BTS: Come Fabric Shop With Me!
As a small business owner, I tend to have a lot of different jobs. Some I like and others, not so much, but my favorite one by far is sourcing fabric!
Fabric hunting has been a sport hobby of mine since before I even learned to sew. The artistry, quality and possibilities of textile has always been a passion of mine and a big reason why my shoppers continue to come back for years. Because our clothing is made of the absolute best!
Before starting my business, I made most of my own clothes. My first rule for whatever I made was the fabric had to be of the highest quality, and the feel of it had to be totally and utterly luxurious - even if it was just a simple cotton. If I was sewing with it, it was the softest most sumptuous cotton I could find.
My design ideas, and collections all begin with fabric. It’s at the root of my business and frankly, my creative process in crafting any garment. Fabric sourcing tends to be a solo job, but every trip is such an adventure to me. And even though clothing is a part of everyone’s life, we all wear clothes everyday, the fashion industry is an enormous world that very few people get to see. I’ve always wanted to share a bit of it.
So! Beginning my venture into video, I thought I’d start in my happy place: Ragfinders. One of my favorite deadstock wholesalers here in Downtown LA. I could’ve made this video MUCH longer, talking about all the different fibers and characteristics, pros and cons of everything from crepe to velvet buuut I wanted to start off with a friendly toe-dip version first. Let me know if you’d like to learn more about where your Tiny Closet piece comes from (and why I chose it), or where any of your clothes come from! I got facts, tips and thoughts on that too. Ultimately, I want my videos to luminate and bring thought to the garment manufacturing industry, the process, the business and just how does an article of clothing go from a thought to being another piece in your closet? For now, I hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes slice of what’s to come.