Fitore Duma, a mother of four from Shkodra, Albania, has been living in Chicago for 26 years after emigrating to the U.S. through the American lottery. Today, her business, Fitore Uniforms, stands out as one of the leading suppliers of police gear, particularly for the Chicago Police Department. But her journey was far from easy.

“The biggest challenge was the language” Fitore recalls. “For five years, I was absolutely lost—unable to understand what people were saying, unable to figure out what they wanted, and unable to express my own thoughts. But everything passed, and here I am today, living the American dream.”

It was through her talent for sewing that Fitore found her path. Initially, she worked for 16 years at a store that sold police uniforms. “I was hired at a store selling uniforms for the Chicago Police Department, but after 16 years, I decided to try something else. After two years in a different field, I missed sewing—the field I truly loved. Clients were calling, asking, ‘Where did you go? I need vest covers.’ I was happy to return to this work, and it’s absolutely a dream for me” she explains.

Starting her own business was no small feat. “It took me seven years to establish my business” Fitore says. “But I achieved it thanks to my love for the profession, willpower, and motivation to succeed.”

Despite her success, Fitore remains realistic about the future of her business. “As a mother of four, I think I can keep running the business for another ten years,” she says. “But I don’t see my children taking over the sewing aspect. They might manage the store, but not the sewing.”

Her connection to law enforcement goes beyond her business. Fitore’s daughter is now a member of the Chicago Police Department, a profession that Fitore says also includes other Albanian officers.