Windsor sewing shop owner planning to hang up needles after 6 decades

You may have never heard of Louis Paquettebut his work has been seen around in Windsor-Essex County for decades. Now, after more than a half century working in the sewingfield, he's decided it's time to hang up hisneedles.

"I'm going to have to get out, somehow," he said. "I'm still debating how I'm going to do this, but it's going to happen."

Paquette, 81,is the owner of Louis' Power Sewing on Walker Road in Oldcastle. It isn't easyfor him to walk away, he says but he wants to sell his business and retire.

Whether for the projects were for industrial, commercial or for individual use, the community has come to him to sew together all sorts of intricate items such asboat covers, sleeping bag zippers orupholstery.

His most recognizable work, however, is found hanging off the front of local businesses in the form of awnings.

WATCH: Louis Paquetteon how to make a quality awning

Sewing shop owner explains how to make a great awning

11 months ago

Duration 1:06

Louis Paquette of Louis' Power Sewing Ltd. explains what it takes to make a great awning.

Paquettesaid he began at a sewing shop after his brother-in-law asked him to come workin the late 1950s and early 1960s when it was difficult to find a job in the automotive field.

"First day in the place he put me on a double needle machine... to sew all day," he said. "It wasn't great, the machine wasn't good but it worked... basically I was practicing every day."

He said that people these days are too quick to settle for mass produced items from department stores.

"They don't sell any material that we could use here that's worth using," he said.

"You buy furniture today and by fiveyears, it doesn't look very good. You throw it away, you buy another one."

He said that if you want something that lasts, coming to him or someone like him is the best idea.

"The thread you use, that's very important. I always check on it on the old stuff on the awnings that are 10, 12, 15 years old and if the thread isstill there, that's what you keep buying. "

'He's a super boss'

Robert Lancaster has worked for Paquette for 44 years and said that Paquette fetches work not just in Windsor-Essex but further up the road than London sometimes.

"He makes a lot of people happy," he said. " The way we work, if we are not going to be satisfied with it, we know the customer won't."

"He's a super boss," he said. "We do good work."

Paquettesaid it's a demanding job and that numerous shops like his have shut down overthe past few years. He wants his business to live on, however, hoping the right person is out there to take over.

"I hope somebody comes along and says 'I know a little bit'," he said. "I'd be willing to work with them... give them all the recipes I know. then they could do any adjustment they want."