What inspired you to set up www.tiinateaspoon.co.uk?

My mum made all my clothes when I was little, but I've never found anything that truly fit my style in the shops. The natural progression was to learn how to make my own clothes. Quite a few people asked where they could buy the same garments and the idea for my shop was born! Selling online was the ideal way for me to get started; the moment I found Etsy.com I felt right at home and had to open a shop there, my own website followed as a showcase for my work. I added my photography to my shop as I only had a few garments to sell at first, and was amazed at the positive response to it.

What is your background (previous career area?)

I went from A levels to being a full time mum.

Did you have specialist training in fashion design or photography? - if so what/where was your training?

I'm currently in my fourth and final year of a part-time fashion studies degree at London College of Fashion. I'm self-taught at photography with a lot of help from my partner.

How many hours a week was your training? How did training fit round your son?

 

Around 12 hours a week, spread over 2 evenings and all day Saturday. A lot more work is expected to be completed at home outside those hours though. I'm lucky to have a great support network of family and friends to help with my son while I study.

Roughly, how much did/does your training cost?

The course cost is £850 per year, with materials and travel expenses costing extra.

How did you go about setting your business up? (from a business perspective - initial funding etc.) Did you have any professional help?

I started out very small, without funding as I already owned most of the equipment I needed, and just a small outlay for stock. I've had lots of help from other Etsy sellers, some of whom have been running craft businesses for many years. Online forums can be great places to ask questions!

 

Did you carry out any research you carried out to know your business would work?

Part of my college course focuses on business studies. From this I was able to research my market sector, plan promotions and look into how other companies do business. I had planned to offer a few items for sale as a test and was very surprised when my business took off, so I've had to learn and research a lot on the job.

Where do you carry out your work now?

From home, everything is compacted into one room!

Do you need lots of specialist equipment?

The basics for me are a simple sewing machine, a camera and a computer. The equipment doesn't have to cost a lot (one of my favourite cameras cost £20!), what counts is how creatively you use it..

Do you make all of the clothes/take all the photographs yourself?

I make everything myself, carrying on traditional techniques and in the case of my photography, fusing them with digital technology. It's important to me to include hand-worked processes wherever possible, to slow down and give time and thought to the things I make.

What inspires your designs and pictures?

I find a lot of inspiration in my dual heritage (half British, half Finnish). To me Finland has a special purity; a minimalism and melancholy through the landscape to the design history. The rich texture and eccentricity of life in the UK is a great contrast to this and together they balance wonderfully.

How many hours do you work a week?

I have honestly lost count! It's a little hectic at the moment working on my graduate collection.

How does the job fit round your family life?

I fit all my work in when my son is at school or asleep, unless it's something he likes to help with.

How do you find clients - do you advertise?

I maintain an online presence on various sites and chat to people, make acquaintances, share art. I've found that some of my less commercial, experimental pieces work as advertising for me; while they may never sell they do bring in viewers. I also take part in Street Teams on Etsy to promote different themes and mediums, and have swapped business cards with other Etsy sellers.

What is the earning potential?

Currently my work pays for supplies and allows me to save towards extra equipment. The money coming in varies an awful lot between months.

Is the job rewarding?

Absolutely! The best part for me is being able to communicate directly with customers, whilst doing something I absolutely love to do.

Do you think it is a job that fits in well with being a Mum?

I asked my son and he said yes! We're able to choose our own hours, work from home, and I'm a happier mum when I'm able to unleash my creativity. We have great fun designing costumes for the school play and taking photos together too.

Any advice for a Mum or Dad wanting to start training as either a photographer or fashion designer?

Go for it! It's not always easy but if you put your heart and soul into your work it will shine through. There are plenty of resources around to start learning the basics of both crafts; including books, the internet and evening classes. Don't worry too much about your items being commercial, as long as they're well made and thoughtfully presented there are buyers out there for them. You may just have to work a little harder to find the right customers

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Useful Links

Short courses from London College of Fashion

www.hotcourses.com