The Concept
I was thinking of ways to offer something unique to my customers, where they would feel that they had something a bit special. I looked at giving a different dimension by designing tweaks to standard articles, but wasn’t happy with the outcome. Then I had a lightbulb moment – what if I had my own fabrics, based on my corporate colours, completely exclusive to Sally Ann Sews – this would make articles made from them automatically unique!
The Design
So, over to Barinder Gahir of Barinder Designs. I had worked with Barinder on a couple of projects, and couldn’t have chosen a better partner for this venture. The brief was to come up with three different prints based on the combination of colours I had chosen previously to promote the brand, as seen on my business cards, website etc. Barinder produced three very different designs which I fell in love with straight away. To be fair to her, she imagined them going into kitchen linens, but they are so nice I wanted to do something much more up-market with them.
The Manufacture
Now I had three great designs, and the next step was to turn them into fabrics. I had worked with Woven Monkey, an Ilkeston-based printer, on ‘…felt with the heART’ fabrics, and asked them to interpret the designs on a cotton fabric. After some discussion about placement, repeats and pigments (and various other ‘printer-speak’ issues), they produced samples which were probably even better than I’d imagined. I then ordered fabrics in the three designs, ready for the next step.
The Products
The choice of products to make with the new fabrics took a lot of consideration. I wanted to emphasise their ‘uniqueness’, and chose a range of ‘personal’ items where the customer would feel that they had something special – just that little bit different. So, I chose clutch bags, make-up bags, messenger bags and wallets for the initial Mother’s Day range, and have planned ties and bow ties for later in the year (and Father’s Day). I’m also planning to use quilting techniques to make placemats, coasters and tote / book bags later on, too.
The Launch
I’ll have the first products ready by the end of the month, hopefully, and although it’s probably a bit tight for Mother’s Day, they will still make great personal gifts for birthdays, and other occasions. Watch this space…
Sally’s Snippet
Have you ever struggled to thread a hand sewing needle? Try this great tip - hold your needle so that there is something white behind the eye - the casing of your sewing machine, the painted wall, your net curtains, lol, anything that’s white or very light. That way, you can see the hole easily, and whether or not the thread you’re trying to get through it is anywhere near!
Hope you find this of some use.
The March blog will be about my growing workshops, and the pleasure I get out of them.
In the meantime, have a great month, and look out for the launch!
