Miriam Mades is the type of person who thrives on curiosity and creativity. She feels energized by hard work, both in herself and others.
While knitting is at the heart of what she does nowadays, Miriam is far from how most people envision a traditional needleworker or seamstress. When she was younger, she embodied the same free spirit she is today. Miriam attended NYU, where she sang and played guitar in an alternative rock band with considerable success, even earning a recording contract.
After her professional music career, Miriam began a more traditional office life. One day, she noticed a knitting store and was reminded of how her mother would suggest knitting as a form of relaxation. She walked in, and the rest is history. It was immediately evident that Miriam Mades had found her true calling through yarn.
She blossomed under the tutelage of Vicky, an elderly Sicilian lady who worked as a tailor at Pierre Cardin and Barney’s. As Miriam referred to her, this “lady with golden hands” became her guide, friend, and inspiration.
All fashion is cyclical, and knitting made a resurgence in fashion around 1999. The local craft store, which served as Miriam Mades’ hangout, became overwhelmed with a younger clientele. The idea for an entrepreneurial venture occurred to Miriam when she noticed that patrons not only wanted to purchase fabric but also desired a place to sit and discuss their plans and share ideas. She launched “Knit New York,” a café with an adjacent full-service yarn store. In addition to a full line of pastries, sandwiches, and gourmet coffees, Miriam also managed the yard store and started teaching classes in the evenings. Before she knew it, these knitting parties became the place for the in-crowd to be seen. Being in charge of a restaurant, a knitting storefront, and a school also took a toll on Miriam’s mental and physical health. One of the ways Miriam relieved stress was through amateur boxing, which she still enjoys to this day.
As her multiple businesses grew, so did her rent. Her exploitative landlord made it clear that she needed a change of direction. Miriam Mades decided to focus on the one facet of her success that was also her passion – knitting. AlterKnit began as a home-based knitwear repair company, with Miriam personally picking up and delivering hard-to-mend items like sweaters and skirts.
Check out Miriam Mades’ other websites miriammades.com and miriammades.com, to learn more!
