Online Store Open!!
Last Autumn, I started taking action towards small batch production of my first collection. It was around the time I was finally recovering from a severe burnout (then depression) after showcasing my first collection at Vancouver Fashion Week the previous Autumn. I came to realise, I cannot just do everything by myself to actually produce enough clothes to sell and it was a shame to just let go of the collection that I put so much work and heart into go unnoticed.
So I started looking for sewing factories that accept small batch production around Tokyo. It wasn’t smooth sailing as I would have liked, some sewing factories didn’t really match the quality I was looking for, or not very professional in business sense.
Luckily I found the one that is most suitable for my standards and the owner family of the sewing factory are very supportive of passionate independent designers. I am very grateful that some of the clothes from the collection are finally available to potential customers.
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I still need to work on these 2 dresses from the collection to make them easy enough to produce. I used couture techniques on these and after failing two factories, I have just accepted that these are too difficult for production so I need to change some details to make it possible. Aiming to make them available this Autumn though, let me know if you are interested.
*You can visit the online store from the menu on this website, just click SHOP :)
初コレクションの小ロット生産に向けて動き始めましたのは去年の秋でした。実は、その前年バンクバーファッションウィークでファッションショーをした後に、バーンアウトから鬱病を発症し、ちょうどそれが良くなってきてる頃でした。このまま一人で全てをやっていては、商品として売るほどの数の洋服を作るのは無理だなとふと気が付いて、でもこのまま一生懸命作り上げたコレクションを日の目に当たらないままにしてしまうのは悲しい。
それで縫製工場に小ロット生産をお願いしてみようと考えたわけです。自ら足を運んで直接お話したかったので、東京近郊の小ロット生産を受け入れている工場さんを探しました。正直言って、紆余曲折色々あって、決してスムーズで簡単な道のりではありませんでした。こちらの求めている品質には程遠いサンプル上げられたり、やり取りしている中で、ビジネスとしてありえない態度をとってくる小さな工場があったり。
ありがたいことに、ご縁があって、自分に合った縫製工場さんも見つかり、なんとかコレクションの一部を商品化することができました。そこの縫製工場を経営されているご家族は、個人のやる気のあるデザイナーさんに協力的で、初めての小ロット生産を引き受けて頂いたことにとても感謝しています。
まだあと、コレクションの中からドレス２着を小ロット生産に向けて動いてます。この２着には色々とオートクチュールの手法を使ったため、やはり量産にはそのままの仕様は無理だったようで、２社失敗して、さすがにこれは仕様を量産用に変更しないと厳しいと受け入れました。秋頃の販売を目指しておりますので、もしご興味あれば、ご連絡ください。
※メニューのSHOPからオンラインストアにアクセスできます
Updating the website
It becomes really hard to start something if you wait too long…
It’s been quite a while since I did anything to my website last time. When finally started editing my website, I realised that I’ve already forgotten how to code…sigh. I managed to complete the update at the end though; edited and uploaded some photos of the dresses I made on the portfolio page and also updated the pictures on the front page, some of which were taken in England last year by a photographer, Bruce. (Thanks!) read more »
The red dress on the stage
How amazing it was to see the dress I made on the stage while dancing to my favourite band’s music…
At the Dropkick Murphys gig at O2 Academy Brixton (27th January 2017), I got to see one of my other favourite bands: Skinny Lister, who were the opening act. I had already been excited for them and it exceeded my expectations. Skinny Lister’s singer, Lorna, was wearing the dress I made. It was such an honour. The dress looked absolutely gorgeous on her.
Dress making – draping
I am often asked how I make clothes when I introduce myself as a fashion designer. So, I thought it might be interesting to describe a process of dress making.
There are mainly two ways to make patterns of clothes; draping on the stand and flat pattern making. I usually use both ways depending on the design. Some designs are easier to work on papers, others might need to be considered three-dimentionally. I am going to show how I draped a dress this time. The left dress on the fashion illustration is the design I worked on.
Dress for a singer
While I was in London during the summer to attend Alexander McQeen exhibition, I also went to see one of my favourite bands in Camden. It was a great gig, but I also took the opportunity to ask one of the singers for the band if they’d like me to make her a dress (for future gigs).
I was lucky to talk to her at the venue. At first I hesitated to bring it up, but I introduced myself and showed her my website. She was a very friendly and lovely person and we exchanged details.
Alexander McQueen “Savage Beauty”
One of the reasons I visited London again during the summer was to see the V&A museum exhibition, Alexander McQueen “Savage Beauty”. Alexander McQueen was one of the most influential fashion designers to me. I would have gone in March but I had to give it up to take care of my dogs. I finally managed to see the exhibition before it finished in August with an after-hours ticket that they made available due to high demand.
Basic Block
First things first. Before starting making new clothes, I should alter my basic block a bit as it’s been 8 years since I made it. Luckily the sizes aren’t that differnt and actually the old one still fits me well.
When you draw a flat pattern, what block you use is very important. Having said that, I never altered it before even when I gained or lost weight… It is a bit annoying yet necessary process to make well fitted clothes, in my opinion.
Erika Sonoda portfolio site has opened
First of all, thanks for visiting my website and reading my blog!
I had planned to make the site for a long time but it never happened until now. Although I had some experience in making websites in the past, it has been such a tough work to make one from scratch with the updated technology.