The Dressmaker's Shop in Dachau, Germany, in the year 1944. The shop is run by Ada Vaughan, a British woman who has been interned in Dachau. Ada is a talented dressmaker, and she creates beautiful garments for the wives of Nazi officers. Despite the grim surroundings and the oppressive Nazi regime, Ada manages to find a small measure of comfort in her work and the relationships she forms with some of the other internees.
Ada's life takes a turn when she is asked to create a wedding dress for the commandant's fiancée, Heidi. This task presents both an opportunity and a danger. As Ada works on the dress, she becomes privy to secrets and information that could be used against the Nazis. She must tread carefully, knowing that discovery could lead to dire consequences.
It becomes clear that Ada's past holds secrets of its own. She reflects on her life in England, her family, and the events that led her to Dachau. The narrative switches between the present in Dachau and Ada's memories of her life before the war.
The narrative shifts to Ada Vaughan's past in England. Ada grew up in London in the 1930s, where her family owned a small dress shop. Ada's life was marked by hardship and tragedy. Her mother died when she was young, and she was left in the care of her father and older brother, Stan. Her father was a kind but weak man, and Stan was abusive and controlling.
Ada's life changed when she met and fell in love with a young man named Roddy Fitzgerald, who came from a wealthier background.
Roddy's family disapproved of their relationship, and Ada became pregnant. The couple secretly married, but their happiness was short-lived. Roddy was killed in an accident, leaving Ada widowed and pregnant.
In an effort to provide for her child, Ada decided to continue her dressmaking skills and work as a seamstress. She moved to a small town and worked for the local dressmaker, Mrs. Hargreaves, who became a mentor to her.
Ada's resilience and determination to make a life for herself and her child, despite the challenges and tragedies she has faced. It provides insight into her character and the events that ultimately led her to Dachau, where she must navigate the treacherous waters of survival and secrets.
The narrative returns to Dachau in 1944. Ada Vaughan is deeply engrossed in her work on the wedding dress for Heidi, the fiancée of the camp's commandant. Ada is both fascinated and repelled by Heidi, who is charming but appears to be oblivious to the horrors of the concentration camp surrounding her.
Heidi, a young and seemingly sheltered German woman, is excited about her upcoming wedding to the commandant, and she is pleased with Ada's progress on the dress. Ada continues to work on the dress, all the while trying to gain insights into the camp's inner workings and the personalities of the Nazi officers.
As Ada navigates the delicate dance of creating the dress while concealing her true feelings, she becomes aware of the power dynamics within the camp. She observes the tension between the officers and the other inmates, as well as the terror and despair that pervade the lives of those imprisoned at Dachau.