Like traditional Parisian fashion houses, Betty Jean Couture offers made-to-measure clothes sewn on-site. Like traditional Portland family houses, Betty Jean Couture is a relative bargain. Simple sheath dresses start at $130. Basic skirt and jacket suits average $350.
“People want fit, but they don’t want to pay an arm and a leg,” says owner Kenneth Doswell.
Doswell continues the tradition of working with his family. His brother Jerald handles design. Doswell’s wife, Michelle, does the bookkeeping. He and Michelle remodeled the Betty Jean Couture house themselves.
“Everything,” he says, “except wiring and plumbing.”
They figured it would take six months. Three years later, they finally opened the doors.
The core of the business is the custom clothing, measured, cut and stitched in the shop by four contract employees. They’ve been able to turn around garment orders in as quickly as four days.
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