Home Stretch

Still not quite up and running, but very nearly there. There's some care label and logo printing to do and then the final and seemingly long-winded hurdle -- photographs. I was hoping to take them with natural light, but since we seem to have had the greyest few weeks ever (not exaggerating at all) that may not be possible, in which case I'll need a crash course in bounce flashing (sounds slightly dodgy) from my resident photographer (boyfriend). This post is not sponsored by whomever invented the bracket.

All to be revealed ever so soon. Happy Monday!

Almost There

Another Monday, another day hard at work getting everything together for launch. Luckily, it is not a requirement that I look remotely presentable, as that would definitely be a stretch today. Creating a set for photographs is next on the agenda, which may involve the purchase of some MDF, but luckily my tiny town is probably used to seeing me traipse around the high street looking rather unkempt in paint-flecked clothing, leaving a trail of loose threads wherever I go.

Hope your start to the week is as productive, though hopefully not quite as tiring as mine. Happy Monday!

Hey Sleeves, You Suck

Here's a little frustration post to show the devilish creation that is the set-in sleeve, and the trials and tribulations of getting one of those babies in perfectly. Plenty of pins to the finger, I tell you. This is what happens when slopers are wrong - but not to worry - every lesson is useful. Back to the machine now to test out these alterations... back soon!

How-To

As usual, it's been rather busy so far this week at HQ, plenty of sewing, a tonne of emails and a few orders put in for packaging bits. Very excited to get the samples through and hopefully get that side of things sorted by next week. I've been doing a bit of background work and creating how-to documents for the first collection's pieces so that anyone can pick them up and make an exact replica of the original. Cue lots of photographs! I've condensed them to give an idea of what's been going on in the studio and what it takes to make the first piece, our Lady Jayne.

Finito

Little peek of the fully formed printed and sewn Jayne tank. The only difference between this and the real article is the fabric - and with the crossweave on its way, it's not long til it will all come together! Happy Wednesday, all!

Cracking Out the Inks

It's been a mega busy week, and I've just got the time to squeeze in this post before I head off to work. Luckily I have something to show for it!

Just a few snaps of what I've been up to in the studio (read: parent's dining room) - printing, printing and more printing. Looking forward to getting this baby all sewn up so we can get an idea of what will be going out to the world when everything is sorted. Fun!

More progress to come next week. Until then, happy weekend!

Jayne

Introducing Jayne, the newest piece from Holoholo. Despite this being the most recent pattern to have been created, it really embodies the Holoholo vibe, and will therefore be the first piece to go into production. Very exciting! With it's simple lines, classic style and slightly cropped hemline, it can be worn in a number of ways for any number of different situations.

Fabric ordering is next on the agenda, best get to it!

Taking Shape

As mentioned in this Monday's post, we've whipped up a new shape that will bring together the collection concisely - that is the plan at least!

Here are some shots of the toile, complete with water soluble fabric marker lines. Hopefully we can get some fabric ordered in the very near future and get some final samples together.

Happy Wednesday!

Labels pt. II

After having some issues with the original plan of screen printing labels individually, focus has turned to outsourcing the process and buying in care and branding labels.



Ideally we'd get the first designs custom printed for a reasonable price onto some super-soft organic cotton... but we'll have to keep you posted on whether that's going to be possible. Satin care labels (above) are an option, whether exclusively or separate to a brand label. The rest of the afternoon will be spent checking out alternative methods for getting the information we need onto Holoholo pieces. Stay tuned!

Midweek Update

Things are still moving along, with packaging manufacturers supplying samples, business cards nearly sorted and the rest of the branding and graphic design in progress. The website is having another once-over tomorrow after having given myself a bit of space and time away from it to get a fresh perspective.



Logistics also need to be straightened out, which is going to require a fair bit of calculating, but that's going to be a task for later on in the week. It seems as though there isn't much left to do, but the things that are left are taking forever... that's life I suppose. Time to crack on with some design before it's time to go to work. Happy Wednesday!

Finalising

This week has been one of finalising - the costs of making each piece and their production methods. That has meant re-working the cuffs and button strip on the button-back blouse, since they weren't really working in their previous incarnation. However that's now sorted, and I feel it was of great value to take some time away from the situation to get a clear head before coming back at it from a different angle. It's one of those things that people will often tell you to do, but you don't really see the benefits until you actually go ahead and do it of your own accord. Lesson learnt!

Fabric choices have also been finalised, since there was an issue with sourcing the one we'd originally picked out. That's another thing ticked off the list, so now onto the next. Ordering fabric for final samples is on the cards, as well as squaring off packing and distribution. When the final financial bits have been sorted the long (long, long) awaited production will be able to begin! What fun.

Hope you've had a great week and have some fun plans lined up for the weekend. Happy Friday!

Pleats Please

With the beautiful sunlight streaming through the windows at Holoholo HQ, it seemed a great opportunity to snap some peeks at our newest design: the pleat-top dress. It's still in the development stage, hence the 'aesthetically vanilla' curtain lining material, but it's looking pretty sweet and I for one am excited about taking it to the next stage.

Would you look at that... it's Friday, people! It's been a long and busy week but a lot has been done - plenty of business plan writing and loads of business reading. I mean loads. This weekend is set to be a good one, with the rain in the South West of the UK letting up and a trip to see the girls I lived with in London, yay! Hope you have a great one and do some important re-charging for another full week ahead. Happy weekend!

Desk Day

Today has been a day behind the desk, adding section upon section to the business plan and doing a heap of market research - something that has proved to be a seemingly endless task... It's all in the name of knowing the business and its place in the market better though, and that is of course very important.



Also this week I have totally finished off the design for what is currently known as 'blouse ii'. Enticing name needed! Complete with bound sleeve edges, overlocked seams and flat felled hemlines, I'm really excited to get this one into production once and for all.



For that to happen however, we need to get this plan done and dusted, so it's back to the Macintosh with a cup of tea for me. As the week nears its end plans are beginning to get underway for next week's ventures, which will include product development on a number of pieces (including accessories(!) and the long awaited completion of 'blouse i'), extensive research into web optimisation and of course yet more business plan writing. This thing needs finishing! Hope you're having a great week.

Next

The horseshoe print has come out to play and has found itself dancing along the bottom front panel of blouse #2. It's exciting seeing another print in action - although it will be even better when the fabric is dyed the correct colour. Something to look forward to in the near future! Overlocking has been a great success, and has really completed the blouses with the polished detail I've been aiming for. Therefore it's onwards with the finishing touches - the dying (as mentioned), threads, buttons and cuffs... and then onto packaging! Seriously can't wait to get that sorted, I do love a bit of tissue...

The Disneyland pilgrimage begins in the morning, so by this time tomorrow I am likely to be in the hotel pool having a chill before dinner. Have scheduled a post for while I'm away to keep the blog alive and kicking, though. See you in 4 days!

New Baby

Not a real one! I picked up the new Holoholo overlocker last week and have spent the last couple of days getting some practice in before using it to finish the inside seams of the blouses. Having had a couple of full days to work on the business as much as I like has been amazing, and I'm looking forward to those to come.

The overlocker I bought is the Janome 9200D, and although seemingly compact, I have found it fun to use and easy to get to grips with. I am fully aware that this may change once the spools run out of thread, as I have heard it is very difficult to re-thread an overlocker, but I'm not averse to a bit of fiddly-ness, so hopefully it will be fine. Best get back to sewing and using up that thread! More to come in the week, how exciting! Happy Wednesday!