Be a home couturier

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 7

Be a home couturier

(By

NORMAN HARTNELL)

LONDON. Ingeborg Stiller is a 26-year-old West German model much in demand at the moment. Wherever she goes, she draws gasps of admiration with the clothes she wears. But then, as the envious point out, she is in the right profession. The chances are, they say, she is allowed to keep the dresses she models.

In fact, as any model will tell you, nothing is further from the truth. If they take a fancy to a certain item, they have to pay for it, like anyone else. .

Certainly, the attractive Ingeborg does not go out on a shopping expedition if she can help it. Even though she has precious little time to herself because of her overflowing engagement diary, she sits down and makes the most eye-catching garments in her wardrobe herself.

Not that you have to be a top model to catch those admiring glances. If you are handy with a sewing machine, you have the means not only to make yourself some money but also one of the most popular women in your area. SPECIALLY MADE Most women like to feel that a garment has been specially made for them—it is one of the reasons why we couturiers stay in business.

Once your friends realise that you can make your own clothes, and that they look really professional, they will be clamouring for you to make things for them too. But to be successful, your clothes must be really well finished. So before you

decide to take on work for other people, you might like to brush up on your natural flair by taking a few lessons. How do you reach prospective customers? Putting an advertisement in the newspaper is one way. But, like Ingeborg, your own appearance is one of the best forms of advertising. When your friends admire your outfit, you just drop a hint that you would be prepared to do the same for them.

APPROACH TO BOUTIQUE If you are really confident iof your ability as a dressi maker, you could show some samples of your work — a dress or a tunic top, say—to your local boutique. It might well be prepared to sell your garments on a percentage basis.

I know one or two persons who have worked up quite a good business in this way. Provided that they have style and are right up to the minute fashion, hand-made garments are always very popular.

What can you charge? This will obviously depend on the type of work you do, but for a plain shirtwaister dress in cotton, you could safely ask for anything up to $5.

More involved styles would obviously entail more handwork, and so you would charge more.

Work out your charges on an hourly basis. In other words, time your work first, and fix your prices accordingly. A good way to start is with children’s clothes —an advertisement in your local welfare clinic will put you in touch with your market. And who knows? One day you could become a top designer.