Sweet Baby Sourcing!!

I wish someone would've warned me about this phase of the creative/manufacturing stage. As I may or may not have said in my previous post, I am at the stage of trying to find someone to help me make the patterns and actual samples for my handbags. For those who are not familiar with these terms, a pattern is like the blue print of your handbag. It tells the manufacturer how to actually construct you bag and how to put it together. Once you have your patterns you can move forward with creating the actual sample or prototype. This is the bag in its real form. Once you put your pieces together you have your sample! Sounds easy right? Not even close.

The real challenge is finding those pieces! I wasn't ready! ( In my Kevin Hart voice) Between figuring out what kinds of leather to use, zippers, hardware, and so on, it can be a bit overwhelming. And you also have to price everything out. When it comes to leather some companies sell their leather per hide some per square foot. Then you have some companies who have a minimum ordering quantity (MOQ) of 20 hides or a 55 sq foot minimum.
 
As a newbie in the game I don't have the need for a large quantity just yet. What I do need are low to no-minimums. Meaning I can buy my materials freely without the obligations of having to order in bulk, but also dependability that I can reorder that same fabric if and when I need to.
 
 A few resources I found to be super helpful are Maker's Row (makersrow.com) and the DG Expo (dgexpo.net) .
 
Maker's Row  

 
The great thing about Maker's Row is that its basically the grandaddy search engine for sourcing in the US. Its a huge data base that connects aspiring designers with factories and fabric sources of all kinds. You can even customize your search based on what stage of development you're in and it will help find the best company to fit your needs. It also gives you an overview of what that company offers and who they service (small business, big brands, etc.)
 
DG Expo

The DG Expo is a  two day Textile & Trimmings exhibit catering to Designers, Small Manufacturers (producing Apparel, Accessories, Home furnishings, other Sewn Products), Private Label Retailers, Fabric Stores, Event/Party Planners, etc. ( I stole that from the website). But basically, they are wholesalers who have low minimums, and in-stock fabric and trims. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the expo this year, but I do plan on it next year (NY dates are Feb 4-5th). Rachel (my mentor and owner of MADE) introduced me to the show, and suggested I download the Exhibitor List to see if I can connect with some of the companies even though I didn't attend the show. And that's exactly what I did.  

I've been back and forth with a plethora of leather and textile companies trying to get samples and switches, set up meetings to see inventory and so on. I'm expecting a few samples to come in this week and I have a meeting this Saturday to view fabrics for the linings of my bags.


I'll keep you guys posted on what samples I get and so on. I promised that I would keep these post short. Maybe next time. :)



Alicia

The Skinny

I feel the need to give you a quick rundown about my background. I have no formal training in fashion or fashion design. Working on the handbag line is completely fresh and new, and totally outside of what I'd expect to be doing at this stage in my life (I'm only 26, but still!!!) I never imagine that I would be ambitious enough to want to start something so far left from what I know. So to say the least, I have a lot of learning to do/ 

I've been taking classes at MADE, a new series of classes offered in Philadelphia for individuals interested in learning to master various skills and techniques in fashion (shameless plug, but check out www.http://made-in-philadelphia.org/ their classes are amazing). This is where I began to reallydevelop my ideas for my handbag line. I had already began sketching like a crazy person while at work. But after enrolling in the Fashion Design Studio class, I really began to streamline my thoughts and ideas, to focus what my voice would be as a designer. 

Rachel, the owner of MADE, and my teacher of the studio class, has really acted as as mentor to help me with this. She pushed me and the rest of the students to really think outside the box, and clearly define what it was we had to offer to our potential customers. And I thank her for her motivation and continued support. 

Soooo, while we're on the topic of voices,  customers, and ideas, if your curious, my bags are a line of statement clutches, made to complete and define a woman's outfit. They are colorful, cool, and funky, yet chic and pair structure and custom hardware to really make them standout to create a truly unique and one of a kind piece. I really wanted to create something for women who don't alway want to get super dressed up and by merely adding one of my bags to their ensembles they can achieve the ultimate outfit. These bags will make any outfit complete. And I'm super excited, because I really and truly believe in them!

And with that being said, I have sooooooooo much work to do. From fabric shopping, sourcing, finding a pattern/sample maker, etc. I HAVE A LOT TO DO. The hardest part is trying to really buckle down and focus on tackling one task at a time. Not to mention I have a huge learning curve. So I'm literally learning as I'm going. The good thing is that I'm still enrolled in MADE, which means I 'm forced to make progress so I have something to share in class. Which reminds me that I have class this Sunday and I think that sharing this blog is a pretty good update. :) 

Alicia 

Getting Started

So...its 1:26 in the AM and I really decided to start this. Right now, at this moment I decided to start my own blog. Now let me be clear, I tried this before (Lypstick Vintage). For some reason this feels different. This feels a bit more meaningful and permanent. But, before I continue to rant (its late and I'm starting to feel the tired) I must give you the background.

My name is Alicia Walker and I want to start my own line of handbags. Very AAish I know, but I need to say/type to really start owning it, which is the reason behind starting this blog. Almost like an accountability tool, to keep me inline and allow me to be as open and as honest with myself, and whomever decides to read this, as possible when it comes to developing my line of handbags.

Now like I said earlier, I tired this once before. I wanted to open up my own vintage clothing store. And, I thought it would be so cool to blog about vintage stuff, while I got all the logistics of the store together. Well the "logistics" never really happened, and after a few posts I realized my heart really wasn't in it.

But this, I believe, will be different. Matter of fact it IS different. I'm learning that I need to just say what it is and not what it "might" be. So yes, I am a work in progress people! And I'm sure through this blog, you will learn how truly "human" I am.

Finally, (I promise I wont have super long posts, I know people hate reading) this will be more like an open diary of my journey in creating and eventually producing this line. There will be high and low points. I know there will be times when I want to breakdown and times when I will truly believe that I can't do this. But, that is the really the point of this blog. To act as my outlet to not only keep myself excited about this new chapter in my life, but to also get you, the reader, excited about what I have to eventually offer you.

SO please stick with me, offer your advice, and just enjoy the ride while I document, beginning to end, the launch of my handbag line. Here's to sharing!

Alicia

PS. I know I ripped the name of the blog from Solange's "My Damn Blog" but I'm in between names for the line right now. And, I mean, technically they are "my damn handbags". So yea we'll see what happens. :)