the story behind the *NEW* zipper pouches
This may sound silly, but I have been scared to launch this new product - and the product isn't really even new. In fact, I’ve been sitting on boxes of this new product for a couple months, too paralyzed to launch.
The truth is, I’ve delayed launching it because I’m not sure how my customers will respond…. Because it’s a big shift for this little business of mine.
You see, I have sewn thousands and thousands of my signature zipper pouches over the last seven years. I’ve occasionally had some local help, but I have cut and sewn these, one at a time, by myself in my home studio.
It's a time consuming process of sourcing fabric and zippers and labels, sourcing fabric that is printed with my designs, and cutting and sewing, not to mention the upkeep of an industrial sewing machine, space to store raw materials, and space to spread out to cut everything. It's laborious! And for a long while, I enjoyed this type of production work.
Eventually, I found that I would drag my feet on new zipper pouch orders. And I stopped coming out with new designs, even though this is a popular product.
I got burned out. I couldn’t keep up. And the joy of sewing and sitting at my sewing machine evaporated. So I called in reinforcements.
After doing tons of research, I just recently started working with an ethical manufacturer in India to sew these zipper pouches for me. One thing that really drew me to this company is their training program for their seamstresses.
I sent them my artwork, and after lots of back and forth emails and photos, they printed up my custom designed fabric and began sewing my gorgeous pouches for you! This week, I will have four zipper pouch designs that were ethically sewn for me (and you!) in India.
These new pouches are still made carefully with love. They are still made just for you. They are still packed and shipped by me in my home studio. But this shift will allow me to serve you better with new designs more often, while supporting my own creative work AND giving opportunity to women in India to work in a safe and supportive environment to provide for their families.
For now, I am still sewing and selling the zipper pouches that are in my shop right now until I run out of inventory and materials. So if you want a pouch that's handmade by me, now's a great time to snag one!
I can't wait to share these new pouches when they officially launch in my shop on Thursday, October 17th!