Sewing

[Amy Louise]

I have my jewelry selling in one local health food store. I also had a bunch of my different products--some of everything in a local boutique last year. I had some good sales in the beginning in November (holiday time), but then after a month of no sales (late Jan.), she asked me to take my items out so she could refresh the store look. She wasn't kicking me out--just changing stock, but I didn't go back with new items later in the season. I thought I was going to be doing many craft fairs and wanted to hold onto my stock.

I recently started doing the baby clothes (check the DIY knitter's conversation), and I did try to approach one shop several times after doing a reconnaissance mission to check their stock and pricing. I had no success finding the owner in. I called and she told me she had purchased for the year. I offered consignment, she seemed interested, but then she started in with one stipulation after the other--I agreed to everything, so she said she'd look at my website and get back to me.... never heard back, of course. I tried to follow up with a freebie pretty faux pearl pendant attached to my business card to get her eye. She was on vacation that day (naturally!). Never heard back. That type of thing has happened to me a few times, and you never know if you're being too pushy or maybe not pushy enough.

Rodrigo, I'm also very intriqued that you were a boutique owner, and I'd love to hear all about it, maybe get some advice on how to approach shops, here about your successful designs, etc. I'm thinking we should perhaps start a new thread in DIY called something like "Selling Your DIY Creations--the Business Side" and move the conversation off of just sewing. What do you think?
Amy

 

[kateelle]

I think thats a good idea Amy.

 

[Rodrigo Lorenzo]

Kateelle? how did you go about selling your designs? Did you debut your clothing when you opened your own boutique or did you have luck selling to shops before that?
When I opened my boutique I did a bunch of things I threw an art party and showed pieces and also art work that a friend did . I did a small fashion show with a handpicked amount of models that attended all different universities, that was succefull but alot of work. It realy did not cost anything. The models all needed portfolio work and so did the makeup artist and the photographers. The rest was know how I got some help for a show coordinator I meet and the rest was history.
You see my strategy on marketting is different I believe I can market to any store but the store owner has to be willing to work with you. In our store it was very diverse so we had to make very eclectic clothing. meaning we had something for everyone. That's what made it so cool along with a list of hot denims a few lines and cool toys and a bunch of other stuff. A punk rock girl could come and shop as well as a Hippie, then also a few sorority chicks we had something for everyone.
I say this to make I point, when I go to a boutique that I am interested in working with I look over the store and try to get an idea of what type of individual they cater to then I constuct a plan and come back to the boutique to show what I think would work for that specific boutique. It has worked for me in the past but now that I am in GA I am not sure if this is the correct strategy because I have been getting turned down left and right. The worst thing about it is that I can not get any convo out of the store owners so I am left with no info on how they felt about the items. This is whay I love Mia if they don't like it they will just say something but the few boutiques I spoke to we did business with. I am no expert and I myself need help but sh*t who the hell does not. But you got to face it some boutique owners got there heads so far up there ***es with fads and trends that they have no idea what fashio is when it stares hem in the face but if 10 girls come in the store when your showing the stuff and like it then they want to do business. I also am kind of hard to do business with because I hate consignment I also dispise when I enter you boutique and you do not great me with enough passion. I will just walk out and not do business with the store owner because I feel that is not the place I would like to see my items.
Amy I think a new thread would be great. As far a successful designs I think one of my best sellers last spring was I took raw white silk and hand tiedyed some and batiked it and made mini skirts and tunics and baby doll and kimono's that was really succesfull at the boutiques but actually in the summer I deconstructed a bunch of rock and roll tees and did those ROCK and HIPPIE shows and could not belive what some people was willing to pay for that stuff. So it all depends on what market you decide to go after. I would like to sit and make a beautifull collection but sh*t I do not have that luxery I make clothing to sell I kind of hat because I feel like a hustler but I look at everything from a positive apect and this has fine tuned my skills I can knock out like tons of stuff in a matter of days so hopefully i will be able to make this collection in the future but for now I make clothing to sell and I want them to sell as fast as I am finished..

 

[the j]

^maybe you should hire some girls to come in the store while you're showing your stuff...

 

[kateelle]

haha, but that would seem so planned and contrived.

 

[kateelle]

The best way to advertise is to get young hot people to wear your clothes.

 

[Rodrigo Lorenzo]

The problem I have found with most young hot people is once you do that they never want to pay also they honestly do not tell otheres where to get it from because they want to keep you a secret once they find out about you ..

And no I just could not pay girls to come in and do that too chezzy. I think it would make me look bad. If they can;t recongnize then FU*&EM!!!

 

[kateelle]

haha

 

[CHEAPandCHIC]

Oh my god, I cannot wait until my grandma gives me her old sewing machine! I want to make clothessss!

 

[kateelle]

^ thats what I thought until I got mine. I'm quite possibly the WORST sewer. I have no patience for that old uncontrollable thing!

 

[J'aime_la_mode]

I have a sweater (knit obviously) that I want to crop and I was wondering if a normal hem will work...most sweaters dont have a hem and im wondering if it will look weird. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Amy Louise]

I have a sweater (knit obviously) that I want to crop and I was wondering if a normal hem will work...most sweaters dont have a hem and im wondering if it will look weird. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!

I suggest you sew matching grosgrain 3/4 to 1" ribbon on the right side where you want the edge to be cut. Stitch it down several times by machine in a few parallel lines, using both a straight stitch and then zigzag. Cut the hem off the sweater (the machine stitching should easily hold the knit and keep it from unravelling). Next, turn your ribbon under and stitch that down by hand on the wrong side with matching thread, making every effort to avoid having the stitches show on the right side. Voila--you're top should be successfully cropped.

BTW, when you stitch and cut knits, it's officially called "Steeking."
Amy

 

[Elegance.Is.Refusal.]

dress i made bit of a bad photo since its the one i used for styling but you get the idea.

it was for a uni project looking at youth trends so i based it on new rave hence the neon and the space invaders

 

[criticsdarling]

new dress I made it's a recycled sweater and Christmas-y plaid with lace

 

[J'aime_la_mode]

I suggest you sew matching grosgrain 3/4 to 1" ribbon on the right side where you want the edge to be cut. Stitch it down several times by machine in a few parallel lines, using both a straight stitch and then zigzag. Cut the hem off the sweater (the machine stitching should easily hold the knit and keep it from unravelling). Next, turn your ribbon under and stitch that down by hand on the wrong side with matching thread, making every effort to avoid having the stitches show on the right side. Voila--you're top should be successfully cropped.

BTW, when you stitch and cut knits, it's officially called "Steeking."
Amy

Thankyou so much!!

 

[kateelle]

criticsdarling- Do you use patterns for all the clothes you make or do you free hand everything? You've got talent girly!

 

[indie]

Yesterday I started to make an mens jacket out from an huge black cape. Easy and fast since I don't have to sew a lot, the collars etc are already ready. The cutting was more of an problem but it worked out eventually.

 

[porkchopgirl]

I thought I'd contribute to this thread. Here is a skirt I made for class (ignore the mismatched top). My first pattern made completely from scratch. It also has inseam pockets.

 

[porkchopgirl]

[FONT=&quot]It can be worn up...

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[FONT=&quot]or down to reveal the contrasting fabric

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[porkchopgirl]

[FONT=&quot]And a tank top, also my own pattern

PS--Does anyone else here hand sew? I have to do hand sewing on almost everything, because I think it looks nicer that way. But I noticed most RTW stuff is just machine stitched on top, obviously, because it's faster. Hand sewing is a pain, and it takes longer, but does anyone even notice/appreciate it?
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