Moya.Studio: In the beginning
It all begins with an idea.
After I lost an irreplaceable black velvet scarf, I wondered if I could make one similar. My creation was not anywhere near what I had hoped for but it was enough to inspire versions that friends appreciated. So I made a few more in different colours and then ventured into making more with various fabrics and embellishements, including labels with motifs of my own design.
A private collection of scarves and hats I made for family and friends, which included those for several fur babies.
Tony, dressed for his photo in the tiniest scarf.
It was then that I began to consider making designs not only for the labels but for the fabrics to create the scarves. What a pivotal moment this was for me as an artist! Creating products from digital designs was not something I had ever imagined myself doing but it changed my life.
And the search for fabric printers/manufacturers was on.
I was surprised to learn of a manufacturer in Toronto that printed on a variety of natural fibres, including silk. They were very accommodating and I was impressed, particularly when things didn’t work out (almost always because of printing issues). Silk quickly became my favourite because of the way it draped and shone and highlighted the colours in my designs.
Early digital designs (moya.store preceded moya.studio for a brief time).
Some of the first moya.studio silks.
Getting Serious
It all begins with an idea.
The next challenge was finding someone to stitch the edges of my scarves and affix the custom labels.
Through online searches I learned of a local couture school and approached them to help me find someone who might be interested in collaborating with me in creating my products. That’s when I met Amy Zia. She made the first of the scarves for Moya.Studio and they were beautiful. Expensive, yes. But expertly tailored. Elevated.
Amy prepares a long scarf for stitching.
Making it Work
It all begins with an idea.
Now what I needed was a space to show off my products and places to sell them. I created a commercial website and set up sites on social media platforms. Through the resources of a friend I lucked into collaboration with a retailer who was excited about my product, which is exactly what you want for representation. Price, however, was going to be an issue so I adjusted my margins. Within a reasonably short time almost everything sold, and they wanted more.
I was eager to provide but needed to make a profit. By this time, my couturier was making major life changes and it became doubly important to find a new outlet for manufacturing. For a short while—two fashion shows six months apart, to be exact—I secured the services of a local seamstress and tied myself to the computer for many a long day to create a new line of ties, pocket squares, long ties and bandanas. Some of this new line was made from silk but much of it was cotton which, in addition to being easier to work with, is slightly more economical. On paper, that is.
My seamstress had other sewing commitments—several weddings and one particularly large and long-standing contract—but pushed through the final night to have my sizeable order ready for the first of the fashion shows. I designed and sewed the booth decor. In the end, despite the efforts, the endeavour was less than fruitful and more a costly learning opportunity.
Debt was mounting. Still, I was nowhere near ready to give up.
Finally, after a fairly extensive search, I secured the services of an Asian manufacturer and began to produce a line of scarves that were not only beautifully printed and sewn, they showed well, sold well, and began to make a dint in my debtload.
I Can See Clearly Now…
It all begins with an idea.
All those 16 hour days at the computer were beginning to pay off! Product was in demand and, financially, I could see a light at the end of the tunnel. I was also receiving attention from star players like Best Home Magazine and Etsy.
I received a request from Etsy to use some of my products in four fashion segments on Global and CTV in Calgary and Vancouver. Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy trend expert and television personality, wore my scarf in her hair on three of the shows.