
Welcome to TFI & The Fitting Image
The Perfect Fit, Every Time
ANNOUNCEMENTS
As of 04/09/25, we will be open for appointments and pick-ups only. We will not be taking any new orders, unless you already have an appointment scheduled or have arranged an exception.
We will be open through May and will arrange pick-ups if a customer is unable to come in before May 31st.
Please call the shop during business hours if you have any questions.
Stay posted for further updates.
Thank you!
To our valued customers:
For the past 36 years, The Fitting Image has offered a full range of alterations, tailoring, restyling, resizing, mending and repairing. We’ve decided to close this location and take a minute to assess new ways of running an alterations business.
This decision has not been made lightly; all of us here are feeling mixed emotions regarding this change. We love what we do, we’re good at what we do, we love the environment (working alongside and collaborating with other sewists), and we love the customers, but we see the need for change in this industry.
Mending and alterations are vital services. They are as important as recycling and reducing carbon footprints. Unfortunately, almost all of us make minimum wage while sewing for a living – and minimum wage is not a living wage, especially in SLO County. We are constantly struggling to find a balance between charging enough to earn a living wage and justifying the cost to customers whose clothing was sold for less than the cost of a sandwich.
Living in a global economy means that we need to understand that the $12 mass-produced pants we buy may have had a negative impact on the environment in the country where the pants were manufactured and that will eventually affect our local environment. Pollution has no borders. That being said, we can’t expect everyone to spend hundreds of dollars on ‘Made in the USA’ clothing. We want to find a more balanced system, even if it isn’t perfect.
While we transition to our next phase (whatever that may be), feel free to talk to us about how to be a conscious consumer, where to go in our area for mending and alterations, and even how to learn to sew, alter, mend, and repair for yourself. Below are some resources to look into.

ABOUT US
Established in 1989 in San Luis Obispo, The Fitting Image has been the Central Coast's trusted choice for repairs, alterations, and tailoring for over 30 years.
Resources:
Fabric shops, sewing classes, repair cafes, and more:
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Cut & Run
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Studio Stitch
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Picking Daisies
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Cotton Ball
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Quality Fabrics
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Sew Fun
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Allan Hancock Community College
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www.repaircafe5cities.org (free repair café)
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Grant House Sewing (classes, fabric, sewing machine repair)
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www.slomakerspace.com (membership access to creative space)
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@TheLeticiaDesign (posts/hosts mending circles info on Instagram)
Learn to shop consciously:
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fashionrevolution.org
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fashion revolution/transparency index
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goodonyou.eco/fast-fashion-facts
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cleanclothes.org
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remake.world
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enviroliteracy.org/where-to-recycle-textiles-near-me
Books:
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Conscious Closet by Elizabeth Cline
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Mending Matters by Katrina Rodabaugh
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Fibershed by Rebecca Burgess with Courtney White
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Why Fashion Matters by Frances Corner
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Fix Your Clothes by Raleigh Briggs
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Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Briggs
Items for Sale
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As we go through the stages of closing this location, we will be selling a variety of items, including machines, fabric, notions, furniture, clothing racks, and more.
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I will keep this updated on a daily basis.
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Anything over $200 will be cash or card only (all cards/electronic payments will have 3.99% added).
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If you want to 'test drive' a machine, come to the shop from 11-3 Saturdays and Sundays in May OR call to make an appointment.

MACHINES
industrial machines (come with tables): US Blindstitch 1118-2, Yamato 3-thread Serger, Consew 29BL Patcher, Consew 7360 R-7DD-1

FURNITURE
library steps mirrors, framed art, 30" reacher, padded seat, chairs

FABRIC/NOTIONS
bra cups, shoulder pads, horsehair, ribbon, corset ties, dress straps, metal hooping, premade bows and sashes, crinoline petticoats, hoop skirt

OFFICE MISC.
pens, markers, highlighters, lamps, water cooler bottles

SEWING MISC.
vintage hangers, wood hangers, plastic hangers, decorative mannequin, marking tools, cardboard pattern grid

OTHER
clifford stuffed animal, CDs, beads, crafts
HOURS:
HOURS:
Wednesday – Friday:
8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Pick-ups anytime during business hours.

Location
3000 Broad Street Suite 104, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
The Brickyard Shopping Center
Free parking
805.541.2685