Having a successful business requires hard-working, intelligent and motivated people. The women behind the 75 years of business of Madame Pirie Famise Shoppe are just that.
It all started in 1945, when our founder Pearl Spitzer had a vision – to help women find the perfect fitting bras and lingerie. Pearl created a booming business in the era where longline bras and girdles were all the rage. In the 1940’s and 1950’s women of all ages and sizes were wearing girdles and longline bras, and Pearl was the master for fitting them in the Capital Region. In fact, according to our current owner Rosa Belleville, Pearl was the only one in the Capital Region who sold them.
Rosa described Pearl as “very smart and very lady-like. She always had a smile on her face, she was very unique.” Rosa went onto say Pearl loved beautiful jewelry and collected antiques. She also taught everyone who came through Madame Pirie how to fit women for corsets. Pearl was the master of her craft and passed on her wisdom to every employee who has come through her shop.
In the 1960’s Pearl hired Clementina Mesiti. An Italian immigrant who was a master seamstress and had previously owned her own women’s boutique in her home country. Clementina worked two jobs to support her seven children. “She worked at the shop during the day and cleaned for the state at night,” says Rosa. “She was amazing. She was very lady-like, warm and embracing. She liked people and was a good business woman.”
Pearl seemed to have recognized Clementina’s business sense as well. At one point Pearl told Clementina that if she were ever to sell the store Clementina would have first choice.
Around 1970 Clementina took her up on her offer and she and Rosa took over the store. “Everything I learned, I learned from my mom,” says Rosa who runs the store to this day, “my mom was very hardworking.” Today, Rosa still feels her mother’s presence and believes her mother would be proud of her carrying the store’s legacy.
Throughout the years Madame Pirie has also changed locations a few times, which you can read about in our last blog.
Today Rosa continues the legacy of working with people and helping women feel beautiful and confident. Rosa brings everything she learned from Pearl and Clementina to her employees today. Every woman that comes through Madame Pirie as staff goes through extensive training around the brands and how to properly fit every woman.
Stay tuned – we will also have a blog soon featuring the story of Rosa Belleville.