We were lucky to catch up with Amy Schelton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

As a small, home based, one person designer, it is incredibly difficult to compete from a price point with mass manufacturing (i.e. fast fashion). I have to purchase everything retail, including trims, fabrics, embellishments, etc and will never have the buying power or ability to produce a product that competes from a financial standpoint.

Most people like the idea of having something “custom made” or a one of kind piece of clothing; however, they struggle to understand why the cost would be more than something out of a traditional retailer.

Comments like “I can just get something from (insert major on-line retailers here) happen often, without realizing the difference in quality, construction and individualism, as well as the extraordinary amount of time it takes one person to produce a high quality unique garment.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Having spend most of my life working in corporate America, I found myself in a situation where I needed to step out for approximately a year, due to family demands. During that time, I needed something productive to do that would exercise my brain and utilize my desire for creativity. Having learned basic sewing from my mother, I started to make random clothing items that I felt would stretch my skills and provide a creative outlet. At the urging of my son, I began to post my designs on social media (with the help of my photographer husband) and surprise – people liked them.

The positive response urged me to continue trying different fabrics, different shapes, different styles. I gave myself no boundaries, no guide posts and no rules. This led to my mission statement of “inspiringly selfish design”, creating what I want, how I want, when I want. I do very little commission work, as it then becomes a “job” and not a creative outlet.

I’m inspired by everything from time periods, a color, a textile, a trim to including my latest mini collection that is inspired by standard poodle. My goal is to just have fun, put out something unique and give my followers something interesting to look at.

Ive since, set up an Etsy shop where all my one of a kind designs are available for purchase.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is having the freedom to do whatever I want and create whatever I want. Understanding and accepting the fact that I will not always get a positive response to something I create. was a big hurdle. Being able to share a creation or garment and taking it to the full vision with a model, photographer and hair and makeup completes the entire process for me.

Having the opportunity to explore different styles, looks, designs and just “go for it” is incredibly freeing. My fabric stash has become quite massive and a wonderful textile may sit for a few years before I decide what its going to be. Reaching to the bottom of the stack and pulling out something that feel in love with years ago and seeing that become something wearable is very rewarding.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal or mission is to have fun and enjoy the process. I don’t rush when I’m making something. I’m asked all the time….How long does it take you to make something?. Well, it depends, sometimes a couple days, sometimes a couple of weeks.

At the end of a long or stressful day, I can sit down at my 1961 sewing machine and sew or play with a fabric or trim and honestly feel the stress melt away.

The outlet that it brings me creatively has been a lifesaver. Providing beautiful or interesting garments that people want to wear is the ultimate reward. Nothing describes the feeling of having someone send you a photo wearing something you created and they are living life in it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @costumescouture
• Facebook: @costumescouture
• Other: Etsy shop Costumescoutureshop

Image Credits
Brad Schelton, Abigail Minor, Lauren Voight, Christian Brandt, Madison Pitts, Alexia Valente, Ella McClendon, Esi, Kenzie Clark