February 2012

2/9 – 2/11 Tribal & Textile Arts Show

Fort Mason Center:  San Francisco

this is the only fabric show currently scheduled for SF

2/13 – 15 Sourcing at MAGIC

Las Vegas Convention Center and Mandalay Bay Convention Center

primarily for manufacturing, particularly overseas

March 2012

3/11 – 3/12 Northwest Fabric & Notions Show (now called the Seattle International Textile Expo)

Red Lion on Fifth Avenue, 1415 Fifth Avenue, Seattle

primarily for quilters

3/19 – 3/21 International Textile Expo

The Rio, Las Vegas

primarily for fabric stores

3/26 – 3/28 International Textile Show

California Market Center, Los Angeles

primarily for independent designers

October 2012

10/7 – 10/9 International Textiles Expo

The Rio, Las Vegas

In the pictures:  Greta Stahle, Lilia Forrest, Marcy Wambach, Mason McLain and Arianna VanDourn.

Join us for Santa’s workshop for sew & no-sew kids & teens projects: Mondays, Nov 28-Dec 12, 3:45-5:45 pm. Ornaments, scarves, bags & more!

Two classes at PS will teach you how to set the price for your products and where to find the goods to make them.

For those of you interested in getting into the apparel business, we have two great apparel business classes coming up.

Both are on a Saturday, 2-5 pm and cost just $48 each.

If you haven’t yet registered for them, just hit the name to link to the site.

– Nov 12.  Make a profit:  Costing and pricing for the apparel industry.  This is for you if you don’t know how much to charge for your products or services — probably because you don’t know how much you should spend on fabric, labor and other things you need to make your product.  You’ll go through a checklist and simple cost sheet so you won’t fear overcharging or undercharging.

The teacher, Laura Tempesta, has a business degree from Stanford and has done this work for BCBG, Stop Staring and now, Nike.

– Nov 19.  Sourcing 101:  Where to buy fabric and labor.  It’s tough to find where to buy materials to make your products.  And then to find the people who can make the products — and all for the right price and quality.  You’ll walk through how these people think, their jargon and their calendars then where to find them locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.  Thanks to this class, you’ll be able to size up your product and how you can compete in terms of price so you can stay in business.

The teacher, Rachel Ancliffe, has launched two women’s clothing lines and now works in product development for Nike.

For more, visit the links or send your questions to info@portlandsewing.com

We are apparel people teaching apparel people.

Becky Ross spoke to a full house at Portland Sewing about her plans for the future: Start a clothing line and teach at PS.

Becky Ross wants to design for real women. That’s her proclamation from her Sunday, Nov 6, “Brunch with Becky” at Portland Sewing.

Real women are America’s average women: 5′4″, sizes 14-16. “They are the forgotten majority,” she said. “We have plenty of clothes for the young and slender but any for the rest of us is hard to find and, frankly, boring.” Ross is on the hunt for backers who will hire her or help finance her vision for her clothing line.

Her pronouncement was met with cheers from the audience. They peppered her with questions for two hours:

What was her favorite challenge? The avant garde challenge with the middle school art students. “I got many comments on the dress with the boxes, but I liked it.”

What was her worst challenge? The team challenge with Anya and Josh Mc. “I tried to be a team player but it backfired.” She hated the garment that purportedly camefrom her but she hadn’t, in fact, designed.

Who was her favorite person on the show? Tim Gunn. “He’s a real sweetheart.”

Was she prepared for Project Runway? She was excited and ready to win. “But no one can be prepared for the hours and constant series of challenges.” She slept for a week after she returned from the contest.

And one of those things will be to teach a special class at Portland Sewing.  Look for an announcement soon!

Bryce will share his experiences, his design process and his plans for the future over continental breakfast.  You’ll get to see his most recent designs and garments.

Meanwhile, here’s Marjorie Skinner’s take on the event in her Mercury on Design blog:

“It’s common for former contestants of Project Runway to make personal appearances, but an upcoming on with Portland’s own Bryce Black is much homier than the usual corporate junket gigs. He’s returning to the home base of his pre-TV collaborator Sharon Blair at Portland Sewing for an intimate chat with up to 25 people over continental breakfast on Sunday, October 23. The topic is “Designing Chaos: A Look Inside My Life on Project Runway.” Tickets to attend are $25, so I hope he is willing to spill some serious dirt useful advise”. . .To read more go to MOD. . .Enjoy!  and see you soon!

At Portland Sewing, we believe that Portland can become a center for the apparel marketplace. It will take three things: Manufacturing infrastructure, textile sourcing and industry support. Glad to see so many believe this too. It will take time but with persistence and our community spirit, we can get there.

By the way, reporter Laura Gunderson used the title of our “Fashion Forward Program” in the title of her article.  Catchy, huh?

Q.  How do you feel about Janome coverstitch machines? I am on a tight budget and Janome has the best prices. I’ve used a Janome Mylock serger and liked it, but never the Janome Coverpro. Any thoughts?

A.  I read the reviews and I say go for it, as long as it has a lever that flips over to make it easy to thread the lower looper.  Even though they aren’t self-threading, Janome makes good quality machines.  And the Janome has more room than the Babylock between the needle area and the side of the machine.  So that’s a plus since you are working on the surface of the fabric and need the room.  FYI:  We teach coverstitch techniques in Sergery 2.

Send your sewing questions to info@portlandsewing.com

Q.  Hey Sharon!  I’ve been kind of torn on a facet of my Fashion Forward application.

Ultimately, I want to design apparel for both women and girls, but I am worried that including both categories in my design brief may weaken my presentation or confuse my message. Alternately though, it might give me a unique angle and therefore an advantage in the market. I am just not sure if this is the right format in which to try to address both. Would you be able to share your take on it?  Thanks for your help!

A.  Start with one. Then branch out to the other. Start with your greatest strength.  That’s how most of the greats started (Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, Donna Karan). Hope that helps!

Becky Ross (back row left) and Bryce Black (back row right) are competing on Project Runway, Season 9. Both studied with Sharon Blair.

Yes, it’s true. I can now spill the beans and tell you that two of my students, Bryce Black and Becky Ross, are appearing on Season 9 of Project Runway.Bryce you know because he studied at Portland Sewing and designed for my line, StudioSKB, this year. He was featured in our April 16 Garden Party Fashion show where people applauded his modern, multiple use designs. You’ll soon be able to buy his garments at Radish Underground, 414 SW 10th, and Physical Element, 1124 NW Lovejoy. Both in Portland.

Becky was in my Principles of Fit and Activewear classes at Art Institute.

Congratulations and good luck to both of them. Season 9 starts July 28.

And if you see Project Runway in your future, or you just want to launch your own apparel line, consider applying for our Fashion Forward Program. Applications are due August 17. Winners start mid-September.