have attended numerous conferences/seminars on historical clothing as well as doing indepth personal research into period clothing, studying from others as well as from private and museum collections.
You may find them camped at events throughout the Eastern United States and Canada. Their first love is the war of 1812 but it doesn't stop there. While researching Howard's ancestry, they became interested in Scottish history. They joined the "Jacobite Rebellion in North America" in 1998 and attend events each year representing the "MacKintosh Regiment". They have also participated in French & Indian War and Revolutionary War events. Southern Indiana history has afforded them the opportunity to participate in events of the Lewis & Clark era in Clarksville as well as donning Victorian fashions and volumteering at the Culbertson mansion state historic site in New Albany.
Over the past several years they have also taken their clothing and accessories on the road, participating as sutlers/vendors at events throughout the Mid-West. You can find them at area Scottish Highland games, historical events, and Renaissance Faires. Everything that is seen in their tent is made by either Patty or Howard, this sets them apart from many other retail companies. They also wholesale some of their creations.
Howard does fine leatherwork and creates accessories for almost any time period as well as modern leather bags and belts.
Patty also loves to design bridal fashions. She has created numerous, one of a kind, Bridal Gowns, dresses for attendants, Mother's Gowns, Flower Girls, etc.
She delights in creating coordinating accessories for the entire wedding party. Custom Prom Dresses and Pageant wear are available as well.
Full service alterations, steaming, and in some cases, delivery of the gown to the wedding site is also available.
Costume creating is also a passion. Halloween at the Hughes household can be quite busy, designing for family alone can keep Patty and Howard busy. Patty lets her four grandchildren help design and make their costumes each year. You won't see two of any of these out Trick or Treating!
Patty and Howard's two sons, and now the daughters-in-law, are now into their own type of reenacting. However, they are more into the future than the past. Now they have Mom and Dad helping to design costumes from the "Star Wars" era, creating these can be quite an adventurous undertaking. Most of these start from a photo, a movie clip, or a video game, the result is a one of a kind costume creation.
There is really no limit to what Zaiyre Originals will attempt to create.
If you can imagine it, it can probably be done!