Fashion has always played a key role in the global economy. The numbers further amplify the need for brands to become more eco-responsible. A 2020 report by Global Fashion Agenda and McKinsey found that should the industry continue with its existing decarbonization initiatives, emissions will be capped at 2.1 billion tons a year by 2030, which is the same level the report estimates the industry emitted in 2018, accounting for 4% of the world’s total emissions. This underscores the importance of a shift to sustainability and sustainable practices for fashion.
Read moreMy Wool Shirt - Learning to copy my favorite shirt, through PRACTICE & mistakes
My mom once told me sewing was a good way to have more clothes.
Her advice likely came from an economic standpoint, but I think she had more in mind. Last summer I decided to explore what she said and set out to recreate my favorite wool shirt. Merino wool is renowned for its softness and ability to deflect odors and maintain a comfortable temperature whether hot or cold. Its price, however, reflects those super-powers.
Read moreLearning to Sew - A Student's Experience
Sewist, Sewer, Someone Cool Enough To Sew Own Clothes (SECSOC) – whatever it’s called, my question was, “How do I become one?” Sure, I took Home Ec (now Life Skills) and learned to make a draft dodging sock stuffed with rice. I distinctly remember when it developed a hole (along my stitching line), and the rice went everywhere.
Read moreJobs in Fashion - Fashion Designer
The prevailing stereotype of a fashion designer: design what you love while also wearing cute clothes everyday, bow at the end of the runway show, take a long vacation when it’s over and finally, get your work so famous that it is featured on stars at fancy events. Th
Read moreJobs in Fashion - Techical Designer
A Technical Designer's job is to sit between the Fashion Designer, Merchandiser and Production Manager to make a garment fit the customer that the merchandiser is targeting, adhering to the designer's original vision, while also producing it at the right price. This is usually done remotely by sending communications overseas to agents and factories.
Read moreI Can't Wait to Keep Learning - Student Highlight on Ava S.
This month's student spotlight is on Ava S., who is currently in our ONLINE Fashion Studies Program. Her instructors speak very highly of her and she is producing very lovely work. Ava is 16 years old and a Sophomore at Skyline High School in Oakland, California.
Read moreIt's Never Too Late to Start Something new - Student Highlight - Rylee B.
This month's student spotlight is on Rylee B., who is currently in our ONLINE Fashion Studies Program. She's an amazing artist an what she has written is very inspiring. Below is a little bit more about Rylee in her own words -
Read moreI live in Alameda, California, with my husband, our roommate, and — most belovedly — our cat. We’ve been in California for roughly 3 years after moving here from Florida. I’m currently a nurse and I work night-shift, so hobbies are what keep me going since most of my awake time is while the world is sleeping.
Jobs in Fashion - 5 Different Kinds of Models - An Interview with Charleston Pierce
This Blog post and video are kicking off a series I’m starting where I’ll talk with industry professionals about Jobs in Fashion. There are so many different kinds of jobs in the fashion industry and I thought it would be really interesting to dig into a few of these and let you know what these jobs are really like and how they can differ from one company to another.
Read moreUpcycle Sewing: 4 Tips For Making Old Clothes New Again
As you open your wardrobe each day, you may notice some items that you used to love wearing but now have taken a back seat when it comes to your clothing choices. It may be because they're already out of style, or you simply have newer items to choose from. Either way, at some point you might have thought about how you can wear them again in a way while keeping up with the current trends and your style as well. If so, then upcycling old clothes may be ideal for you.
Read moreAvoiding Fast Fashion: How to Get a More Sustainable Wardrobe
This was originally posted by Adriana Lopez for Porch.com. I thought the content was really important, so I asked if I could share it here. There are tons of good nuggets in this article so I hope you enjoy!
Buying stylish clothes at an affordable price is appealing to most consumers, but it can have negative impacts on our environment. Known as fast fashion, this industry offers low prices on clothing, but it comes at a hidden cost. Thanks to a rise in the human population and the increasing popularity of fashion-related social media content, people often think they need more clothes than they really do. In fact, humans are consuming a whopping 400% more clothing today than they were 20 years ago
Read moreStudent Highlight - Lacie Schwend
We are excited to Introduce you to our Student of The month Lacie Schwend. She's been taking our Online Fashion Sewing and Beginning Pattern Making with Christine in our Online Fashion Studies program. Lacie lives in Wyoming and has a really interesting background. We love her Cruella Costume that she made, using techniques she learned in class with Christine.
Read moreEncouraging Children While They are Learning to Sew
I’ve been teaching kids about fashion and sewing, now for almost 15 years. It’s a joy for me to see the excitement children bring to the classroom, while they learn to use the sewing machine and sew their own clothes. It’s both a technical skill as well as creative experience which uses all sides of their brains and gets them super jazzed as they progress from one level to the next. The thing they need most in this beginning stage (which could last years - more on that later) is Encouragement! Encouragement might look a little different from a parent's perspective than it does from a child’s point of view.
Let’s talk a little bit about the process in relation to kids.
Read more5 reasons why it's Important to Cultivate your Sewing Skills when studying Fashion Design
I've been sewing now for more than 40 years (yikes!) Starting at age seven and sewing ever since. All that practice informed the way I understand how clothing gets made. Spending years reading patterns, prepared me for design school and I was much more SEWING-ABLE than many of my peers. Here are 5 reasons why it's crucial to get this skill cultivated early:
Read moreThe Top Four Crucial Skills to Have When Designing a Fashion Collection
Designing your own fashion collection can be very exciting. Putting your big ideas out into the world is amazing. But what happens when it doesn’t go exactly as planned? Your pattern maker didn’t understand your sketch and your samples turned out wonky or the factory made decisions counter to your ideas. Being a designer is hard sometimes! But it doesn’t have to be hard, if you know a thing or two about how the manufacturing process works & how to communicate properly with your team even if it’s just your mom sewing up or helping to sew up your designs.
Read moreInterview with Tayma Martins - Designer and Sewing Room Student
Designer Tayma Martins has been working with instructor, Christine Knobel for the last while. Christine and I were really impressed with her drive and work ethic and have both fallen in love with the nostalgic chic of her fashion collection. We hope you enjoy this interview with this budding designer
Read moreTeaching Children to Sew: The Dos and Don’ts
Most seasoned sewers share the memory of their first shaky, uneven, hand-stitches; though imperfect, they were the beginning of a lifelong love of the craft. Whether taught by mother, grandmother, or all on your own, those fond memories of the pride we took in early projects speak to just how impactful sewing can be for children.
Sewing is an ideal hobby for children to pick up -- it’s both fun and functional, and the basics are easy for even younger kids to learn. Your own experience and the most basic elements of your sewing basket are all you’ll need to teach them, and it’s the perfect project to dive into on a rainy day.
Read moreFun, Useful Skills to Learn During Self-Isolation
Image via Pexels
Are you spending more time at home than ever before? Sure, being cooped up comes with some downsides, but you don’t have to allow yourself to become stir-crazy. You can make the most of your self-isolation by picking up a few new skills.
Whether you’re aiming to turn your newly acquired skills into a career or simply want to fill your time with productive activities, learning something new can add joy and excitement to your routine. Here are some fun skills worth learning while self-isolating in 2021.
Read moreFashion Illustration - Student Highlight - Alisa Clements
This month I wanted to highlight one of our former adult illustration students who is putting out some amazing work. Here is a little bit more about Alisa in her own words:
Read moreIn 2019, I started an online search for sewing, fashion, art.
I found The Sewing Room! I would look through the classes and feel super excited thinking when I was going to take a class! Then one day while perusing Jennifer's website, I saw Fashion Illustrating with instructor Julie Ann. "WOW," I thought to myself, "gosh, that's so cool- fashion illustrating!" I cannot express how thrilled I was about this class offering. I felt so lucky to have found this opportunity at The Sewing Room.
How to Sell at Craft Shows and Artisan Markets Without Spending a Fortune
How to Sell at Craft Shows and Artisan Markets Without Spending a Fortune
Your art is your passion, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a good way to earn some extra income as well. Perhaps you’ve already invested in classes from The Sewing Room and now thinking about getting a start selling your products at local craft shows and artisan markets. These outlets can be a wonderful way to connect with your community. But before you start making any money, you need to put some effort into the following basic steps to set up your business and ensure success. As you venture into selling at craft shows and artisan markets, considering a more formal business structure could be beneficial. Exploring top-rated llc formation services might be a smart investment to help provide your business with legal protection and credibility, without breaking the bank.
Use Coupons to Save Money on Displays
Visual merchandising insight is crucial if you want to really “wow” customers at crowded markets and pop-ups. You need to start your merchandising and display plan by figuring out your target audience. Keep these customers in mind as you set up your display, but also use common retail tricks, like having a fun theme, grouping items into arrays of three, and allowing customers to touch products. If you need to pick up some displays or merchandising tools to attract more customers, you can do so without going over budget by shopping online from eBay or Amazon and using cash back offers to make items more affordable.
Process Mobile Payments from Your Cell Phone
In the past, you needed expensive credit card machines and plenty of change to satisfy market customers. With mobile hotspots, however, buying additional equipment is a thing of the past. A mobile hotspot allows you to process credit card payments and access other handy web features from just about anywhere without worrying about draining your phone’s battery and relying on spotty and unsecured WiFi networks at craft shows. You will also need a reliable method for processing credit card payments. Mobile card readers are available from various providers, so do your homework to see which one makes financial sense for your business.
Accent Merchandise Displays with Attractive Signage
In addition to product displays, you should think about having signage printed to raise awareness of your brand. The elements of brand identity include things like logos and signage — all of which can help your target customers really connect with you and your products. If you do not currently have a logo and plan to sell on a regular basis, consider whether DIY or professional services will best fit your needs. A graphic designer is the best option for custom logos, and you may even be able to barter services from fellow artists. However, if you can’t afford a graphic designer, you can always use your own skills and a logo generator instead.
Ensure That All Products Are Priced Clearly and Appropriately
Proper pricing is another critical step for success with local markets. Before you begin putting tags on your products, do some research to see what similar products are currently selling for online. Also, take into account the cost of materials used in your arts and crafts, as well as your time. Keep in mind that some customers at markets may try to haggle. How you handle hagglers is up to you, but if you are not entirely put off by lowering your asking prices, be sure to calculate the lowest price you can accept without cutting into your profits.
Take Steps to Operate As A Real For Your Peace of Mind (and the Benefits)
You may only be selling your art on a part-time basis, but even if art shows are just a side hustle for you, you will still need to pay taxes on your earnings. If you’ll be setting up a booth at an art show soon, you’ll want to tackle a few business-related tasks before you go! From determining a realistic business budget to getting your receipts organized to setting up an LLC for your business, you’ll be glad that you checked these items off of your to-do list.
Why establish your art business as an LLC? This business structure will safeguard your personal assets while allowing for plenty of flexibility and granting you certain tax breaks. When filing for an LLC, California has its own set of regulations, so to save time and money, you can work with an online formation service.
Selling arts and crafts at local events, markets, and festivals can be quite simple. Plus, you don’t need a huge investment to get started, especially when you have a handy guide like this one. Just put your creativity to work when setting up your booth and table, put your best face forward for potential customers, and offer products your target customers will love. Best of luck and be sure to check out The Sewing Room’s Fashion Studies course and other classes to get a head start on your passion!
Photo Credit: Pexels & Canva
Too Cold to Play Outside? Try One of These Fun Family Activities Instead
When you’re spending most of your time at home, being able to send the kids outside to play can relieve boredom for them and provide a much-needed break for you. If it’s snowing or raining outside, or simply much too cold, you may need to come up with some alternative ways for your children to have fun and stay occupied. In fact, you may want to prepare for the colder months ahead by keeping these ideas in mind to keep those blustery days less stressful.
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