Local Legacies to Know: Behind the Seams with Tina Eaves

Inside a quaint brick building along Roosevelt Row lives a story of purpose and perseverance—one that Tina Eaves has been tailoring for the past 25 years.

Since opening Alterations & Creations in 2001, Tina’s strong presence in Downtown Phoenix has manifested through years of dedication and a genuine passion that’s seamlessly woven into every aspect of her work. Over time, she's evolved her professional dry cleaning and alterations business into a trusted neighborhood staple for quality craftsmanship and personal care, yielding generations of loyal customers.

But what most people don’t know is that Tina’s sewing journey goes back long before establishing her Downtown shop, to when she was just 9 years old with a thimble and a dream. It was then that Tina's aunt first introduced her to this nifty hobby, inadvertently setting her on a lifelong creative pursuit.

What started as a childhood skill quickly revealed itself as a gift, earning her the role of the go-to clothier among family, friends, and neighbors in need of wardrobe repairs or custom touches.

That early foundation would carry Tina through a prestigious educational experience at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, further fueling her affinity for apparel design and customization.

Tina’s natural eye for detail, met with a fresh literacy in the fashion industry, soon led to an extraordinary opportunity—and one of her most notable career moments—when she was commissioned by the legendary musician, Prince, for a costumer gig during his years performing the iconic musical sensation, “Purple Rain”.

We sat down with this local legacy to learn more about the defining moments that have powered her passion through the years, how her business reflects her talent, and the contributions she’s made to the Downtown Phoenix community from 2k to today.

What inspired you to open Alterations & Creations, and how has your vision for the business evolved over the years?

I have been sewing since I was 9 years old. I started off doing it for my friends, neighbors, my brothers, and other family members. Then I went to college at FIT in New York. When I graduated from college, I worked as a costumer in Minnesota. I was even hired by Prince, and I've done Purple Rain. I worked with them for 3 years before moving to Arizona, where I worked on costumes here at the very same time. I opened my shop, and it just evolved into doing alterations all the time. My Aunt Catherine taught me how to sew because I have five brothers, and they had to figure out what to do with this [one] girl. My aunt was a seamstress and a custom clothier, and so she said, "Oh, she [Tina] could come over here and learn something."

Downtown Phoenix has changed a lot over time. What is your favorite thing about this area, and how has the community shaped your business?

My favorite thing about the [Downtown Phoenix] area is its growth. I appreciate how it stays very small business-oriented, and that is really what feeds this neighborhood. I have been in this location for 25 years, and I have customers who have followed me from my previous location since 1989. I still have many of those customers. They continue to come to me and refer me, and I love the relationships that I have with them. I have the best customers in the world.

What advice would you give the next generation of entrepreneurs to build something lasting?

The best advice I can give them is to go to work every day, even when no one is coming in. Consistently learn, work on business planning, and study business economics.