After 26 years, local seamstress continues creating custom costumes
A costumer squeals, “Oh my gosh!” as she runs to the back of Fantasyland Design to snag her find — a hot pink-accented top hat dressed with lace. Shelly Gallup, the costume shop owner and seamstress, joins in her excitement: “I knew you’d love it.”
Gallup started Fantasyland Design 26 years ago with her husband, Dallas. Today, she single-handedly supports the business that provides costumes, balloon decor, event consultation and sewing lessons.
Gallup’s road to Fantasyland Design started with her love for home economics classes. This passion led her to the custom sewing program at Brigham Young University-Idaho where she learned the skills to make the authentic, unique costumes in her store today. It also led her to Dallas, who she met in her first year at BYU-I.
After an eight-hour drive of discussion while coming home from Montana, she and Dallas decided to open Fantasyland Design in 1988. Dallas worked as a Santa Clause and they agreed a costume shop would both incorporate Gallup’s talents and complement his job. For eight years, they ran their business from their small apartment. In 1996, the couple expanded Fantasyland Design to its current location at 2530 N. 300 E. in North Logan.
The couple found a home in North Logan with a detached building for their business. Gallup said they never thought they could fill those walls, but Fantasyland Design once housed 2,000 costumes. After selling much of her merchandise, Gallup now has 500 of her best costumes. Despite the drastic reduction, costumes, masks, wigs and makeup fill the store.
Shortly after the move, Dallas passed away. This loss took a toll on Gallup’s family and business. Gallup said Dallas was the one that interacted with customers and showed them around the store. Since then, Gallup managed to carry the added responsibility and with Dallas’s picture hanging by her, she showcases her costumes and helps customers have fun as they become their perfect fantasy.
Scott Lyle, a junior in pre-med and first-time customer, was at the store looking for a vampire costume. He said the shop was “really awesome” and had “all the good quality stuff.” Quality differentiates her store from the commercial competitors, Gallup said.
“People flock to Halloween City instead of quality,” she said, though some of her custom costumes sell at comparable prices. She said commercial stores “have their place” in supplying the latest fad costumes she doesn’t have.
“If someone wants unique character costumes that are tried and true, they can come to me,” Gallup said.
The “average time [in the store] is two hours of play” as customers try on costumes, Gallup said.
A customer at the checkout counter backs that claim up,”You have so many fun dresses, I would spend hours trying them on.”
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