Alterations keeps KMC looking sharp

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Holly Cook
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The Bablon Alterations shop here might be tiny, but it serves a huge purpose.

As the only alterations shop on base, the staff stays busy by helping more than 54,000 military personnel and their families here in the Kaiserslautern Military Community.

"We have roughly 150 members of the KMC coming in per day to drop off or pick up their clothing," said Dhiaa Zeidlr, owner of the alterations shop.

Zeidlr has been working in alteration shops for American Installations since he came to Spangdahlem Air Base in 2000. He now owns and works at the alterations shop, which opened June 15, 2012.

"I came to Ramstein to open my own shop," said Zeidlr. "Helping people by giving them great service every time they come in is what I like doing."

In order to give each costumer the great service they need, each person working at the shop must have the adequate training. Being knowledgeable in customer service, sewing and knowing the military clothing regulations is a must.

"Most of the employees here come in knowing how to sew and how to provide good customer service," said Zeidlr. "Most of them even know the different military regulations because they have a family member in the military."

Every employee goes through on-the-job training when hired so they can learn the proper way to do their job. Knowing the different regulations for military clothing could mean the difference between someone being in regulation or not.

"I need to have people who know the regulations so if someone comes in and is unsure of what they need, we can make certain that they get the correct part for their uniform," said Zeidlr.

Helping military members look sharp isn't the only thing the ladies and gentlemen of the alterations shop offer to the KMC. Along with military uniform alterations, they also offer alterations on civilian clothing, embroidering and many special projects that may be required.

"Many people think that we just do military clothes," said Zeidlr. "We also do a lot of special orders for customers as well."

Patrons can get anything from cloth name tags embroidered and sewn onto scrapbooks to customized Airman battle uniform jackets done at the alterations shop. Having a shop that is diverse in its offered products makes it easier for the shop to help the military members of the KMC and their family members.

Bablon Alterations is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.