All in SEWING BUSINESS

Creating a Fashion Collaboration: Introducing my Fair Fit Pattern

Creating a Fashion Collaboration: Introducing my Fair Fit Pattern

Andrea Eastin
FAIR FIT PATTERN, FASHION DESIGN, PATTERNMAKING, CREATIVE LIFE, SEWING BUSINESS

As I hinted at last week, I have decided to release my Fair Fit Dress as a sewing pattern and online workshop. The pattern actually goes beyond just a dress, because it is a customizable system of components and pattern pieces that build upon each other to make infinite variations.  If the first dress is well received, then throughout the year I plan on releasing each of the components that allow you to further customize the parts into tops, skirts, and other styles of dresses. In this post, you will get a first look at the project!

Finding New Ways to Appreciate Fashion, through Fair Fashion

Finding New Ways to Appreciate Fashion, through Fair Fashion

Andrea Eastin
FAIR FIT PATTERN, FASHION DESIGN, PATTERNMAKING, CREATIVE LIFE, SEWING BUSINESS

In this series, I have explained the name Fair Fit and what it means to me from many different perspectives that have been shaped by my own experience, and where I’m taking my design and education practice to create an opening for students and fashion sewists who do want choice, and more of a voice in how they experience fashion design and the clothes they choose to wear. 

Fair Relationships in Fashion Professions

Fair Relationships in Fashion Professions

Andrea Eastin
FASHION DESIGN, FAIR FIT PATTERN, PATTERNMAKING, CREATIVE LIFE, SEWING BUSINESS

Have you ever had to create your own job? I once did as part of my professional growth, and in this post I share how my student loan debt taught me about creating income and helped me to find a way to make my own job and pay it off. I’ll share with you the steps I took and questions I asked to pay it off. Read along and learn how I turned this big problem into a path to grow professionally.

Why teaching is so important to create a "Fair Fit."

Why teaching is so important to create a "Fair Fit."

Andrea Eastin
FAIR FIT PATTERN, FASHION DESIGN, PATTERNMAKING, CREATIVE LIFE, SEWING BUSINESS

Last week, I shared with you the story as to how my projects developed in the academic art world in Chicago, and then continued to grow into new areas of presentation when I took the art project I made to the runway in New Orleans. I also shared how the two world conflicted, and how at that time, I didn't know how to resolve it, so I took a leave from creating fashion collections. Today, I want to pick up where I left off, and share with you what happened during this sabbatical, and how the key takeaways came to prosper me, and show me new ways of operating in the profession of fashion design. There are some laws of creation I learned and I hope the lessons inspire and encourage you creatively too!

5 Lessons Learned from Building a Creative Business in 2016

5 Lessons Learned from Building a Creative Business in 2016

Andrea Eastin
CREATIVE LIFE, SEWING BUSINESS, FASHION BUSINESS

I’ve heard it said, creating your own business is like the biggest exercise in self development you can take on. In this post, I want to share with you some of the key lessons, situational takeaways, and solutions to problems that I learned in 2016 while growing a creative business. Because building a business is a creative act, just like building a shirt, building a wardrobe, building a family, relationship, or friendship. Its an act of making, and I feel like a lot of these lessons are helpful even if you aren’t running a small business yourself. They apply to any creative thinker, project or endeavor. People email me and tell me, “Hey Andrea, you know how to get things done.” Well, trust me, I’m not special or have some secret super power (magic wand). I have strategies. Let’s dig into some of those today :)

Be Successful in Your Craft

Be Successful in Your Craft

Andrea Eastin
SEWING BUSINESS

Committing to your creative practice is one of the best investments you can make. Even if learning to sew is just a hobby for you, in today’s post you’ll learn how committing to your practice will help you get the most out of your investment.
In today’s post I share:

  • A behind-the-scenes look at why 2015 was so incredibly stressful for me as a creative professional… and the big lessons I learned about the importance of commitment and focus…

  • Why commitment is so important as a beginner learning to sew — even if sewing is just a hobby for you…

  • My step-by-step method for finding the time and committing to a project… PLUS get a free worksheet that walks you through the entire process of developing a creative project BEFORE you sit down to sew…

A #FairFitDailySew Update

A #FairFitDailySew Update

Andrea Eastin
FASHION DESIGN, SEWING BUSINESS

I created a Fair Fit Daily Sew challenge for myself and a few students who were really interested in sewing, but needed a way to find time for their practice after I read a post by sewing blogger Christine Haynes about finding time for your sewing. I decided to give it a try and see what happens. Here is what I learned about the process and some steps for moving forward.