We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Molli Kate Vinson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Molli Kate below.
Hi Molli Kate, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When I was 10 my aunt started teaching me how to sew. For a 10 year old I would say I was pretty good, but quickly grew bored of having to choose patterns that other had made and I had to follow. So little Molli Kate started drawing her own designs and showing them to anyone that would look. Did I ever make any of them? No. But it was fun to think about.
I DID, however, make clothes for my cats! Pet clothes weren’t really a thing back then but I wanted them to be able to dress up for Halloween too! So I made costumes for them and they fit (mostly). As I grew up I continued to make costumes for halloweens and themed parties for friends and family. My biggest Halloween projects include a 9 piece Alice in Wonderland in 2013, a 9 piece Disney Princess (and prince) in 2014, and a hand beaded flapper dress in 2015. All of which I started in June or July of that year and worked up until the day of to complete.
Fast forward to college. Went to the local community college for teaching because it was a “real job” and I was good at it. The program was 2×2 so I would do 2 years at the community college and then finish 2 more years at the University. But when it came time to sign up for classes I saw that apparel design was an option! And that’s when it first clicked in my head that making clothes can be a REAL job!
Molli Kate, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
While I was in college, I started getting involved in my local theatres thanks to the help of my high school’s theatre teachers.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith gave me my first opportunity to make a “real” costumes. Belle’s dresses from beauty and the beast. I thought it was the best thing on the planet. Looking back now I would change SO MANY things but hey, that’s growth. Since then I’ve been able to work with 3 different theatres on 6 different shows between 2016-2020. Covid has put a bit of a damper on the theatre world so I’m excited to see what my next show will be.
In my free time you can catch me making other things like “character inspired headbands” (if you know, you know), imperial officer hat for the 501st, pocket princesses (princess inspired hair ribbons), earrings, necklaces, festive garland for every holiday, cat toys and yes, cat clothes. I call myself a “maker of things” because if you want it made, there’s a good chance I can make it for you.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
A lot of people don’t realize how much it costs to get started and stay afloat once you get there. I know in my experiences, folks want to pay for the products at cost. Especially in costume design and building, it ISNT CHEAP. Materials are expensive! So when you come to the client and so it’s going to be $200 and they say “for a tiny dress?!” Well yes. Because it costs $80 in materials alone, that’s not including gas money when I have to go back to the store because you want to change something, thread, and needles, electricity, and my time (which believe it or not is valuable). So when a maker charges you “too much” know that it was HANDMADE for you with their actual blood, sweat, and most of the time tears.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Peoples faces when you hand them their product, or the first time they try it on. Especially if it was custom made. Or the audiences faces when they reveal the “big” outfit everyone’s been waiting on. It’s priceless.
Contact Info:
- Website: Mollimakes.com
- Instagram: MolliMakes
- Facebook: Molli Makes