Finished Wolf forms.
Our vacation trip to NYC last week was the best vacation we’ve ever had, probably because the happy relief of formally withdrawing from my MA program freed me to look forward, and because the unstructured time together gave us ample opportunity to brainstorm new ideas.
We are bursting with ideas for a new business venture together. What we have in mind is a tiny, tiny boutique business, strictly online, featuring Martin’s menswear designs as patterns for the home sewing market.
The lovely and charming jewelry designer Wendy Brandes and the lovely and charming fashion designer Stacy Lomman encouraged us to go for it, and shared very interesting and helpful thoughts from their own experiences as serious entrepreneurs. These women mean business!
Martin wore his new shirt design for Stacy and Stacy wore her new shirt design for Martin.
There is a dizzying array of learning curves on the horizon, but we understand our strengths and weaknesses, and neither of us feels a sense of urgency. It will take the time it takes.
Wolf Form molds
The refunded tuition money burning holes in our pockets nicely aligned with Wendy’s caution against under capitalizing (essentially) and Stacy’s endorsement of Wolf Forms.
We decided to invest in a Wolf Form for Martin. His weight is stable and the form will give him ease and flexibility in designing.
We also invested in CAD pattern digitizing software we’ll use to digitize Martin’s hybrid drape/flat-pattern designs. I have a CAD/graphics background and Martin, when he was doing research at Lawrence Berkeley Lab, developed a silicon strip detector using the full version of AutoCAD. Since our pattern digitizing software is based on AutoCAD, we hope to learn it fairly quickly, but getting the pattern specific logic will also likely take time.
I can’t show you pretty pictures of the CAD software so let’s return to the Wolf Forms.
The trip to Wolf Forms for Martin’s custom fitting was an out-of-this-world experience. The owners are focused on one thing and one thing only: making quality forms. They are not tech savvy and don’t seem bothered by this.
Lorraine, either one of the owners or a manager (I couldn’t quite tell), was very friendly, and interested in our project. She offered to take me on a tour of the factory while Martin got measured, a time-consuming process.
Here are the factory tour photos.
I wish I could remember what Lorraine said about the squiggly horizontal lines. I think it had to do with marking adjustments.
Optional Wolf Form arms. Martin got two.
Half baked Wolf Form
The baking oven.
Patterns for cutting the finishing linen.
The linen, made in Ireland
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, I’m soooo glad you did this. I’m dying to see what Martin creates. And how weird to see all those arms and body parts, huh?
You made me smile — I didn’t realize I was so lovely and charming :-)
xoxo
Come back soon!
Stacy, Martin was inspired by your and Wendy’s encouragement. It feels right to press forward. And of course you are adorable!
It was so lovely to see you. I’m delighted you had such a good vacation and that you’re moving forward with your project!
WendyB recently posted..Appreciate a Dragon Day
You inspired us!
Martin’s weight is stable… Probably one of the biggest reasons why more of us don’t get dress forms, we either aren’t or don’t wish to be stable in the weight department! So will Martin’s designs be only for shirts and vests to be worn by men? Or will his patterns come in ladies sizes as well?
Shelley recently posted..St Paul to Meursault
I know. That’s the reason I would never get one for myself. Down the road we do have plans to adapt Martin’s designs for women. And there will eventually be more than shirts and vests.
Those Wolf forms are so beautiful, they’re like sculptures. How great to combine what is now a passionate and creative outlet into a business, I think it’s the best kind of work. I don’t know much about starting business, but I do know enough that under capitalizing is a huge reason many start ups fail. I had a friend who started designing women’s clothing many, many years ago, and had so many unexpected orders from stores, no financial means to fulfill the orders and had to close down. I wish you both so much luck, adventures, and joy in what’s ahead.
Yes, the forms are beautiful, and photograph beautifully. Thank you for your vote of confidence. I think in our case, the main thing to not underspend on is the tools Martin needs to create and digitize and print the patterns.
How exciting, Susan and Martin! I’m sure that you will be amazingly successful. Hope that you will blog about the process.
The Style Crone recently posted..Healing With Houndstooth
Thank you Judith. I’ll definitely be blogging about it!
Gorgeous example of craftsmanship and quality. Very old world too :-)
I’m so happy the two of you are plotting and planning a joint venture and I’m very excited with this idea of online boutique. This world definitely needs more class and elegance!
coffeeaddict recently posted..Overcoming yourself
Yes, very old world. We’re excited too, but don’t want to get overexcited, if you know what I mean. One step at a time :).
I hope you haven’t jinxed Martin and his stable weight!
I think it’s an idea with potential. As a not-sewer I’m not so sure about the home sewing market, but I like the idea of custom patterns. My husband had some shirts made when he was in India awhile back and they do fit better than ready made. I sometimes take alterations to a fellow with a shop above the naughty video store and he seems to have quite a bevy of African ladies ordering custom outfits. Maybe he’d make shirts. It seems like it’s an idea that could grow legs.
Thank you Ginny, we hope it will grow legs, but you never know. Or maybe we’ll just amuse ourselves for the rest of our lives and sell a few patterns here and there :).
So funny that you have tailor above the naughty video store! Those African ladies must have wonderful style.
Oh how exciting. Starting a business of your own – together. And I agree with Ana, so old world-ish with the Wolf forms and all.
I wish you luck, success and everything wonderful!
Small is too large of a word :). I think tiny, or even teeny is better. It will be an adventure.
Wow, Susan – I am green with envy! :-) What an awesome experience and Martin is so lucky to have a perfect double to work with. My dress form is little more than a hanger, given its disparity with my shape. So this is going to be an amazing tool for him. I’m so intrigued to hear more about your new business venture.
K-Line recently posted..The Spring Suit: Muslin 1 and Why It’s Good to be Short
Hi Kristen! Yes, Martin is looking forward to meeting his double in person :). The biz venture is going to fun, whether or not we end up making any money, because there is so much cool stuff to learn.
Susan! What a fascinating venture you and Martin are taking on! It does sound so well suited to you both.
Lisa recently posted..How I Learned Not To Drink More Than I Should, Or, Saturday Morning at 10:57am
Thank you Lisa! I was just about to comment on your post, but needed to think about it.
What an amazing and exciting venture! Thanks for the sneak peek behind the scenes. I love when people focus on their quality craft.
I’m still stuck to the DIY-ing makeovers versus from scratch, but I’m wishing you guys lots of luck on the pattern selling front. I think there is a good base of people returning to a sewing, crafting lifestyle.
Megan Mae recently posted..Witchy
We get cool ideas from people doing the DIY-ing makeovers :).
Hi Susan!
I see you post more frequently, what a nice surprise!!
Did you / Martin take the photos with “the lens” :-) ?
These photos are beautiful and capture the atmopshere of the workshop so well. You could /should offer the story to a print magazine or newspaper!
From all encounters I ever made in my working career, I enjoyed those that came with workshops the most. Things simply feel different when your hands become part of the job.
And is there anything better besides baking? te-heh.
I wish you both good times with the form and your project! You obviously enjoy the process, speaking from the first photo.
Have fun …. and success!
Paula
Hi Paula! Yes, we did use the “lens” and I think that’s why the photos came out so well. We love that lens.
I know what you mean about workshops. It felt like a peaceful, happy place to spend a work day. And I do love thinking about those ladies being popped in the oven for baking :).
Thank you for visiting!
Don’t know how I missed this post Susan. That Wolf Forms place is fascinating looking – so holding on to the traditional past which seems to have worked so well for them. When you said you were as busy as little old bees while you were here you weren’t kidding.
Pat: SSB recently posted..What in Tarnation are They Doing to Bread?
Hi Pat, yes we were busy :). I wish you could have seen the Wolf forms factory. It was a fascinating place and I am SO glad we took the good camera with us that day.