It may be hard to imagine how STEM, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) can have much to do with the mundane experience of Sewing. Upon further investigation, you might be surprised. Sewing directly involves Math, Engineering and Science. And, technology can be incorporated into the sewing process with the use of circuiting and led lighting effects as well as computerized machines and programmed embroidery. But even on a more basic level, Sewing encompasses a myriad of STEM principles.
Read moreHow to Keep Your Kids Entertained When They’re Stuck Inside
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
With school closures in effect because of the coronavirus, most parents are scrambling to find activities for their children. And depending on where you live, the weather might not always be cooperative so your children can get out to play. Don’t worry though, there are still plenty of opportunities to keep them entertained while they’re inside. Better yet, you can even sneak a few educational moments into these playful tasks.
Read moreHow to Be Sustainable in your Sewing Practice
Sustainability is a word that's been getting flung around a lot in the past few years. It's definition is: Noun, The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. In terms of fashion and sewing I'm looking at Sustainability as the "avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance" (quoted from Siri after I asked her). We are in a Climate Crisis. It's real and it overwhelming.
Read moreFashion Studies: Student Update - Kelly
8th grade Fashion Studies Student Kelly H. has been coming up with amazing designs over the Fall and Spring. In the fall, Kelly draped a bodice and skirt and then created flat patterns from the drape. She also learned out to use a block or sloper to create the dress she's wearing. The embroidery she's holding is based off an illustration she created for the the dress she's wearing.
Read moreBest Sewing Machine Threads Reviews 2020 →
Please note, this post contains affiliate links
If you are up for any sewing project, then you better gather some ideas about threads. There are tons of different threads on the market, but you have to pick the one that is most suitable for your project. Threads are long interlocking fibers (natural or synthetic), which can be used for multiple purposes. Sewing threads are exclusively produced to fit needles and make stitches.
Read moreFashion Careers: What is a Fashion Designer?
When I was growing up, all I wanted was, to become a FASHION DESIGNER. I wanted the glamorous life of being famous as well as the daily activity of making clothing that started out in my mind and then became a physical garment. I think that’s what most people think of when they think of a fashion designer. In reality, the glamorous life of a fashion designer is few and far between. That kind of designer is the one that many of us all look up to, but isn’t the actual job that most designers have.
Read moreFashion Careers: What is Pattern Making?
This is the start of a new blog series about Fashion Careers. I’m starting with Pattern Making or Pattern Maker, because that’s the job I’m most familiar with . I’ve been pattern making and pattern fixing for the last couple of decades and it’s something that gives me great personal satisfaction as well having been a skill I’ve used to earn a living.
Read more5 simple ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable
So you want to become a more ethical shopper?
Change isn’t going to happen overnight and the journey ahead isn’t always going to be easy. However, if you make some small changes to your shopping habits, ethical shopping is sure to become second nature and you can feel great about the good you’re doing for the planet (as well as your bank balance).
Here are five simple tips on how to make your wardrobe more sustainable, without compromising style and fashion:
Read moreWhat You Should Sew If You Want To Start A Business
disclosure - Affiliate links included in this post.
Sewing can be relaxing, even as it presents real challenges. And when you get something just right, it feels incredible! Unfortunately, it can also be an expensive hobby if you're at it regularly, so you may need to find a way to offset the cost. This will inevitably lead some who love to sew start their own little businesses (with companies like ZenBusiness for example ) selling handmade workmanship - even if the primary focus is on creativity or personal projects. Some people choose to sell in person while others choose to sell online via their own website or Etsy. Either way, it’s entirely possible to turn your skillset into a business.
But how do you know what will sell? Ultimately the hope is that you can simply make beautiful things, and people will want to buy them. For the purpose of generating some income though, it can't hurt to have a few ideas that are more commercial, so to speak. So here we have some ideas that could lead to more regular sales, such that before long you may be wondering more about how to fulfill orders than what to sew in the first place!
Embrace Trends
Even if you aren't a fan of current fashion fads, they do represent a nice way to boost your business right away. If everyone is looking for a tiny bag for the fall fashion season, for instance, then it stands to reason you could capitalize on the demand. Put your own spin on it, and you can enjoy the best of both worlds - satisfying your own creative urge, and giving potential customers the feeling that they're stumbling on something trendy, but new. Statement hats are also big for the fall, and can actually be relatively easy to craft at home. In general, following seasonal trends like these is a good way to get customers on board with your fashion-forward business and your craftsmanship.
Follow Pop Culture
This season there are several films coming out that fans have been looking forward to for a while. The “Little Women” and “Downton Abbey” movies in particular have generated lots of hype, and some moviegoers are every bit as excited for these releases as they are for the average Marvel or Star Wars feature. Naturally, there's a fashion angle to take advantage of here! Fashions and accessories that hearken back to the mid-1800s and the early 1900s would get lots of attention this season as part of your sewing collection.
The same goes for any kids movies. With Halloween coming up, costumes from “Aladdin” or “The Lion King” will be big this season, given the recent theatrical remakes of both films. Kids will be begging to dress up as Jasmine or Simba this October, and you don't need to step into any licensed territory to design princess or lion costumes that give them what they're looking for in an unofficial capacity, so to speak.
These examples are specific to the current season, but they speak to how pop culture can be excellent inspiration in general.
Imitate Sports Logos and Colors
Another aspect of the autumn season you may want to take advantage of is college football, which captures the attention of millions. Every prominent school has tons of fans who are looking to sport their teams' favorite colors. There will be a big base for your sales, and while you can't sell officially licensed images, some of the more stylish fans may want to support their teams without wearing cheap tee shirts with mascots plastered all over them. This means even sewing regular clothes with patterns and colors reminiscent of a team's aesthetic can be a hit.
Now, it does take a bit of knowledge to choose the right teams and looks, but if you don't follow college football it's easy enough to get a feel for the major teams. Available college football betting odds online can give you a week-by-week feel for which teams are the most competitive (and therefore likely to have the most active fan bases). And for that matter you can probably even research apparel sales to see which teams sell the most merchandise as is (giving you an idea of where there's significant demand).
Personalized Items
Whether it's college students heading off to university this fall, or younger students going back to school, personalized backpacks, lunch boxes, totes, and zipper pouches are huge right now. If you have a machine that does embroidery, you may be able to turn significant profits if you offer personalized accessories and for your clients. You can also offer these things “a la carte”, meaning they don't have to add personalization to one of ”your” products specifically. Instead they can bring an item in to have a name added, even if they got it item somewhere else originally. Projects like these don't take very long, and quick turnover can make the whole thing more worth your time.
And again, the above were just a few examples specific to the back-to-school season. But really, there's always demand for personalized products of one sort or another.
Really, there are tons of ideas out there that can help you to turn sewing from a habit or hobby into a small business of your own. There's more to it than the ideas and inspiration, but if you craft well, find a way to generate sales, and take on only the business you can handle, you'll be of to a great start. Before you know it, you might not only be funding your hobby, but profiting from it!
Until next time, Happy Sewing!
Student of the Month - April
This month we highlight Kelly H. who is one of our Fashion Studies Students. Only 12 years old with a fairly developed sense of style, she is learning the craft of clothes making and cultivating her design skills. She's even doing it with a cast on her RIGHT hand. Yikes! She will be an ambidextrous designer by the end of the school year! That shows a lot of commitment and determination, if you ask me!
Read moreHow to Start a Clothing Line
A lot goes into Starting and Manufacturing a Clothing Line and I love how this spells out each step for our readers.
Read moreEXPLORING (Responsible) FASHION - Local Fabric Mill in California
Photo: Huston Textiles
Responsible Fashion is a term presented to me by fellow colleague, Janice Paredes from FIDM (my alma mater). It's a new way to look at Clothing and the Fashion Industry. It's about choosing a responsible way to wear your clothes and a responsible way to spend your money. It involves deeper thinking beyond just looking at the style and price. Responsible Fashion is looking at the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW your clothes get made.
Student Of The Month - February
Uma started taking classes in Fall and has been sewing up a storm ever since. I love her style and creative enthusiasm. for instance, she wanted to make the Bonjour Teaspoon Lilli Sailor cap but thought it was too pointy, and then thought that the points looked like cat ears. So she was determined to add cat ears and she did it! I also love this amazing camp she designed made while visiting her dad's work, where they have a sample making room. So cool.
Read moreHow Our Clothing Gets Made
How Do our Clothes get made?
Lets's think about this for a minute (or maybe 10). Do you know how your clothing gets made? This is a subject we explore in Sewing Class as often as I can without being too preachy. It often occurs to students after they've sewn a few things for themselves, that the process is not really that easy and that it can take a long time. When the subject is broached about their own clothing, they tell me it's made in a factory and that machines make their clothes. They are often astonished that those very machines are operated by humans, just like themselves. WOW! that's an eye opener.
Read moreStudent Of The Month - January
Ezra has just started attending our FASHION STUDIES program, but he has already made an impact. I love his creativity and excitement around fashion. As you can see from the photos, he's got his own flair for style. Bravo to his parents Tom and Sarah who clearly see and nurture his creativity.
Read moreStudying Fashion & Getting into Fashion Programs
I see a lot of students interested in and auditioning for different Fashion Programs in the Area. Just last year, some of the the programs opened up to incoming middle school students as well as High School students. It's wonderful to have fashion programs in public schools for students passionate about FASHION and MAKING fashion. And, several of my best and brightest students (see above - from left - Nyah, Maya, Me, Lilli & Teyah) have recently graduated from High School and are going on to pursue their college dreams.
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