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)

It's Orange; It's Backless

* Hi there!!! The weather is warmer and we are coming out of hibernation - hurray!!!!
Today's post is to showcase a custom order for one of my best clients; Miss N. She sent me a couple of style inspiration pictures and explained what she wanted: the sleeves from one picture, the backless style and collar from the other and the rest from her creative mind.
We've had the first fitting and I'm looking forward to delivering the finished dress soon.

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

Back View

Front View

SideView

Puffy Sleeves Detail

Collar Detail

Tapered Hem

Orange & Green, Long Sleeves on Long Dresses

* Hi there. For this week's post, I am featuring 2 long sleeve dresses I recently made for 2 ladies in my church; RCCG Love Assembly (@rccgloveassembly).

The first one (orange) was for Mrs. K to wear to our Mother's Day (5/10) service. She wanted something fitting, long sleeves and a fishtail silhouette.
Every year, the mothers (Virtuous Women) pick a fabric and they all show up in coordinating outfits.
You can just feel the love and oneness. Also, all the married women and mothers (including visitors) go home with a gift every year.

The second one (green) was for Ms. G to wear to her nephew's baby dedication (5/17). She had been away in school and gave me her fabric with only 3 days to make the dress (time crunch!!!).
I'm so happy it fit her perfectly the first time and she told me she loves it soooo much.

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

Orange Dress

Virtuous Women

Green Dress

The Making 

(Before the sleeves and sneak peak on the inside)

Dancing

The best part for me was seeing them dancing and looking at home in their dresses.

Thank you ladies for the support.