My bridesmaids dresses were sewn too. My mom bought the fabric and patterns. My sister and I sewed my prom gown. My mom sewed a LOT of clothing for my sister and me growing up. But we had multiple fabric stores back then and easier to find fabrics you liked.
I recently found a pile of unused fabric I’d bought over 20 years ago. I washed it and it came out so beautifully from the dryer–no shrinkage and basically wrinkle free. The quality of fabric was so much better back then.