Making it Work
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.
