Our Story
Meet Molly Walz, Founder, Sanctuary Sewing Studio
Molly Walz spent a decade in New York City as a costume and wardrobe professional, working at the highest levels of the entertainment industry. On Broadway, she worked in the wardrobe departments of “Aladdin,” “Frozen,” “Moulin Rouge!”, “Tina” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” On screen, a few of her credits include “The Equalizer,” “Madam Secretary” and “Shirley.”
At the Metropolitan Opera, Molly served as staff wardrobe supervisor for male actors and dancers. On tour, Molly has worked as a wardrobe supervisor on shows like The Lion King, Rent, White Christmas, and Mamma Mia. Outside of her technical work, Molly’s costume design credits span Broadway, regional theater and television/film.
That career taught Molly something about clothes and bodies that most people never get the chance to learn: that fit is entirely solvable, that every body has logic to it and that the right alteration — even a small one — can change how a person carries themselves in a room.
When she came back to Columbus, she brought all of it with her.
Meet TC, Fitting Supervisor
TC has overseen fittings across the Midwest and East Coast, including a brief tour with Disney's “The Lion King.” She takes her role seriously and attends most appointments in a supervisory capacity. Payment is accepted in the form of treats, which we provide.
A note on TC: if you're not a cat person, just let us know when you book, and we'll make sure she's secured before you arrive. We keep pet hair to a minimum, but if you have a severe cat allergy, it's worth a conversation before your first visit — our studio is her home base.
Fun fact: TC was listed as a boy at the shelter. A full year later, we learned otherwise. She is, by any measure, a sneaky trans icon. Her government name is Ashley, but she goes by TC. The origin of that nickname is a story best saved for your first fitting.
Your Columbus Tailor
The fitting room has a reputation. Most people walk into one braced for something — a comment, a look, a suggestion about what they should be doing differently with their body. Molly built Sanctuary Sewing because it doesn't have to be that way.
The name isn't incidental. A sanctuary is a place where you're not on trial. That's the baseline here: you walk in as you are, and the work starts from there. Not from some version of you that's smaller or larger or more conventional.
Molly's approach comes directly from her industry experience. In professional costume and wardrobe, you dress the actor in front of you — not an idealized version of them. You solve for their actual body, movement and needs. That's what she brings to every client at Sanctuary Sewing.
“We want to change the clothes, not your body.”
— Molly Walz
Clients
Sanctuary Sewing Studio’s clients are as varied as Columbus itself. They're people who've never had clothes fit right and are done putting up with it. People in the middle of a transition who want their wardrobe to catch up. People who need something built from scratch for a moment that matters — a wedding, a performance, a milestone. Recent work includes custom tailoring for 2026 NFL Draft prospect Carnell Tate.
What they have in common: they want to walk out feeling like themselves. Molly's job is to make sure that happens.
Sanctuary Sewing is explicitly inclusive: every body, every size, every gender expression, every budget. No unsolicited opinions. No body commentary. Just good work, done well.
The Studio
Sanctuary Sewing is a private, one-on-one studio. That was a deliberate choice, not a circumstance. There's no waiting area with other clients. No one walking through your fitting. No shared dressing room. Your appointment is yours from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.
The studio is set up to feel like the opposite of every fluorescent-lit, curtained-off fitting room you've ever stood in. It's unhurried and comfortable. You don't have to perform anything while you're here.
“I never know where anybody is in their journey when they come to me. I just try to meet clients where they are.”
Ready to book?
Tell us a little about what you're looking for, and we'll take it from there. If you're not sure which service is right for you, reach out anyway — we'll point you in the right direction.
Note: A photo or document (JPG, PNG, Word or PDF) can help us give you a more accurate estimate — but it's entirely optional.