Making Sweet Skins

It all starts with me, in my messy design studio (a room in my home) dreaming away, playing around with drawing, fabric, colors & clothing concepts that I wish I had in my own closet and self taught pattern making arts. I get lots of inspiration from my friends, people watching, sunny days & nature.

Next step: I order the best organic and recycled fabrics that my money can buy. The fabric usually comes in it’s natural off white state, but occasionally I have a chance to have entire bolts dyed before they are sent to us. Organic fabrics is delicious stuff, but unfortunately each roll seems to have it's own personality. It can be unpredictable, thinker or thinner, some dyes up well, some not so vivid. Some shrinks up more and some doesn’t shrink at all! So if you’ve ever noticed that your new pair doesn’t fit quite the same as your old pair, this is probably why. Each piece of Sweet Skins is unique.

Fabrics are shipped directly to our local cut & sew shop. Sewnique is a small sew shop, in a converted garage out back of owner Cathy Thompkins house. Cathy is the owner of Sewnique, and the big boss lady to Monica, Adelida & Leonardo our experts sewing team. Being that we live in a totally non-industrial Eugene Oregon (a little city known more for it’s organic produce and green space, than factory work!) and that Cathy takes very good care of the crew, this is not the cheapest way to do business. We could send it away to be made in China for much cheaper! But we choose to keep the work right here, to support families in our community. Sweet Skins are made with love, and they are intended to bless all the lives they touch, at each step along the way.
Anyway, once the garments have been cut and sewn, I pick them up and bring them home. Here, they tend to over crowd my laundry room all throughout production season (which is most of the year). My family isn't really thrilled about that part. Open to change. I dye most garments myself with low impact dyes. I do my best to create the dreamiest colors and to keep consistency between batches. I wish I could say I was a dye artist, but I'm afraid it's just a means to an end for me. Every piece of clothing that we ever sold has been washed and dried, so that you know what you’re getting when you shop off the rack.

Once each piece is dyed, washed and dried I take the bundles to my little boutique & warehouse, known as Sweet Skins Eco Boutique. There one of a few shop girls will help to prep the clothing, steaming, folding, take inventory and check for imperfections. And there you have it, that’s how Sweet Skins are made. Thanks for shopping & making my dreams come true!