I've had the good fortune to be part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art's 36th Annual Craft Show held last week at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Some people equate craft shows with handmade potholders and lawn ornaments, but it's really quite the opposite. This show selected 195 artists from around the country, and showcased some of the best handmade objects nationwide. Objects include jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, lighting and clothing, to name a few. Several artists from Lehigh and Berks County were selected and I was proud to be among them. This show attracts a sophisticated buyer, interested in collecting beautiful items, as well as people who come to appreciate the work.
I began my career in fashion with a rep in NYC, wholesaling my clothes to boutiques and specialty stores across the country, including Nordstrom and Marshall Field's. But I soon realized that I was missing a connection to my customer. When I started participating in craft shows, all juried by experts and fellow artists in the field, I realized I found my way of marketing.
I love meeting the women who buy my clothes. I have lively exchanges with all sorts of people, men and women who take an interest in what I do. Sometimes people come into my
booth to admire my fabrics. Some women come in to buy, and many come in to chat about my experience as a contestant to Project Runway season 2! I focus on vintage inspired patterns, as well as fabrics I find in NYC, LA, Paris and Italy.
My clothes are described as sophisticated, whimsical, detailed and comfortable. Often women know in an instant they will buy an item from me. It is very gratifying, on an emotional level, to sell the clothes I make. Essentially, I see my job as coming up with ideas that use my sense of design, and my personal point of view. I translate these ideas into wearable clothes for women. The challenges include finding time to work on new ideas, as well as manage the production of my clothes which happens in a 50-mile radius. Above all, I must trust that my ideas will appeal to others.
