Interview Kommatia + Giveaway!

For a second I was worried about the Independent pattern company…I thought maybe the sector had reached it’s peak and was going to disappear. Obviously I shouldn’t have been so pessimistic! Spending money on new pattern releases is going to be the eternal stash struggle!

Enter Jessica, creator of Kommatia. First things first, Jessica has loads of fashion credentials and her website Kommatia Patterns is really worth a visit as she gives really understandable, concise advice about many sewing issues and general sewing information.

Such as help with trouser fitting here

Plus, awesome infographics. I want to stick them on my sewing wall. I just wish I had access to a laminator!!

What has changed with the indie patterns, in my opinion at least, is that new companies enter the scene with much less fanfare (which kinda echos the evolution of having so many independent patterns around). I’m discovering these pattern makers largely by spending too much time on Instagram or Etsy. So, I’m getting old skool and I contacted the owner/designer for an interview.

1. How did you find out about the resurgence of sewing and the new growth of the the sewing community ?

Seriously, I had no idea that PDF patterns were existing – I just found out randomly while browsing vintage clothes on Etsy. I was quite curious about it and did a lot of research. I found out that actually many people were interested in buying patterns and that there was many sewing blogs/you tube channels out there.

2. Did it surprise you that more and more people are sewing there own clothes?

Yes and no.
Yes because sewing is quite traditional and also clothes are getting even more affordable every year, which makes sewing optional. On the other hand, sewing is a creative activity that allows people to wear customized garments to their taste. Ready to wear clothes are made according to a standard body shape, but the reality is that few people has a “standard” shape. Making your own clothes allows you to adjust everything. On a darker tone, we hear more and more stories about the work conditions in sweat shops (in India, China, Bangladesh…). The quality is lowering and garments are not made to last anymore. So I understand why some people prefer to stay away from today’s fashion industry.

3. You have quite a lot of patterns available for a new pattern company,  how do you plan on which patterns to release ?

I just do what I like and would want to wear myself. Sometimes it’s hard for designers to create their own style and I believe it’s because we over think too much. Modifying your ideas to the point that it’s not your style anymore is pointless. For instance, I worked for designers which requested to modify a collection at least 10 to 25 times. But in the end, they always come back to the first version.

4. Could you tell us where your design inspiration come from?

My main sources of inspirations are the people in the street and a lot of 80’s movies. When I travel, I always scan the crowds for new ideas and inspirations.

5. What were the main surprises and challenges in starting your own company ?

Obviously, starting an new company means there is a lot of work to do and few profits… But since started working on my own, about 1 year ago, I’m really impressed by all the new things I learned and what I could achieve by myself.

6 and finally are there any tips you can give to people who want to follow there dream ?

To not be scared of failures and to experiment a lot. Think about your goals and take the path where it will lead you there. Sometimes, it’s not the easiest path, but it doesn’t matter. On my side, I felt like I needed to work several years in companies before going independent. It was not easy and I struggled a lot but it gave me the possibility to travel and learn a lot about the fashion industry.

If you want to find out more about the pattern making process Jessica gives more detail here, with a little detail about her career and the start of the shop.

NOW! PRIZE GIVING TIME! I reached 100 followers on wordpress, wooooooot, and yeah, I want to celebrate! To correlate with this post the prize is a Kommatia pattern of your choosing. Visit the Etsy shop here.

This is 110% funded by me as a thank you. This is only for the people who internet love me enough to follow me. So you must be following me on either WordPress or Bloglovin to win :p

To enter write the kommatia19 sewing pattern you want plus your email address. Competition ends on 14th March. Open worldwide.