VG/MarquisAmerica recently asked Dark Garden Corsetry’s owner Autumn Adamme  a few questions about how her legendary business got started.

As everyone in the fetish scene knows, Dark Garden is the go-to source for truly handmade, made-to-measure corsetry. The beautiful San Francisco shop is full of dazzling examples of what can be done with top-of-the-line craftsmanship and materials. If you are lucky enough to live in or visit SF, you can see Dark Garden fashion shows at local events. If you are in the area in late November and December, there is a DG store at the famous Dickens Faire. The freestanding Dickens store features display windows where live mannequins pose for hours at a time, surrounded by an admiring crowd.

We asked Autumn about how she got her start:

Did you grow up sewing or learn as an adult?

I started sewing when I was very little – fabric amused me endlessly. We got a sewing machine when I was 8, my mother helped me make my first corset when I was 12 !!

 How did you get interested in making corsets?

I grew up at Renaissance festivals and faires so was fascinated with historic costume early – and I read Victorian era authors very early.

 When Dark Garden was started, there was far less awareness of the corset as a fashion garment in the public consciousness; what gave you the nerve to start such a specialized business?

I started as a costumer, needed to make corsets for each costume – the business led me to focus on corsets – that and working with Monique Motil – she’s a multi-talented artist who sculpts, so when joined forces we couldn’t wait to sculpt people. We had NO idea that we’d be making so many corsets for such varied individuals.

 Who was your first celebrity client?

Hmmm – I believe that was Tilda Swinton for an independant movie, then Pamela Anderson for her show V.I.P. I’ve made corsets for Dita von Teese for a very long time as well – before she was a celebrity. Probably my happiest moment was lacing Siouxsie into a corset, I’m such a spooky girl.

Do you still travel to European fetish events like Torture Garden , or are you simply too busy with the business?

There are a few reasons why DG doesn’t travel much lately, but I’m really itching to go back to London sometime soon.

What year did you first have a Dark Garden store at Dickens Faire, and did you have the famous windows from the beginning?

 Jane Xavier Barnes had a booth called Pemberley’s at Dickens in the late 80s. She’s the originator of the windows. When the Dickens fair started back up in…2000(?) she called me up and insisted that Dark Garden take over the idea. She even gave me the walls of her old booth! The first year I had to chase down pretty girls in the street and beg them to model – not so anymore!!

 Being in the Dark Garden window at Dickens is a privilege Bay Area girls and boys fight for; do you come up with the window concepts in advance or do the models decide themselves what they want to do?

 The window concepts are those of the models. We tend to give them a generalized theme at the beginning of the Fair season and they run with it, even planning windows “for next year” !

 What are some of the mainstream magazines and shows Dark Garden corsets have appeared in ?

V.I.P, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Marie Claire, Playboy, The Wedding Guide

 Who have you always wanted to make a custom corset for?

Madonna, Lady Gaga, RuPaul….

To learn more about Dark Garden’s unique work, visit them on the web:

www.darkgarden.com