Wexford tailor overcomes collapse of Soviet Union, death of her husband, and language barriers to receive recognition for her work

And, as she explains, this is the pinnacle of a lifetime of work which began back in the old Soviet Union.

“I’m from Lithuania but it was still the USSR when I was born,” she says. “When I finished secondary school in 1980 I studied to become a bespoke tailor and then studied in fashion and design. I was working as a tailor up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, I tried to keep my business going but it was very difficult as the economic system fell apart, the political system, everything, it was difficult to even stay alive.”

Eking out a living by doing jobs for her most loyal customers, Nadia’s life, and that of her family, changed when Lithuania joined the EU in 2004.

“My daughter decided to come to Ireland, she was only 19 so it was stressful for me to see her go at that age. She started in university and at weekends worked in McDonald’s, she was very good at her job and was recommended as the best employee in Ireland. When I saw how happy she was here I thought ‘maybe I’ll come, just try it for the summer’.”

Not one to shy away from hard work, Nadia followed the same route as her daughter, finding work in a McDonald’s restaurant in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

“My English was zero, I had nothing. I was much older than most of the staff of course, but my manager said that he knew I would be good at the job because I was related to my daughter,” she laughs. “I started working in the kitchen and I was happy, I really liked it. I didn’t mind doing that job, I worked with young people and they had great energy and emotion.

"During that year I began learning the language and thought I should try and get my former career up and running again.”

When her husband Evgeny joined her in Ireland, Nadia decided to try and revive her first love, to find work as a tailor here.

“Evgeny found a job as a fisherman in Waterford so we moved there. I got a job as a tailor in Threads. They were so happy because I could do everything, I was exactly what they needed. Any job I was given I would say ‘I can do that’, I would never say that’s impossible, I’d always try.”

After three years working in Waterford and with a big milestone approaching, Evgeny announced that Nadia would soon be able to strike out on her own.

“I was worried about setting up on my own but my husband said he would get me a place where I could start for my 50th birthday,” she recalls. “The first premises in Wexford was on Thomas St, I moved to Henrietta St in 2014. Evgeny supported me in everything I did, he fixed the machines, ordered everything, all the stock and what we needed; the fabrics, the accessories, he even went abroad for items. All I had to do was work, he supported me in everything else.”

However, following Evgeny’s passing seven years ago, Nadia has had to rely on her daughter and son to carry out any administrative work in a business she runs by herself. And a lengthy career was finally recognised at the prestigious Hair, Beauty & Style awards in November.

“It was such a surprise, I didn’t expect anything, when I got the call and was told I’d been nominated for best tailor I had to ask him what it meant,” she says. “My daughter came with me on the night – she’s not in McDonalds any more, now she’s a photographer, that’s what she wanted to do since she was young.”

Nadia continues to operate out of her small business on Henrietta St, serving her regulars, quietly solving crises on a daily basis, restoring beloved items to their former glory.

“I like everything about the job, if someone brings something new or challenging it’s more interesting for me. I just ask, ‘what do I need to do?’ I still learn every day.”