DREAMS DO COME TRUE || CROCHETED DRESS TO BE FEATURED IN MILAN ITALY'S FASHION SHOW!

Right after celebrating Christmas, I received a bulk order from one of my clients. This was her third order since 2020. Her first order consisted of three sets of crochet wearables, which she repeated for her second order. But this time I was blown away when she told me that my crochet dresses would be featured in her fashion show in Milan, Italy! (Such a big GIFT from above.🥰)

Isn't that great? That someone had finally trusted my skill in crocheting and decided to introduce my handmade crocheted dresses in fashion world? Well, I doubt it if she will let my name be known, because she's planning to sell it to the market and that prospect buyers will only find the specific items in her store alone. It means all my crochet dresses cannot be made for other customers that is coming straight from me. The designs will be exclusively for her store only. But it's not really a big deal for me, I think. What's important for me is that finally someone big believes and trusted my capabilities when it comes to crocheting. I know it will be an eye opener to anyone who under estimate my hobby just like my last post, regarding some family members who thinks my crocheting was useless. God had given me the chance of proving them not to underestimate and compare everyone's capabilities. We all shine in our own unique way. We have different paths to take and I had decided which path to walk.

Anyway, back to my client, she had ordered 11 crochet dresses to be featured in her fashion show that will be held in Milan, Italy this coming February 25-26.

So I had a month and 2 weeks to prepare all her orders. But the problem during that time was, I can't ordered from an online app (SHOPEE) where I usually ordered my yarns because it banned Visayas and Mindanao regions due to the effects of typhoon Odette. So what I did first is to search some online sellers on Facebook. I remembered messaging them one by one, asking their pricelist and all available colors. Another problem was that they can't provide the actual picture of the colors and some sellers don't have all the colors I want. Then I remembered another online app (LAZADA) and started to look for yarns. I decided to use spun polyester since a lot of crocheter had recommended this type of yarn because it's shinny. I was happy to fine some spun polyester and ordered 500grams each color. I only find 6 available colors and decided to look the other 5 colors on other Facebook yarn sellers.

My purchase was made on the 1st week of January and the yarns arrived on the 2nd week of the said month leaving me 4 weeks to do the magic. Well, I can't make 3 crochet dresses in a week! So I asked my 2 sisters (back home) for a help. Good thing they know how to crochet also. Sister Jen had an online work at home and sister Judy had stopped schooling since she decided to transfer here in Negros instead of continuing her nursing course in Cebu.

By the way, when the yarns arrived (the one I ordered in LAZADA), I was frustrated. It's not spun polyester but an indophil type of yarns. Though it felt so soft and lighter, but still it's not the type I wanted. Time is running out if I have to order another sets of colors in spun polyester since it takes 5-6 days to arrive upon ordering. Plus I don't want these yarns go to waste and the money I spent. I scan again the online app to check the yarns I ordered and was SHOCKED because the seller had CHANGED the name of the yarns from SPUN POLYESTER to INDOPHIL. Wow! I felt betrayed. But then, I don't have the time to argue or anything. And I just think that "EVERYTHING HAS ITS REASON". So the other colors of yarns from other seller arrived and it's what I expected, the shinny spun polyester yarns.

(These pictures were taken just to show you the changes that the seller had made after I purchased the yarns.)

I asked my client about the measurements of the models (like bust, waist, hips, arm, armhole, length of top part and skirt part). But she was unable to give all the necessary measurements needed and able to give only 7 out of 11 models' measurements.

So what I did is to think of a way, where everything is adjustable (the sleeve and the opening of the dresses on both sides and some are on the front).

The designs of the dresses will be all the same with different kinds of appliques. I design the dress with my own pattern and my client had approved it but she's the one who told me to put some appliques like stars, hearts, cherries, and more. But I decide what appliques be sewn on a particular color of dress.

To cut the story, I made 5 crocheted dresses while my sisters made 3 dresses each of them. I mostly made all the appliques and sewn it all on the dresses.

We were able to sent it on time (I guess) to my client in US through DHL Express last Tuesday. We paid P10,192.00 pesos ($200) for the shipping fee which was shouldered by my client of course. And I was hoping that everything will be perfectly okay during the fashion show.

And here are some sneak peek on our crocheted dresses we made and I would love to hear your comments, reactions, conclusions or suggestions if you have.

After I made some pictorials with the dresses I thought of putting some extension on the inside of the opening of the dress so that no skin will show if the model tend to be bigger than the dress.

This post is to inspire also other crafters to never surrender your dreams. DREAMS DO COME TRUE. God bless everyone. 🥰

(All the photos are mine except the 2 pictures on the above showing the changes of the name of the yarn.)