High Street Spotlight: Petit Versailles to celebrate 10 years of business

A passionate business owner whose mission is to ‘turn fears into smiles’ will be celebrating 10 years of business this summer.

Petit Versailles, located on Stodman Street, Newark, offers a range of costume jewellery, handbags, clothes, scented candles, and a haberdashery section selling ornate fabrics and adornments.

With something for all tastes on the shop’s ground floor, it is on the first floor of the shop that the owner Hajra Kemari, designer and seamstress, gives wings to customers’ wishes and her own creativity.

She said: “Seeing people realise their dreams for their wedding or other special occasion gives me such joy.

“I encounter so many nervous brides who have lost all confidence or have had bad experiences with other seamstresses elsewhere — my mission is always to turn their fears into smiles, and sad tears into tears of happiness.

“This is why I am passionate about what I do and it is why I will continue.”

The Portuguese business owner trained in Portugal as a seamstress and pattern maker before working in Paris and then the UK, where she has worked with designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, as well as sewing for London Fashion Week.

With years of experience, she fell in love with Newark after doing seamstress work for Jane Young on Chain Lane, Newark.

She said: “Since a very young age, my passion has always been sewing and design. I don’t recall ever wanting to do anything else.

“My family have always encouraged me to fulfil my dream and gave me 100% moral support and encouragement.

“They believed in me even when I hesitated, and for that, I will always be so grateful to them.”

Petit Versailles was born when the store became available on Stodman Street, and the shop’s name is inspired by Hajra’s time working in France, where she fell in love with the Palace of Versailles, which inspired her to bring a ‘petit’ part of its splendour to Newark.

“I started Petit Versailles from scratch with very little money and had to build the business up single-handedly, just with my skills and ambition,” she said.

“I love the castle, the historic buildings and the riverside, so I didn’t hesitate when the opportunity came up.”

Hajara said that she has received much support in Newark, with customers becoming friends and other business owners offering plenty of advice or just helpful words of praise or encouragement.

“The community spirit here is second to none, I really don’t believe I would have this in another town or city, so I am very happy to be here and have no intention of moving elsewhere,” she added.

As well as being popular for its strong Steampunk links and impressive designs, the shop’s window displays often catch the public’s eye, from a bespoke gown depicting all the historic buildings of Newark, a dress made from miniature blue teddy bears in support of Beaumont House, to a vibrant scarlet poppy themed windows.

Over the past 10 years, Hajra has had plenty of ‘incredible’ memories, with her most memorable events including taking part in the Six Million White Roses Art Exhibition organised by Susi Wright of Meander and Mooch Art, where she got to create a gown covered in white roses in memory of all of those murdered in the Holocaust.

The business owner said: “I truly believe Newark will survive the decline in retail shopping happening Nationwide as we have so much to offer.

“We just need to embrace it and move forward to a common goal.”

For the future, Hajra is planning to bring Petit Versailles to the world stage and currently researching opportunities in Italy, particularly in Venice where recently a dress designed by the owner made success in the city’s world famous Carnival.

In June, the shop will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with a ‘special event’, with more details to be revealed at a later date.