Fidelina's Custom
Alterations & Bridal
Always
there
with
a stitch!
Written By Kimberly Ewertz
T
he building with the familiar blue door
and matching sign located at the corner
of Fifth and Eigleberry has been home
to Fidelina’s custom alterations and
bridal shop for over 22 years.
Owner, operator, and longtime Gilroy resident, Fidelina
Leos’ love of sewing began when she was a little girl growing
up in the town of San Carlos, a municipality of El Salvador.
Mama Caya, Leos’s grandmother, was a seamstress and
her inspiration.
“She, (Mama Caya), said I was too little to use her
machine, so when she wasn’t there I started using her
machine,” Leos said with a smile, adding that at nine years
old she made her first skirt.
By the age of 12 Leos was making all her own clothes and
drawing attention from her friends and neighbors.
“I would make dresses for my neighbors, some for free
and some would pay me a little,” Leos said.
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
At the age of 21 civil war broke out in her country
prompting Leos to relocate to the United States. Intent on
creating a better life for her and her young daughter, Lizetha
Orellana, she left Lizetha with her mother and made her way
alone, to the United States.
“I came here by myself on the bus,” Leos said, adding, “I
think about the things I did and God helped me and he took
care of me.”
The day after her arrival in Los Angeles Leos wasted no
time in securing employment as a seamstress. She remained
at that job for a year before making her second move, to
Texas. Two years later Lizetha had joined her, and the two
moved to Gilroy to live with family, Leos’ cousin.
Once again Leos wasted no time in securing employment.
Soon after arriving in Gilroy she secured a job at a men’s
store in Morgan Hill. When she later discovered a job
posting for a seamstress position in Gilroy, she decided
to apply.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018
gmhtoday.com