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Custom Wedding Dress & Kimono Upcycled Clothes | オーダーメイドウェディングドレス&着物ドレス

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/ Archives for Chie

Chie

Winter 2016 Lookbook

January 27, 2016 By Chie

winter geometric set vivat veritas look bookwinter geometric set Geometric pattern zipper top vivat veritas{Geometric pattern set (similar here and here)}
navy blue lace bridesmaid dress vivat veritas navy blue lace scalloped edte dress frontnavy blue lace scalloped edte dress front full body1 navy blue lace scalloped edte dress back close up{Made-to-order navy blue lace bridesmaid dress}dark red corduroy skirt by vivat veritasdark red corduroy skirt by vivat veritas2 dark red corduroy skirt by vivat veritas3dark red corduroy skirt by vivat veritas4{Dark red corduroy mini skirt (available upon request, blog post here}

Photo credit:
Model Misaki | Photographer Nobuyuki Nishihara | Make up and hair Emiko Hiki | Styled by me

Some new items have been added to the etsy shop! Check them out here – if you want a similar item in a different size or fabric, shoot me an email with your idea! I’d love to work with you.

新しいアイテムをショップに追加しました。
日本語では、Creemaからどうぞ。
結婚式などのお呼ばれにもぴったりなネイビーレースのドレスは、お客様のサイズに合わせたオーダーメイドです。
実は私も同じ物を結婚式に着ていきました(ブログはこちら)。

chie sig2

Find me elsewhere:

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: etsy, lookbook, portofolio

Bluff-Stitched Patch Pocket Tutorial

January 21, 2016 By Chie

Bluff stitched patch pocket tutorial
I recently had an opportunity to make a slew of “bluff-stitched” patch pockets. I snapped some photos during the process to make a quick tutorial. “Bluff-stitched” means the pocket is attached without top stitching showing on the front of the pocket. It looks neat and expensive. It takes some extra steps, but well worth the effort!
bluff stitched patch pocket close up
Mine is single layered (no lining) with lace trim at the opening.

tutorial 1 baste the corner of the pockets
First, cut the pocket fabric and take care of the pocket opening. I added the antique lace trim on mine. Then baste the corner if you have a rounded corner. If you have a pointed corner, you can skip this step.step 2 make a pocket pattern
Using card stock paper, make a pattern for the pocket. This is used to make perfectly rounded corners. If you make it, do it without seam allowances and -1mm for the turn of cloth. Or, you can use a neat metal tool like this if the curve fits your pocket’s.
step 3 press the corner
Using the paper pocket pattern you made in the above process, pull the basted seams and press the seam allowances inward. step 4 pin the pocket
Pin the pocket to where you want it to be attached. Since I was making this with white silk, I thread-marked the pocket placement so there is no chance that I would ruin the fabric. 

step5 baste the pocketstep 5 basting completedHand baste the pocket. I basted as close as possible to the edge. This will make machine sewing easier in the next step.
step 6 attach pocket from insideFrom the inside, attach the pocket as close to the basted line. It gets tricky at the curved corner, but sew slowly using a pointy tool to open up a way for the stitches. Once you are done, take off the hand basted thread an press.

step7 sew for the second timeYou will be sewing the pocket for the second time, this time as close to the creased line after the press. step 7 wrong sideThis is what it looks like from the wrong side of the fabric. Two stitching lines in parallel.
completed pocketsBluff-stitching pockets are elegant and make your handmade garment look expensive! If you are into pockets as much as I am, check out my bellows pocket tutorial as well.

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コバステッチなしのパッチポケットの作り方です。
外側から見ると、「どうやってついてるの?」って思うかも。
一瞬でお洋服を格上げしてくれるポケットだと思います。

コツはめんどくさがらずに手でしつけすることです。
そのあと、内側から2度縫い、仕上げます。

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: tutorial

Q&A #1 How Much Fabric Should I Buy?

January 16, 2016 By Chie

how much fabric should i buy

Hello everyone! Recently I have been getting a lot of requests for business, sewing and other kinds of advice. So, I thought it was a good time to start a new Q & A page section on the site. If you would like to throw a question my way, please feel free!

Hello Chie….hope you are always in the best of health. I would like some advice from you. How do you buy fabrics for every new collections you are releasing? I am planning to sew children clothing next year but I am so clueless in how to buy the fabrics, should I buy by bolt every fabric or is there any tips that you can share so I don’t over spend lol. Thank you in advance.

Thank you for your message! It’s very exciting that you are starting a new collection for kids clothing! I am excited to see what you’ll come up with.
In terms of how much fabric to buy, I would start small. I would not buy a bolt of every fabric. I would buy fabric for 1 sample (for photoshoot and to show the retailers if your are planning on doing wholesale) and enough to sew up to 3-4 items per design. I would also choose fabrics that are readily available, and avoid discontinued fabrics in case your item is popular and you end up selling more than you can produce. That way, you can order more from the same source when your current stash runs out.
I think by starting small, you avoid overstocking items and spending too much of your capital. If you sell all your items, that’s great! I would take the money you earned and do a new collection, this time a bit bigger. Maybe buy enough fabrics for 5-6 items and sew upon request.
When I first started an etsy shop, I bought fabrics from sales rack and made one-of-a-kind items. Some items sold and some didn’t. I took note of what sold and began to see patterns. Slowly, I started to offer some variations of those “popular items”, offering them in different colors and sizes. An example of this is this skater dress. I buy fabrics for this dress once I have the order placed. It is more expensive to buy fabric this way as opposed to getting wholesale discount, but not overstocking yourself is more important in the beginning. One of the greatest advantages about having an online shop as opposed to physical store is you don’t have to stock it with lots of physical products. This saves storage space as well.
I wish you the best of luck in your new business. I encourage you to keep on going with what you set your mind to do. Don’t give up, review and revise as you go along.
Derik Siver, the owner and founder of the online independent music store, CD Baby said the following:  “successful song writes i know, they would just keep writing and writing and writing..and just kept going.  if you keep trying it out and its not clicking,just let it go and write another song, keep moving forward. Success comes from persistently improving and reinventing”. Hope this helps.
Any question that I can help with? Email me here.
chie sig2Find me elsewhere:

Filed Under: blog Tagged With: business advice, fabric

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@allpress_espresso のコーヒーバッグで作りました☕️ Cafés do Bras @allpress_espresso のコーヒーバッグで作りました☕️

Cafés do Brasil 豆を運んでいた頃の文字が、そのままジャケットの背中に残っています。
着物だけでなく、面白い来歴のある生地をもっと取り入れていきたいと思っています✂️
素材:コーヒーバッグ × 着物シルク

Made from a coffee sack sourced from @allpress_espresso.

Cafés do Brasil — the stamp from its days carrying beans stays right there on the back. 

Kimono fabric has always been at the heart of what I do, but I want to bring in more materials with a history — things that have traveled, carried weight, meant something before they became a garment.

Materials: coffee sack × kimono silk

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88 

Model
@emorylove33

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#upcycledfashion #sustainablestyle #coffeesack #wearablestories #ReleasedReimagined
蝶は、繭の中でひとりで変わるわけじゃない。 縫う人がいて、形が生まれる。 描く人がいて、顔に光が宿 蝶は、繭の中でひとりで変わるわけじゃない。

縫う人がいて、形が生まれる。
描く人がいて、顔に光が宿る。
飾る人がいて、耳元に物語が揺れる。

そのひとつひとつが重なって、
一着の服がランウェイで羽を広げます🦋

今回のショーに関わってくださったすべての方へ💌
ありがとうございました。皆様の手が、この服を完成させてくれました。

A butterfly doesn’t transform alone.

Someone sews, and a shape is born.
Someone paints, and light finds a face.
Someone adorns, and a story stirs beside the ear.

Each gesture layered upon the next —
until one garment spreads its wings on the runway🦋

To everyone who was part of this show 💌
Thank you.🥹Your hands brought this to life.

Photographer 
@nothing_special_88

Model
@yui78_02

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#ReleasedReimagined #kimono #着物リメイク #sustainablefashion #runway
Before the doors opened, there was this. Garments Before the doors opened, there was this.

Garments waiting on the rack. Brushes in hand. Quiet conversations in corners. The unhurried moment before everything becomes a show.

""Released. Reimagined."" with @designerhelen was made possible by so many generous hands — our makeup and hair team, our models, every person who showed up early and stayed late. Thank you for caring for these pieces, and for each other, the way you did.

More to come🤍

扉が開く前の、静かな時間。

ハンガーに並ぶ作品たち。メイクブラシの音。片隅でかわされる小さな会話。 すべてがショーになる前の、穏やかな瞬間。

@designerhelen との“Released. Reimagined."" は、たくさんの方々の手によって生まれました。 メイク・ヘアチームのみなさん、モデルのみなさん、早くから駆けつけて最後まで残ってくれたすべての方へ。 本当にありがとうございました。
次回も頑張ります🤍

Photographer 

Models
@emorylove33
@naka_kanar
@bethenny.x
@izumi_nishida
@yui78_02
@aino.yamada03
@_kasumi.y
@sienna.christinaaa

Nails
@ms_muse_nail

Jewelry
@viviange

Hair 
@angh0
@sho_kanaida
@iam__little__boy

Make up
@glam_by_jyoti

#releasedreimagined #KimonoUpcycling #BehindTheScenes #SustainableFashion #着物リメイク
Behind the Scenes🪡 →The Runway ✨ カオスに包まれたアトリエから、ラ Behind the Scenes🪡 →The Runway ✨

カオスに包まれたアトリエから、ランウェイへ。

1つのコレクションが形になるまで、床が見えなくなるほどの生地、型紙、そして数え切れないほどの試行錯誤の時間が詰まっています。

命を吹き込んでくれた素晴らしいモデルの皆さん、そして支えてくださったスタッフの皆さんに心から感謝💝

あなたのお気に入りのルックはどれですか?ぜひコメントで教えてください👇❤️

From a chaotic atelier to the runway.

Before a collection comes to life, there are floors buried under fabric, pattern pieces, and countless hours of trial and error.

A heartfelt thank you to the incredible models who breathed life into each look, and to every member of the team who made it all possible 💝

Which look was your favorite? Let me know in the comments 👇❤️

#ファッションショー #ランウェイ #バックステージ #fashiondesigner #runway
Something I've been building since 2008 — taking k Something I've been building since 2008 — taking kimono fabric, fabric that already holds someone's memory, and giving it a new life.

Last Saturday, I got to share that with someone very special.

@designerhelen is a designer from New York who first reached out to me through my little sewing lesson account. When we started talking, I realized we were asking the exact same question: how do you take something with a past, and carry it forward?

We met in person here in Tokyo last December. That conversation became Released. Reimagined.
Two designers. Two cities. One shared belief — that beautiful things deserve a second life.

None of this would have been possible without our incredible team:

👗 Models: @emorylove33 @naka_kanar @bethenny.x @izumi_nishida @yui78_02 @aino.yamada03 @_kasumi.y @sienna.christinaaa

💅 Nails: @ms_muse_nail — gorgeous handmade nail designs 
💍 Jewelry: @viviange — pieces specially designed to coordinate with each piece
✂️ Hair: @angh0 @sho_kanaida @iam__little__boy — next level editorial 
💄 Makeup: @glam_by_jyoti — 8 models, flawlessly done 
📸 Photography: @nothing_special_88 — can't wait for you all to see his shots 
🎯 Model Coordinator: @naka_kanar — styling schedules, rehearsals, walkthrough, everything

Thank you to everyone who came🤍

Photos by @robertorivera.mx

2008年から、ずっと作り続けてきたもの——誰かの記憶を宿した着物の生地を手にとり、新しい命を吹き込むこと。

先週の土曜日、その想いをとても大切な人と一緒に分かち合うことができました。

@designerhelen はニューヨークを拠点とするデザイナー。最初に連絡をくれたのは、私の小さなお裁縫レッスンのアカウントを通じてでした。話し始めてすぐに、私たちは同じ問いを抱えていると。過去を持つものを、どうやって未来へ連れていくか。

昨年12月、東京で初めて直接会いました。その会話が、このショーになりました。

Released. Reimagined. ふたりのデザイナー。ふたつの都市。ひとつの共通した信念——美しいものには、もう一度輝く機会がある✨

#releasedreimangined #tokyofashionshow #harajuku #japanfashionshow projectrunwa
この会場を見つけるまで、けっこう歩き回りました。原宿竹下口から少し路地に入ったところ。前面ガラス張り この会場を見つけるまで、けっこう歩き回りました。原宿竹下口から少し路地に入ったところ。前面ガラス張りで光がたっぷり入って、一目見て「ここだ」と思いました🌱

入口すぐの受付エリアには @brownie_shots のポップアップ、中央スペースはランウェイ会場になります。VIP席も準備中です✨

イベントまであと1週間を切りました。当日、いいお天気になりますように☀️

It took quite a bit of wandering to find this venue. Tucked just off a quiet side street from Harajuku’s Takeshita Exit — full glass frontage, light pouring in. The moment I stepped inside, I knew🌱

Right at the entrance, @brownie_shots will be running a pop-up☕︎ The central space becomes our runway. VIP seating going in now.

Less than one week to go. Fingers crossed for sunshine ☀️

#Harajuku #FashionShow #KimonoUpcycling #SustainableFashion #TokyoEvents
【VIP限定✨】 5/30のファッションショー、席付きVIPチケットをご予約いただいた方は、こちらの 【VIP限定✨】
5/30のファッションショー、席付きVIPチケットをご予約いただいた方は、こちらの帯をリメイクしたオリジナルポーチをプレゼント🎁 

意外とたくさん入ると大好評。
鍵、カードケース、スマホ、メイクポーチまでしっかり収納できる優秀サイズです。

パーティーにクラッチとして、ループにストラップを付ければショルダーにもなる✨

どの柄が届くかは当日までのお楽しみ🤫💕

🗓 2026.05.30 (Sat)
📍 Harajuku, Tokyo
Runway Event & Pop-up Store
詳細はプロフィールリンクをチェック🔗

【VIP Exclusive ✨】
A little sneak peek at the special gift for our VIP ticket holders🎁

For the May 30th fashion show, all VIP guests will receive this original pouch made from upcycled Kimono Obi.

It’s surprisingly spacious! It easily fits your keys, card case, phone, and even a makeup pouch. Wear it as a chic clutch for the party, or attach your own strap to the loops to transform it into a shoulder bag✨

Each one is a unique, one-of-a-kind piece. Which design will you get? It’s a surprise until the big day! 🤫💕

#帯リメイク #サステナブルファッション #ファッションショー #原宿イベント #着物リメイク 
ファッションイベント HelenCastillo
五月なのに、秋色🍂 日中は汗ばむくらいなのに、 夕方になるとふっと涼しくなる🌬️ この季節のそのギ 五月なのに、秋色🍂

日中は汗ばむくらいなのに、
夕方になるとふっと涼しくなる🌬️
この季節のそのギャップが、なんか好き♡

深みのある金茶とテラコッタ。
春の光に当てると、
秋色が美しく見える気がします✨

朝晩の肌寒さには、シルクの羽織りがちょうどいい。

It’s May — and yet, fall hues🍂

Warm enough to break a sweat by noon,
then a cool breeze sneaks in by evening🌬️

I kind of love that about this time of year♡

Rich amber and terracotta.
Something about spring light makes these autumn tones look even more beautiful✨

For those cool mornings and evenings,
a silk haori is just right.

Photographer @renphoto
Model @hotpotpancakes

#着物ガウン #春コーデ #アースカラー #サステナブルファッション #アップサイクル kimonostyle
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