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ABOUT Avail & Company
In the late summer of 2005, Rachel Alvia began her dream, to create a business where women could have the unique experience of having a dress created just for them.
However, Rachel's dream began much earlier in life. As a child, she was especially creative, and learned many artistic skills passed on from her Mother, and Grandmothers. In high school, a friend asked Rachel if she could make her a dress for their school dance. Taking on the project to help a friend, Rachel would soon realize what she was born to do. As word spread, she soon found herself making dresses for everyone, and loving it. Upon graduating from high school, Rachel decided to move |
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to Chicago and persue her life as a professional designer. She attended school at the Illinois Institute of Art at Chicago, and graduated with her BFA in Fashion Design. She has worked as a product designer, continuing to create custom dresses part time as she had done, even through college. In 2005, when the time was right, Rachel began serving the Chicagoland area by creating Avail & Company.
Avail & Company is currently run out of her home studio in Poplar Grove, IL. Clients meet one-on one with Rachel in her home studio.
The future of Avail & Company is bright, and Rachel has many ideas yet to explore. "It's only the beginning" says Alvia, "There is so much more to come, and I am looking forward to finding new and exciting ways to serve brides, bridesmaids, and any woman looking for a one of a kind dress, or accessories for that special occassion."
Where does the name "Avail & Company" come from?
The name Avail & Company has a double meaning. "Avail" has the same letters as Rachel's last name, Alvia, in a different order. "Many designers use their name as the name of their business, but I wanted it to be about more than just me, I wanted the focus to be on my customers, after all, each client is the inspiration for their dress. The customer helps design their dress, by choosing all of the details. I am just here to help them make good decisions, and do the work of creating the dress. I am here to serve the client, so at my husband's suggestion, I rearranged the letters in "Alvia" to spell "Avail", which means to be of use, value, advantage or service." The word "Couture" is defined as the business of designing, making, and selling highly fashionable, usually custom-made clothing for women.
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