This week we are featuring LOL (Laugh Out Loud) Brands. Joe De Hoyos, the mastermind behind the brand, had a chance to tell me a little bit more about how he got started with one of his products. I thought this might be a good way for you to know what it is your buying and how a simple idea can become a cash flow.
Joe explained, it was last summer that he decided to recreate his bow ties before going and selling them on Ebay. That way he could always have one around.
“I basically did a lot of measuring and guessing what the seam allowance might be, I made some changes to the dimensions, and came up with my own pattern.
Once I tracked down the hardware for the hook and eye closure, I started to cut out pattern pieces from vintage velveteens that I had collected over the last 5 or 6 years. All my fabrics come from vintage clothing that I buy for the prints or weaves, which I then take apart and use for fabric.”
How do we as a customer know if the fabric is quality? Especially if it is vintage?
“I think you can tell when something feels synthetic or rough, but in my case since I am using vintage fabrics its more obvious, because only natural fibers felt natural in the past. Now they have been so perfected that its hard to tell sometimes.
When I sew, I try to duplicate the finish on each piece so they look manufactured, but they are all actually handmade. I don’t like when clothing has the look of a student project.”
What do you use to sew each one?
“I use a Bernina Digital sewing machine, a Juki serger and also needle and thread to finish each piece. Each bow tie takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to from start to finish. ”
So what can we expect from LOL this year? Joe will be featuring his collection made from recycled linens and leather. Besides bow ties, LOL brands also makes Men’s T-shirts as well as jackets and jeans, which we displayed at SF Gallery 143 this past December. You can also visit his website at: www.LOLBrands.com
