The Walk-In
No appointment for alterations or cleaning. Bring the garment and the shoes you plan to wear it with.
Zaka Cleaners & Tailor · Wilmette, Illinois
It should fit like it was made for you.
Alterations, bridal and restoration by Zhamila — twenty-six years at the machine. Plus dry cleaning that is safe for beads, sequins and silk.
- No appointment needed for alterations
- Same-day service available
- Quoted in front of you before anything is agreed
4.8
111 Google reviews
111 Google reviews
106Five-Star Reviews
111Reviews In Total
4.8Google Rating
26+Years In Business
How it works
Four steps, and none of them waste your afternoon.
Maybe you have been putting it off because you assume it means an appointment and a price you only find out at the end. Neither is how we work: walk in, and we quote it in front of you.
The Fitting
It goes on you at the mirror and gets measured there — on the body, not off the size tag.
The Work
Taking in, letting out, bustles and hemming. Rips, yellowing and vintage redesigns. Beads, sequins and silk handled by hand.
The Return
You leave knowing the day it will be ready, because we tell you at the counter. Same-day service is available when the date will not move.
Bridal & formal
Bringing wedding dresses back to life.
A gown is delicate and it is precious, and it almost never fits off the rack. We take it in, let it out, build the bustle, set the hem and finish the beading by hand.
If the dress has been folded in a box for years we can work on that too — repairing rips, lifting yellowing, and redesigning a vintage cut into something you would choose today. Cleaning and preservation for afterwards.
The day does not wait for a hem.
It sounds like the date is fixed and the dress is not. Bring it in early and tell us the day — same-day service is available when it is close.
What we do
Tailoring, bridal and dry cleaning under one roof.
You will see “Call” next to every line, and that can look like a dodge. It is not. The price depends on the garment and the work it actually needs, so we look at the piece, quote it in front of you, and you decide before anything is agreed.
Our work
Gowns, suits, jeans and the handbag you thought was finished.
Every photograph on this page came from the shop. None of it is stock.
The bench
Zhamila has been doing this for twenty-six years.
She owns the shop, she runs the floor, and the difficult pieces come to her. We are women-owned and the team is small, so the people who measure your gown are the people who work on it.
“Zhamila and her business is a great addition to Wilmette. Her expertise is very appreciated as she always knows how to fix my clothes. Her customer service is always great as she is very kind and friendly.” Mustafa Z. · Google
“Huge thanks to the director, Zhamila, and the whole team. They do amazing curtain sewing, clothing restoration, and dry cleaning. Everything was done professionally, carefully, and on time.” Askar A. · Google
Reviews
106 of our 111 Google reviews are five stars.
Every one of them is public, so read them before you trust us with the dress. If you are on a deadline, walking in without an appointment can feel like a long shot — Teresa did exactly that, and hers is one of the reviews below.
“Exceptional dress alterations! I took three very different dresses to Zaka and they were all altered perfectly to me, hemmed beautifully, finished quickly, and for a very fair price.”
Helen F. · Google“Zaka is absolutely amazing!!!! She made a getting ready robe and purse out of my wedding dress for my daughter’s wedding. She also altered my dress for the wedding.”
Mark M. · Google“I googled this place last minute and found my way there. Zhamila was very accommodating to stitch two pants with no appointment. I really appreciate her to be so accommodating.”
Teresa H. · Google“They handled my delicate items with great care, and everything came back looking fresh and spotless. The staff is professional and friendly, and the turnaround time was faster than I expected.”
Igor G. · Google“Everything was done neatly and on time. My clothes came back clean and fresh, and the alterations were done professionally. The staff was polite and the prices were reasonable.”
Dinara Y. · Google“From start to finish, it was a wonderful experience. I bought a vintage bag and the zipper wasn’t working. I live in Skokie but I was reading reviews for various places and Zaka seemed to be highly recommended.”
Michelle C. · Google
Opening hours
| Monday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Questions
Before you come in.
Do I need an appointment for alterations?
No. Walk in any time we are open and we will measure you then. For a wedding gown you can also arrange a private fitting so the room is yours.
Do you alter wedding dresses?
Yes — it is most of what we do. Taking in and letting out, bustles, hems, straps, beading and full custom fitting.
Can you fix a gown that is ripped or has gone yellow?
It sounds like it has been folded in a box a long time. Yes — we repair rips, lift yellowing, and redesign vintage gowns into a shape you would wear now. Bring it in and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
Is dry cleaning safe for beads, sequins and silk?
Yes. Our dry cleaning is eco-friendly and safe for beading, sequins and silk. Delicate pieces are handled by hand.
How fast can I get something back?
Same-day service is available. Tell us the date you need it for when you drop it off.
Do you clean anything besides clothes?
Yes — curtains and drapery, comforters, blankets, mattress pads, sheets and tablecloths, plus leather and suede.
What does it cost?
It sounds like you would rather have a number before you commit. It depends on the garment and the work it needs, so we quote it in front of you rather than guessing over the phone — and you decide after you have heard it. Call (773) 724-1077 or bring the piece in.
Where are you and when are you open?
421 4th St, Wilmette, IL 60091. Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Sunday.
Zaka Cleaners & Tailor
Bring it in and let us look at it.
Would it be unreasonable to have someone look at the piece, tell you what it needs and what it costs, and let you decide then? Twenty-six years, 421 4th Street, and no appointment required.