1. Look at just how many people are involved in making this. I'd figure ~ 10 or more people have a hand in this dress.
- Does that explain the cost? Yes! Absolutely!
- As an independent sewer, that is also so freeing. Well jeez! I don't have to feel bad about taking a while, taking my time, to make a dress or any piece of clothing. Relief washes over.
2. The use of older, tried & true methods are still alive and used.
- This is SO wonderful (cup runneth over feeling for me). The pleating! The
embroidery (did you see that rough old frame? Still good dammit!)
3. The design houses have to do the same thing I do when I sew - use pins, cut it all out, rough cut, then trim down, fit and adjust as needed... etc. etc.
- They wha? They use pins? They have to hand thread before cutting? Oh, I guess we
all have to go through the same process. Whoa. Duuuuuuuude. And we find common
ground. I'm shocked that I'm shocked. I guess I figured they had fancy tools or it
took them less time or ... fewer people? Did this shock you too?
Now I want to go tour and learn from the embroiderer and the pleating house. I've only ever seen pleated fabric in it's paper, never the process. If I could just get my hands on some. Wouldn't it be fun to actually do some of the pleating? Does anyone know of a pleating house around Seattle or Portland?