Winter Is Coming
With less than 2 weeks until the end of Autumn and Winter on it’s way, I have being reflecting on the impact COVID has had on my business plan, workload and how I have had to adapt over the past few weeks.
I had released my Autumn collection 2 weeks prior to social distancing taking effect and cancellation of all social events; including race meets, weddings, formals, debutante ball. With strict social distancing restrictions from seeing clients, I was left feeling uncertain and in a quite the panic. My expectation of how busy these three months were going to be as we moved into Autumn/Winter racing and life moments, soon changed to ‘How am I going to keep the creativity and memento going and really what to do?’
How quickly did that change!
I was so grateful through these times that my valued clients were still supporting me and choosing to continue with the creation of their custom piece, putting them on hold rather than cancelling or purchasing from my Autumn Ready To Wear collection. With COVID cases increasing by the hour it was in the first stages that hygiene in all areas was now a high priority. I found myself thinking how do I help my community or more so adapt my sewing skills to able to help other? It was apparent through social media channels and conversations that there was a need for sustainable face masks to assist with these social distancing measures. I decided to take action and completely stepping outside my comfort zone, I put up my first personal video to market face masks. The response was overwhelming and my uncertainty changed quickly to how amazing it felt to be able to help to provide masks to my community which soon extended to people from all over Australia!
It was a busy 2 to 3 weeks whom without my family’s support for which I am so grateful for, stepped up to help handle the influx and it would not have been possible. In addition to the face masks, I also made shopping trolley handle covers and to also serve a purpose of working from home and fuel my creativity, I created the ISO-wrap dress.
It was so rewarding to be able to utilise the skills that I have for a greater purpose. It certainly made me realise that they should never to taken for granted and I heartily thank my local community and MCD client community for their continued support! My creative spirit continued as the isolation gave me extra time to think, sketch ideas, source fabric and utilise my fabric stock I had collected for pieces over the duration of this year.
COVID couldn’t stop my creativity, I had to choose to be creative!
This gorgeous wrap dress below was a project of creativity and passion as I made it as a sample for Kerrie’s birthday, as a versatile piece she could stylishly wear for her new working from home arrangements. The comfortable style of a wrap dress combined with a cotton linen in an Autumn print and colour palette made this dress perfect to wear and stylish for any Zoom meetings or video conferences.
Kerrie Carucci wearing our signature wrap dress style in an autumnal linen print.
Styling it with versatility to take you from Autumn to Winter and from day to night.
And the creativity keep flowing….
My latest design ‘Maia’ dress was inspired from the Hannah dress from our autumn collection with a sleeve variation. The textured brocade fabric and colour palette in the print and with a contrast reversible colour, I knew would be the perfect design to bring it to life! The style is complimentary to all body shapes, the crossover front draws the eye down, the self belt cinching in your waist and the semi flared skirt creates flattering balance to the silhouette and is comfortable to wear. This dress is classic though so versatile and adaptable to wear to many functions eg: formal attire, weddings, race wear or more so your first social function.
We all really want to be looking our best for our first post-isolation event, so this is like a bit of a coming out dress!
If you have been thinking about a custom made piece or want advice on what styles suit you then I would love to chat to you further! Take this opportunity for gather your thoughts and think about how you want to step out for your next event!
Until next time
Milva xx