Ju Da Silva was just eight years old when she first picked up a sewing needle.
We’re sitting in the sun-drenched living room of her daughter’s home in Branchville. Vibrant green plants spill from nearly every surface, and the space feels bright, cheerful, and alive—just like Ju herself.
“I come from a very humble family,” Ju tells us in Portuguese, with her daughter, Vivian Brown, translating. “My mother used to sew by hand. We lived on a farm in Brazil, and she made clothes for her nine siblings. My mom taught me how to sew, and I started making outfits for my younger brothers and sisters.”
Ju grew up in Bocaiuva, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and has been working as a seamstress for nearly three decades.
“I always had a little studio at home in Brazil,” she says. “Eventually, a friend and I opened a children’s clothing store called B Happy.”
The shop was successful, but Ju’s reputation grew exponentially by word of mouth from satisfied customers.
“This was before influencers,” she says with a laugh. “I had famous clients. People traveled from far away to come and see me. I was making clothes that people loved. They would tell their friends, and suddenly I was very busy.”
“I don’t know how the building manager allowed it!” Vivian says. “The stream of clients filtering through our apartment was nonstop. I’d be on the couch, and people were just in and out all day.”
Vivian met her husband, Robert Brown, in Pennsylvania in 2007, and after a stint in Brazil, the couple settled in Ridgefield in 2014. They now have two boys—one in sixth grade and one in second. In 2020, Ju received her Green Card and moved to Ridgefield to be closer to her daughter.
Vivian, a self-proclaimed tomboy, had never taken to wearing dresses. But Ju was thrilled to finally have an excuse to sew for her daughter, creating beautiful pieces for Vivian to wear while singing as a worship leader at various churches in the area.
“Every time she made me a new dress, I’d post a photo and say, ‘Look what my mama made me to wear this Sunday!’” Vivian tells us. “People would comment, ‘Wow, she made that?’ So I started a social media page to showcase her work.”
The name stuck. My Mama Made started small, with Ju doing mostly alterations and making clothes for friends and acquaintances. They didn’t advertise—and didn’t need to.
During a routine check-up last year, Ju’s doctor discovered something concerning in her bloodwork. She was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a slow-growing blood cancer.
“I take a chemotherapy pill daily, which has some side effects,” Ju says. “But I’m still able to go to the gym. I eat, sleep, work—and I feel good.”
Ju is very happy to have her work, which keeps her busy. The magic happens in her workshop—which doubles as a cozy one-bedroom apartment at the top of a building in town. (It’s 60 steps up with no elevator, so Ju instead meets with clients at Vivian’s house.)
Her dedicated workspace is lined with Singer sewing machines, a large white work table, and mannequins draped in fabric awaiting their transformation.
Ju’s talent is astonishing. She can turn a wedding gown into a baptism dress, tailor a pair of jeans to perfection, or create a custom design from a single photograph. She also makes quilts, both stylish and sentimental (think: a cozy keepsake made from childhood t-shirts or college gear).
Ju does all of this in her head, like magic, transforming a bolt of fabric into a breathtaking bespoke dress in days.
“I’ve never seen her use a pattern,” Vivian tells us, in awe of her mama’s talent. “It’s a gift—almost supernatural. She made my wedding dress. If I show her a picture, she’ll make exactly what I want. She takes your measurements and brings it to life.”
Many clients bring their own fabric for Ju to work with. If she needs to source something, her go-to store is Banksville Designer Fabrics in New Canaan. Just days before our photo shoot, they selected the vibrant fabric for Ju’s stunning dress and the luxurious velvet Vivian is wearing.
And if there’s one thing Ju is known for—besides her precision and creativity—it’s speed.
“She’s fast,” Vivian says. “Very fast!”
Ju is the only professional standalone seamstress in town who can create works of art from bolts of fabric. There are tailors at dry cleaners, yes—but Vivian says clients often come to Ju either to fix mistakes or because they’ve been told what they wanted was “impossible.”
Despite her immense talent, Ju rarely sews for herself.
“In Brazil, there is a saying: ‘In the house of the blacksmith, the skewer is made of wood.’ You give so much to others, you forget yourself,” she tells us.
We asked how her handmade creations compare to fast fashion brands like Shein or Amazon, Ju doesn’t hesitate.
“There’s no comparison. I make everything with love and dedication. It’s made for your body and fits better. The fabric lasts longer. It’s about quality,” she says.
My Mama Made offers competitive pricing: simple hems start at $25, layered hems range from $30–35, and bespoke dresses begin around $60 if fabric is provided. Prices increase depending on the complexity of the piece and fabric sourcing needs.
“I love Brazil—it’s my home,” Ju says. “But Ridgefield has welcomed me with open arms. I’m happy to be here. I love what I do. It gives my life purpose.”
To connect with Ju or inquire about a custom piece, you can text or call Vivian at 203-505-3793.
I make everything with love and dedication. It’s made for your body and fits better. The fabric lasts longer. It’s about quality