Beginners Sewing Class for Nov/Dec

Beginners sewing class Hello all, after the popularity of the last few term's 'Dressmaking for beginners' class, we are going to be running one more before Christmas. This will be a 4 week course (4, 3 hour classes) which will cover all the basics of selecting, cutting and following a pattern, sewing by machine and hand as well as a whole host of other hints and tips on altering, repairing and embellishing your own garments.  Start date: Wednesday 21st November End Date: Wednesday 12th December Times: 6pm - 9pm Age restriction: Over 16's Places available: 6 Cost: £90 Additional information: All workroom equipment is supplied but if you have your own sewing machine and wish to use it, please feel free to bring it along. You will need to supply your own fabric and thread but this will be discussed during the first class so don't worry about buying anything just yet.  Please get in touch by email: deanna@dresarstudio.co.uk or call: 01383 514182 to book your place.

I've seen this dress online.... Can you make it cheaper?

I'm often asked two following two questions: 1. Here is a picture of a dress. Can you copy it? 2. I've found a dress I like in a shop but it is far too expensive. Can you make something similar but cheaper? Well, I'm across the answer to both of those questions is no. I can't compete with mass-produced high street shop garments for the following reasons: Fabric costs: When I buy fabric for a commissioned piece, I buy enough for that one garment. This means I buy it at retail price. The dress you saw in....wherever, was mass produced in it's thousands which means that the factory would have gained huge discounts for buying in 'bulk' volume.  Pattern cutting: When I receive an order, I meet with the customer to discuss their individual requirements. I then take a series of specific body measurements and draft a custom made pattern. The pattern is then turned into a sample garment (also known as a toile) which is fitted to the client to make any small amendments before the final garment is cut. This process can take several days to perfect. When a factory receives a design for a garment, they make one general pattern which is programmed by a computer and graded into the size range required by the company. Modern cutting technology allows hundreds of pieces to be cut at a time. In the time it takes me to create a bespoke pattern, a factory could have cut enough garments stock every Next store in the country.  Sewing: In a factory, every machinist has his/her job to do and is rarely skilled in anything else. One person sews the side seams, another person inserts the zip, another finishes the hem etc. They are paid by the piece and are under huge amounts of pressure to keep the production line moving. Quality is far less important to these people than making sure they reach their quota for the day. I have trained for 13 years in every aspect of the design/production process. I understand the subtle differences between fabrics and the necessary processes to achieve a beautiful finish. I also take tremendous pride in my work and would not allow a sub standard garment to leave my workroom. I practice traditional couture techniques and am always learning and improving my skills. When you pay for a dress to be made by me you are not just paying for some fabric and a pattern, you are paying for my education, skill, talent and devotion to my craft.  Service: When you buy from a high street shop, you are dealing with sales staff who have no input into the creation of your garment. They, for the most part, are there for the money. Many work on commission and with targets to meet, will pretty much tell you what you want to hear to get that sale. When you buy from me, you are a walking, talking advert for my business. I am extremely emotionally connected to each dress I make. They take me a long time to do, from searching for the perfect fabrics to the time it takes to make a garment (averaging  between 12-100 hours). Also, after spending at least 4 or 5 hours getting to know my customers, I also become invested in their happiness. When I make a dress, I make it specifically for you. Not just to make you look good but also to make you feel good wearing it.  Overheads: Chain stores buy in large volumes, they add on huge mark-ups (sometimes up to 1000%) and make massive profits. The top end luxury brand markets report profits in their billions every year. Running a small business costs a lot of money. Rent, insurance, alarms, accountants, PAT testing, sewing machines, tools, advertising.... The list goes depressingly on. These costs as well as the actual cost of making the garment (fabrics, linings, boning, zips, interlining,trims etc) have to be covered before a penny of profit can be made.   Design integrity Firstly, copyright laws exist to protect the designer so it is illegal for me to copy a design. I understand a lot of dressmakers do this as they are unable to create a concept of their own and need to have something to mimic to be successful. As a designer, I have spent years developing my own unique style. This style is the reason many of my customers seek me out. I do not want to cheapen that by diluting my range with other designers creations.  Having a dress made for you should be a wonderful experience from start to finish. It should be a statement of your personal style and a testament to my talent and experience. You should expect the price and the time frame to reflect the work that goes into it. My prices Evening wear: From £350 Bridal wear: From £700 Corsetry: From £150 The aim of this blog is to remove the myth that designers are needlessly overpriced and excessive or that dressmakers can 'run up' a dress in a matter of a few hours for less than you'd pay in a department store. If more people understood the process and the fantastic results that can be achieved, there would be a lot less people settling for a style that doesn't reflect their style, fit them properly or do justice to the special occasion it is intended for. I hope this has been informative and not too 'ranty'. I'm always open to questions and comments so please feel free to get in touch. Tel: 01383 514182 Email: deanna@dresarstudio.co.uk

Buying a 'bargain' dress online?

A wee word of warning to you all specifically regarding a company called E Dresses and generally about ordering 'custom made' dresses online. I've lost count of the number of horror stories I've heard (and tried to fix). If you are going to buy them here are a few tips: 1. Do your research! Type the company name into google and find out what other people have thought of their work. 2. Pay with a credit card or paypal: that way if the worst happens you have someone to complain to and apply to get your money back from. 3. Leave plenty of time to receive your order. If the fit turns out to be wrong, you'll have time to have it professionally altered or, like in many cases, it turns out to be completely not what you ordered, you have time to find something else! 4. If you are on a super tight budget for a big event, consider buying a 'pre loved' dress. There are fantastic bargains out there from people who want their dress to go to a good home. For a fraction of the cost of a new dress, you can have it altered and customised to make it feel brand new! Please choose wisely. Good luck! 

New Years Resolutions...

Hello! Happy New Year everyone.
 I won't even begin to make excuses for my complete lack of blogs. I will however say the word BUSY. I write it in annoying CAPS LOCK as this is kind of how the past 6 months feel in my head. Big and slightly overpowering. However, I feel I am now evolving the business to where it wants to settle. Maybe this time next year it'll be all grown up and be ready for some real commitment? Who knows...
To sum up Dresar Studio over the past 18 months, I think of phrases like 'jack of all trades', 'everything to everyone' and a few even less flattering (or printable) terms. This is mostly due to my fear of not doing well and an inability to say no to people. I now feel like I'm finding my feet. I'm also realising that to become successful in business, you have to know your market. My market seems to be Bridal. There, I've said it! I've been avoiding putting myself into that box for a number of reasons but as the appointment book fills up and the request come in, that would be where at least 80% of my income is coming from. Good. That's that then....
So, where to go from here?
Well first things first, I'm changing my opening hours to accommodate this new breed of customer. This, I'm also hoping, will slowly filter out the kinds of work that aren't very rewarding or financially viable to keep taking in.
Next, I'll be doing a few bridal shows and photo shoots for PR as well as completely re-doing my website as lots of it is out of date info now.
I'll be teaching fewer classes. That being said, I love teaching so I'll still be doing one or two a week.
Couple that with my resolution to get organised, fit and become a superhero and I reckon I'm on track for a pretty productive year.
Let's see what I'm saying in February....

This will be my new opening hours:

And this will be the info sheet in the window, letting my customers know about the type of work I do:

Hope it's big enough for you to read...

Anyway, that is all for now my dears. Thanks for stopping by! More photos and updates as soon as I can.
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