I’m reaching a point in my clothing line where I can no longer keep up with demand. I’m sewing late into the night. I’m sewing when my kids are awake and I should be playing with them. I’m sewing all through the weekend. And though on one hand this is good news, because it means my line is growing and successful – It’s been breaking me, slowly and surely.
It’s at points like this, when I get stuck in a funnel of survival, that I’m really grateful for my husband. Because it’s at these points he comes up with infuriatingly simple solutions – like, why don’t you get your line manufactured instead of making it yourself? I’m glad one of us isn’t crazy.
Actually, it’s not that I hadn’t thought of this before – it just wasn’t an option. Back in Iowa we were hours from any hubs of commerce where manufacturers were based, which would make the logistics a nightmare – and I had tried in vain before to find a decent seamstress in my own town. But now we’re so close to DC – well that’s a different story. So for the last few weeks I’ve been researching my little butt off. I’ve been calling, emailing and basically harassing every factory in town, every seamstress, every small sewing company. And this past weekend, I went and had consultations with a few. Actually it took up my whole weekend. I was exhausted, and tired… but you know what? I think I found a manufacturer I really like. I have them making a test sample this week, and if I’m happy with the quality, then I’m hoping to use them from now on. And you know what that means? All those things in my store that say “sold out” might not be anymore – I KNOW how awesome is that? Thoughts, prayers and crossed fingers will be much appreciated this week – this could be the beginning of taking it to the next level. And so even though I look a little like a wreck – inside, I’m doing a happy dance.
