The times they are a-changin’.
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Local designers are now serving a global customer. That the very way we conceive and delivery fashion products services and merchandise needs a huge “disruption”, has been on my mind for some time. we started discussing it back in 2005 with the launch of Demarketplace, Brooklyn Fashion Gallery and our exploration of Fashion week Brooklyn Style. But it was my personal 26-26-42 project that completed the shift in my mind. I grew up the daughter of a local dressmaker.
I started sewing for myself and others at the age of 12 , manipulating darts, ntricately hand working and combining the best of a multi-ethic culture. My years at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology gave me the right to call myself a Fashion Designer, but it is my experience in my mothers dress- Shop and later that of Joseph Mayo’s Avant Garde leather shop and a boutique I ran on NY’s Upper East side that taught me the in’s and outs of the Business of Fashion. it’s possible for six figure’s to be made in local market place way beyond the $16,000 average that those who sell on sites such as Etsy report
I’ve also worked with a young designer each year, using my technical expertise to help them bring a line to market .. This gave mean interesting perspective as to where changes could be effective. The Pattern process for example is a heavy cost. The patterns themselves are NOT that always unique. Is there a different way to address this phase?
A such I’ve made a decision to recreate all patterns from my past design in an OPEN format that makes that available to participants of “SEW OPEN”.
My technology exploration begun in 2003 points to another solution, a cradle to cradle approach to local manufacturing. A methodology I’m dubbing “Sew Open”. We’re looking accommodating local distribution and manufacturing, thus rethinking the supply chain , the scalability and the trickle down effect. This will open up the fashion sector to visual artist and other creatives allowing their merchandise to support the arts
Over the years I’ve simply explored and challenged conventional thinking. Discussing with other local designers globally , see teh clip below with designer Robert young from Trinidad and Tobago. we can solve our problems together.
This page will book mark where I am in the process. I will need help, other visionaries and supporter. Please add your name to our mailing list ( Gmail) Sew Open email List
Rethinking
- What influences what we make
- who is the customer
- Sizing
- where we engage them
- how we engage them
- what the need
- what they desire
- sourcing
- fabrication
- accessories
- costing
- pricing
- marketing
- social commerce
- where we work
- where we sell
- how we sell
- how all this influences what we make
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