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thinking about how I had a few folks at my last market suggest to me (kindly and with good intentions) that I make and sell some versions of the hand knit cardigan I was wearing because people would "totally pay $300 for that!"
I appreciated the sentiment, but people don't understand what goes into handmade clothes! I don't use a knitting machine. Every stitch in that garment is created by hand on needles, and the sleeves were brioche. Even using inexpensive acrylic yarn for the whole project, and accounting for the HUGE sleeve stitches (saving me time making the sleeves)—the material cost was $55 and the labor was well beyond that.
Let's conservatively estimate the cardigan took me 30 hours to create. Currently, when pressed to put a dollar amount to my time, I use the living wage as a baseline and then go up from there $1/hour for every year I have been actively practicing that particular skill. In the case of knitting that would be 11 years, and the current living wage in my area is approximately $23/hour. Setting aside the fact that this is calculated based on a 40 hour work week and I don't believe that is ethical or sustainable, we'll just leave it at $34/hour. That would make labor alone $1,020.
This brings the "production cost" to $1,075.
Items are not sold at production cost because that would leave your profit margin at 0%. This is not sustainable because it costs money to run a business (think things like paying for computer repairs, buying tools, the tablecloth you use at markets, paying for a website, etc.). Realistically to cover business costs and still come out with a 7% "net" profit margin, which is just a number pulled from averages in the clothing retail business...
... I'd have to sell that cardigan for $1,350.
So yeah! Something to think about when you see the price of clothes that are handmade. :o)
heart envelope wallet/card holder 💌 made on my beloved 70 yr old singer sewing machine with salvaged cotton & a vintage faux pearl button. the heart buttonhole is made with felt and hand stitched on ❤️
This mermaid came to shore for some good food and quality time with friends!!
This lolita fashion meetup took place during our latest heatwave, at the beginning when it had about 32°C. Still way too hot, but my linen blouse at least was very breathable! I've thrifted the blouse in spring and fixed the sleeves to be less tight - don't want to be strangulated on my elbows! I decided to go with the mermaid theme I've already envisioned last summer with this dress, but didn't have the opportunity to style yet. I think the big flowy sleeves of the linen blouse and the hair style I made are very mermaidy! I used a lace scarf, a pearl necklace, flower hair clips and shell hairclips and made a double milkmaid braid / hair crown up do. I also have a handmade shell-and-pearls brooch and a long necklace with mother of pearl discs and turquoise and light purple glass beads.
The bag is handmade, but not by me. I got it through a craft swap (my only contribution is the flap to keep it closed - which I haven't made button holes for yet, so I have to safety pin it shut with a big ass safety pin!)
[id]Picture 1 is a full body picture of Amy. Amy is a young fat white woman with glasses and long brown hair. In the pictures she's wearing her hair in a double milkmaid braid, with the hair braided around a white lacey scarf. White pearls and seashells, as well as white flowers complete the mermaid hairdo. Her blue dress features a map and is giving ocean and pirate vibes. The flowey white blouse is meant to symbolise the white spray of the waves. The hem of a flowy white underskirt is also peeking out underneath the dress. It's symbolising sea foam as well! She's wearing a brooch with little seashells on it and a long necklace with mother-of-pearl discs and glass beads on it, to give more mermaid vibes. The bag fits the theme as well (of course!). Even her black sandals have white fishes on them!
Picure 2- 6 are various more close-up pictures of OP. She wanted to show of her elaborate hairdo and the various accessories she's wearing.
Picture 7: OP is standing in front of a wooden shelf filled with Japanese knickknacks. They are for sale at the restaurant. She's smiling softly at the viewer.
Picture 8: A big round plate with a straight edge (pointing to the table's edge). The plate is black and decorated with a red rim. There is an oblong serving dish placed on top, with some gyoza and spring rolls on some white baking paper, as well as some sweet potato hash browns.
Picture 9: A big round wooden serving plate with a red rim. On top is a pretty blue-and-white patterned bowl with a red rim, with various vegetable tempura in it. Next to it is a little bowl with scalloped edges and soy sauce pimped with spring onions in it (to dip the tempura into). There's also a red napkin with black chopsticks on the plate.[/id]
18-year-old Tokyo-based Korean designer/student Xiaqua on the street in Harajuku wearing a look mixing Xiaquart (her own handmade designs) with vintage items, lots of accessories (many also handmade), and Demonia platforms that she decorated. Xiaqua on Instagram
I'm finally done with my latest project, my "grandma couch" JSK.
It turned out a bit different from what I expected, namely I thought I'd use burgundy ribbon, but the ribbon I ordered just didn't look right. So I went with pink instead.
The fashion fabric is a printed cotton and I lined the bodice with plain old white cotton. The bodice is patterned from a JSK I already owned and the skirt is a gathered rectangle skirt with a ruffle on top and some wide lace trim underneath to give it some extra frill. The wide lace on the bodice reminded me of Edwardian dresses and corsets a bit, I really enjoy it.
Some detail shots:
The print itself feels maybe less grandma couch and more quirky aunt wallpaper, but it's fun too!
Please enjoy this unintentional madeline cosplay featuring my newest make 🐤
I found 3m of golden yellow linen in a charity shop and decided luck was smiling on me, so I patterned out this ruched bodice with cap sleeves. This dress makes me feel like sunshine :) I finished it early so I can wear it on my birthday!
Handmade yellow linen dress styled with thrifted items - vintage straw hat, second hand blue leather satchel, and second hand blue brogues.
hello i'm equinox, i'm a severely disabled trans intersex person who is recovering from 6 months of homelessness, 2 of which were in a hotel. i had to pay $300+ for my first month's rent, deposit, etc. and am coming up on my second month's rent, as well as needing to pay for necessities like electricity, internet, medications, toiletries, etc. if you are interested in supporting me, it goes a long way and keeps a disabled trans person off the streets, you can find this item listed here: