Sew Minimal
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Kelly: Sew Minimal
Photo Courtesy: She Captured Photography
Sewing is in my DNA. My grandmother taught my mother to sew, and my mother taught me. I started sewing my own clothes as a teenager, but buying new fabric from chain stores was expensive and often out of reach. One day, while I was making a dress to wear to a friend's wedding, I decided to use a vintage curtain I purchased from a thrift store instead of traditional fabric. I loved how unique this made the dress, plus the use of second hand textiles had the added benefit of being eco-friendly. It was then that my love of up-cycling began. In 2019, I took my love of sewing and up-cycling to the next level by starting my business Sew Minimal. Ever since then, I have been sewing one of a kind up-cycled garments full time and I'm incredibly grateful I get to do what I love every day.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
When it came to choosing a business name, I knew I wanted to use the word "sew" as a pun and I also wanted the name to reflect my use of repurposed textiles. Sustainability has always been important to me, and for a while I considered the name Sew Sustainable, but that seemed just a little too obvious. Eventually, I was brainstorming about how to convey that my products have minimal environmental impact and the brand Sew Minimal was born!
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
My signature technique is creating up-cycled clothing that is also reversible. I love garments that are duo-purpose. I remember reversible tops being big in the 90s, and this always blew my mind as a little kid. It seemed like magic! When I started experimenting with reversible wear, I realized that this also fit in perfectly with the minimal ethos of my brand. Reversibility allows for a variety of styling options and adds to an item's longevity. I now offer several reversible dress and skirt designs.
What makes your business unique to the industry?
Eco-fashion is quickly becoming a big industry and there are more options than ever of brands claiming to be ethical and sustainable. What makes Sew Minimal different is three fold. For one, I produce everything myself. None of my clothing is made in a factory so my customers can be assured that every Sew Minimal garment is produced using ethical labor. Second, by using up-cycled fabrics I am not producing any new textiles. Many sustainable clothing brands focus on textile production such as organic cotton or bamboo. While these textiles may be more environmentally friendly than polyester or conventional cotton, they still require copious amounts of water and resources to produce.
By using only up-cycled fabrics, I am not contributing to the over abundance of textiles that is such a problem for our planet. Third, Sew Minimal garments are bold, bright, and reference vintage and feminine silhouettes. Much of the sustainable fashion industry focuses on neutral colors and boxy silhouettes which just isn't Sew Minimal's style! I love prints, color, and retro aesthetics.
Photo Courtesy: Ryle Yazzie
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
My biggest roadblock is that I know very little about business! I have a degree in History, and when I was in college I never would have imagined I would one day be running a business. Luckily, I am not shy about asking for help and Albuquerque has many great resources. I have utilized agencies such as SCORE and WESST to help with the accounting and marketing side of the business. Networking with other makers has also been invaluable, especially in terms of vending at local markets and events.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
Sew Minimal had only been operating for 8 months when Covid-19 hit. In a sense, I think that was a benefit because I didn't feel like I had that much to lose when things started to shut down. Little did I know, I was about to get real busy. Soon everyone was asking me to make them face masks and I had a mini one-woman face mask factory in my living room. Luckily, I was well stocked with up-cycled cotton and elastic (I used elastic from the bottom of fitted bed sheets) so I had plenty of materials to work with. I just asked people to pay what they could, and this allowed me to pay my bills for a few months. Duran's Central Pharmacy, an Albuquerque staple, started buying my masks wholesale which also kept me afloat when everything was shut down.
Since March, I have made over 1,200 face masks including several hundred donated to folks who could not afford them and local organizations needing PPE. Now that the demand for face masks has dwindled, I'm navigating how I can expand my customer base in a socially distanced world. I recently opened a shop and studio in Old Town and while I recognize the timing is not great, I'm hoping that I can combine enough in store and online sales to keep Sew Minimal financially viable.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
I love seeing people wear my clothes! It's so validating to see someone feeling confident and comfortable in a Sew Minimal garment or accessory. I also love that I get to be creative every day. Selecting the fabrics and mixing and matching prints is what inspires me most.
What is your *must do* local activity?
Albuquerque is an amazing city with amazing food to match! My favorite restaurant is La Mexicana, a great little diner located near downtown that has the best carne adovada in town. I also love hanging out in Old Town, and not just because that's where my new shop is located! Old Town is a great place to walk around and see the artistic spirit that thrives in Albuquerque. It has a reputation for being touristy, but there are also many local jewelry makers, fine artists, and craftspeople that have studios and shops in Old Town that are well worth checking out.
Where to find Sew Minimal
Storefront: 404 San Felipe NW #C4, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Website: sewminimal.com
Instagram: instagram.com/sewminimal
Facebook: facebook.com/sewminimalclothing