Hi-Low Peplum Skirts

* Boss told me last week that I am becoming known as an Ankara (African Print fabric, not the capital of Turkey) designer. Not bad, right? 

I thought about it and realized all (or at least 90%) of the items I have made in the last 3 months and maybe even further were all in ankara fabric. Probably because I know a lot of Africans and they place orders for ankara outfits as those cannot be readily found in stores over here :).

Anyway, it was time for a palette cleanser and once again, it started with a discussion with my sister.

Me: I bought this black and white knit fabric to make a quick peplum skirt. I'm thinking of flipping the fabric for the peplum so I can create some contrast.

Sis: You're making skirts, right?

Me: Maybe I can get 2 skirts out of the fabric. I'll trace the other knit skirt I made.

Sis: Skirts ... one for me.

Me: Oh. Right. Guess I could make yours first and perfect the process before I make mine. 

She had her skirt (yellow floral one below) about 2 hours later. I had mine a few days later. 

(And, yes, I did get 2 black and white skirts from the fabric. I'll post pictures of the 2nd one another time).

** We wore them to church on Father's Day - pictures below.
*** Follow us on Facebook (Zichie Designs) and Instagram (@zichie_designs and @e_fazion) and email (zichiedesigns[at]gmail.com) for custom orders.

Me & Le'Sis

Me @ Le'Car

Side & Front Views

(Hmm, didn't get a back view)

Le'Sis Taking a Selfie

In Other Father's Day News ...

Custom Order for Mrs. K for Father's Day

ZCD @ SAANE 2015

Hello there

The same client (Ms. N) from my previous YAPPIES post (link) invited me to partner up and share a vendor table at a SAANE event last Saturday (June 13) and below are pictures from the event.
SAANE = Semi-Annual African Networking Event

I would like to say a big THANK YOU one of my favorite men. It was his birthday and we had made plans. Being the great supporter he is, he delayed our plans and said I could not miss this opportunity. Thanks, Boss.

** Enjoy pictures from the event below.
*** Follow us on Facebook (Zichie Designs) and Instagram (@zichie_designs and @e_fazion) or email (zichiedesigns[at]gmail.com).

What My Dress Form Wore

(Ms. N made the tote bags)

My Side of The Table

Her Side of the Table

My Partner Wearing Her ZCD Dress

A Friend With Her ZCD Clutch From the YAPPIES Event

Nice Decor

Of Course, I Wore ZCD (Ankara Border Skirt)

Sheer Sheath Dress - June's Make of the Month

* Things have been really busy (good busy) with custom orders and showcase events so I have missed a couple of #MakeOfTheMonths. 

• For March, it was supposed to be a clamshell purse. I got as far as drafting the pattern and cutting out a muslin before I had to put it aside for more pressing work.
• For April, it was a new take on the popular tulip iro and buba sets (google it - very lovely). I created the iro (wrapper) but it turned out a bit bigger than I wanted. It's in my pile of to-be-adjusted clothes and I still have to create the matching buba (top).
• For May, it was a men's blazer which was to be a birthday gift for one of my favorite people. I've cut out most of the pieces and hope to finish it up in a couple of weeks so hold on ...

Last week though, I had a selfish self-love moment where I put aside the work I was doing for others for one night to do something for myself. That became June's Make of the Month: a sheath dress in African print fabric (thank you, Aunty) with an organza overlay. 

The evening started thus:
(walking into my sister's room)
Me: I've decided to make a dress tonight - should only take a couple of hours ...
Sis: OK ...
(8 hours later)
Me: Done :)

**  Enjoy the pictures below :).
I'm thinking of entering this into the PGS (Pretty Girls Sew) Sew Challenge for this month.

*** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs.

Out and About (Church) in My New Dress

Views From the Top

Front, Side and Back Views (Different Light Exposures)

My dressform will be wearing this for a while ...

ZCD @ YAPPIES Sharing Their Creative Sides

* Hello there ...

The last 2 weeks have been looooong weeks. One of my clients makes pillows, pillow cases and other home decor items. Both of us belong to a meetup.com group called YAPPIES (Young African Philly Professionals) and she had an idea to host a meetup event to give some folks a chance to show and sell their handiwork. She asked me to be one of the sellers a few months ago so I thought I had enough time to make a bunch of stuff for sale.

Well, it came down to T-2 weeks and I wasn't a tenth of the way through my 'to-sew' list (*sigh*). I put in a lot of long days to take care of custom orders as well as prep for the showcase and in the end, I had t-shirts, jewelry and purses to sell as well as some outfits to display as samples.

I think it went well - enough that I agreed to partner with my lovely client at another event on June 13th. :)
Let the long days continue ...

** Enjoy pictures from the event below.
*** Follow us on Facebook (Zichie Designs) and Instagram (@zichie_designs and @e_fazion) or email (zichiedesigns[at]gmail.com).

T-shirts and Sample Rack

Purses (the best sellers of the day)

Bowties

(Plus the pillows by Ms. N)

 

Jewelry

Mixing and Mingling :)

(I'm the one in the African print and lace peplum top)