From a hobby of sewing, and love for creating fashionable items, Michelle Peilech of Sly Scarves designs, produces circle scarves and accessories. Each scarf is handmade, from fabric bought right here in Manitoba. Each piece is unique and of premium quality, and is sewn, knitted or crocheted by Michelle and other local craftswomen that include her mom, Gramma and Auntie. The name ‘SLY’ stands for her mom’s initials.

Watch Michelle on CTV News demonstrating the many ways to tie, wrap and wear a scarf here.

Although similar product can be found at large retailers, Sly Scarves creates a better quality, more desired product at a lower price.  In 2012, they started selling their product to friends and family, and the word spread through their connections through word-of-mouth. They now sell their product online through their website and Etsy Shop, at craft shows and is available at A Pinch of Creativity, located at 296 McDermot Ave, in the Exchange District. Their loyal following appreciates their brand and special touches they put into each product – such as the logo, packaging and gift wrapping.

Michelle believes in supporting local businesses and putting revenue back into the local economy to enrich the community we live in. With so many talented and skilled local producers in Winnipeg, creating opportunities to make a living through their support will provide a much more sustainable economy.

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Prynce Clothing is an independent, high fashion brand founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2015. At Prynce Clothing  they find their true success in being able to create apparel that individuals can relate to not only because of our eye-catching designs but also because of the message our clothing line portrays. Prynce Clothing focuses mainly on custom, cut and sewn items, keeping an eye on style and quality, as well as creativity. They strive to keep their products exclusive by mixing an African and European style, colourful patterns that reflect hope, determination and most of all self-motivation.

Prynce Clothing
Website: http://www.prynceclothing.com

What was your first fashion job?
I started as a brand ambassador for a clothing line in Quebec City.

What is your management style?
Participative.

What lessons have you learned since starting?
I learned that you can’t please everybody and as long as you believe in yourself you will achieve anything.

What motivates you? What is your passion?
Making my mom proud is what motivates me the most and my passion is to keep making designs that people relate to while playing my role in making the world a better place.

How would you describe your personal style?
Laid back.

What does the slogan “Hunt or Starve” mean to you?
Hunt or Starve to me is a mentality and a way of life that I created for people that are hungry to achieve their goals and dreams no matter what. I was inspired by the Kenyan Massai tribes that believe in if you don’t hunt you won’t EAT.

What do you do like to do for fun?
Play Basketball and spend quality time with my love ones.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone starting their own business?
Make sure to study the field and ask a lot of questions.

Do you have a favourite quote?
”Once you make it to your point of making it, you’ll appreciate the struggle”- Nas

What are you wearing?
Black Biker Jeans, Red Extended Sweatshirt with side zippers and the original Prynce Hoodie.

What or who is your fashion inspiration?
Kanye West and Lavar Ball because of the way they think.

Best style tip you have ever heard:
Invest in quality -it will last WAY longer.

Favourite place to shop – in Winnipeg and/or other city
I usually try to wear my brand most of the time but when i really want something new I shop at Zachee Mode.

What was the first piece of clothing you designed?
It was our original white Tee, it came with the big lion face screen printed on the front.

Do you remember your first customer?
It was friends and family.

What categories of product does Prynce Clothing design and sell?
Screen printed Unisex T-Shirts and custom, limited edition garments. We keep our exclusivity by making our product in limited quantities.

Where can Prynce Clothing be purchased?
The brand is available on my website here at the moment, but will definitely be in stores all around the world mostly in Canada and the US.

Which local Instagram accounts do you follow?
Scam Skate
Hair Estate
BombShorts
Elvis James
Shopology Project
Friday Knights
206TO204

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?
Probably studying information system or working for someone that followed his dream.

Connect with Prynce Clothing:

Everyone loves fleece. Pam McIntyre the owner and designer, and maker of Funky Fleece knows this very well. Her line of fleece blankets, wraps, ponchos, scarves, mitts, hats, bags, and accessories are for women, girls, babies and even dogs!  It was a little hard placing her in one category on Shopology Project, because she is the designer, the maker and the shop!

She also is a master at packing up her store and popping up at local hospitals and trade shows throughout the year. Check out all the places she will be in 2017 here.

What lessons have you learned since starting?

I have learned to always talk to listen to my customers and Aldo observe them interacting while shopping in my booth. I have created new products based on what they’ve communicated with me – they are my biggest inspiration!

What motivates you? What is your passion?

I love print and colour and easy to care for fabrics that make kids excited and are practical (and fun!) for moms.

How would you describe your personal style?

COMFY! If it’s casual and low-key I’m wearing it ?

What do you do like to do for fun?

Spending time with my awesome friends, and adult kids….and TRAVEL!

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give someone starting their own business?

Do what you LOVE…and start slow and small and build and grow. Always listen and learn from your customer base – they are your best teachers. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are learning tools.

Do you have a favourite quote?

“You have this one life…make it count”

Favourite place to shop?

Too many to mention – I have bits and pieces from everywhere. But I love shopping local and handmade from my shows!

What was the first piece of clothing you designed?

Baby Buntings and Girls Ponchos

Do you remember your first customer?

My friends supported me first! But I do have loyal first customers who still contact me for their baby gift giving…even after 14 years in business ?

Which local Instagram accounts do you follow?

emk clothing
Shopology Project
Coal & Canary
Out Of The Blue
Pinch of Creativity
Jenna Rae Cakes
Scattered Seeds
Market Burger
Winnipeg Jets

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing?

Still be going my old “real job” – Dental Hygienist

Check out Funky Fleece’s website here if you are looking for cozy, original, fleece clothing and accessories for you and your family!

The Importance of Tech Pack design is a must-do step of apparel production.  Tech pack design is related to pattern design, sample development and apparel production. This phase can not be ignored in any way for any successful design of the sample or production piece. If you are looking for a designer for your product line you must choose the technical designer wisely for preparing tech packs.

Many Clothing designers and new apparel Brands confuse between spec sheet and tech pack. Most believe both are the same. However, both are quite different.

What is a Specification Sheet?

A specification sheet contains the measurement details of a particular style that a clothing manufacturer needs to prepare the pattern. Some specification sheets also provide the measurement gradation between sizes and give the detailed size gradation for the garments. However, it does not say other details that goes in to apparel style detailing.  Below is an example of a garment specification sheet. As you can see on the image the measurement spec sheet only reveals on measurement parameters. This only helps in creating the garment patterns and sample development.

What is A Tech Pack ?

So you must be wondering if we can use the measurement spec sheet to prepare the sample then why we need a tech pack ?  Most apparel brands and clothing designers make the mistake by understanding measurement spec sheet is all the same as a tech pack.  Tech Pack is a detailed instruction to create apparel starting from scratch. You must specify fabric details, washing and wash care, prints, labeling, packaging, – every small and important detail you can provide to a clothing manufacturer to  make sure your production piece comes right. This gives complete information about the garment style to clothing manufacturer and will reduce time to produce and minimize costly errors and oversights.

Purpose of a tech pack

• Integrates all information that a manufacturer needs to produce your garment
• Ensures manufacturer and apparel brand are on the same page
• Leads to more accuracy and fewer rejections
• Saves time and money
• Protects against misinterpretation on style detailing
• Expressively improves efficiency and productivity
• Works as a de-facto contract between manufacturer and the client

What exactly do you include in a clothing tech pack?

• Rendered illustration – flat sketch ( front view – back view )
• Color combo – various color options of the garments
• Stitching & construction detailing (both front and back and close ups on features)
• Graphic /print detailing including Pantone color (style dependent)
• Embroidery/appliqué /other embellishment detailing
• Washing instructions
• Trims & packaging details
• Branding details
• Graphical measurement details with spec sheet pointers
• Measurement spec sheet and size gradation

It comes as no surprise that most professional and reputed garment manufacturing units insist on having well-constructed apparel tech packs to maximize productivity.

If you need assistance in creating your tech packs, please email us at shopology@mymts.net and we can provide you with a quote to create your tech pack.

Tech Pack Design Process

1. You may send sketches or any inspirational pictures of your style(s) to create technical apparel design (Tech Pack and Spec Sheet)
2. We would first proceed with styling and submit the flat sketch to you  for approval and your comments and inputs
3. We provide all technical apparel design files through Adobe Reader (PDF) files and Spec Sheet in Excel sheet
4. Once we receive the comments and inputs we would then proceed with modification
5. Give the final flats for approval
6. We then require the colorways for the style(s)
7. Once the flat sketch are approved and colorways for the styles are finalized, we would proceed with the Technical Design of the garments
8. We would require the logo, trims design and branding detailing from your end (Vector file preferred) if you have these created (If not and you want us to do the branding for you we would do it).
9. Once the flat sketches are approved and we proceed with the tech pack detailing , we would not accept any changes in between, as we have to change the whole detailing all over again

Winnipeg Stitch Factory Ltd.
Phone: 204-942-5203
Owner: Julie Land

Winnipeg Stitch Factory is an apparel manufacturing studio that focuses on “Made in Winnipeg”, Canadian ethical production. They are all about community with a mission to sustain the on-shore industry. They offer product development and cut and sew programs to Canadian companies and local fashion designers.

Julie and her team can help designers develop their products through pattern making, sample making and manufacturing. With no minimums, the Winnipeg Stitch Factory can do one to thousands of units. With a focus on streamlining product development, Winnipeg Stitch Factory can help you create the clothing line, for wholesale or retail, corporate or anything you dream of.

Winnipeg Stitch Factory has worked with many local Winnipeg fashion designers such as:

     

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