Sunday Spotlight: Papoose Clothing

Welcome back to Sunday Spotlight, where every week a new artist is featured! This week I had the opportunity to chat with the lovely Ashley of Papoose Clothing.

Ribboned Turkey Dress by Papoose Clothing on Etsy

Ashley makes the most darling children's clothing which are certain to be treasured and passed down through generations, like the adorable ribboned turkey dress shown above. She was kind enough to answer some questions regarding her works.

Tell us a little about your craft, and how you got started: I am the designer and creator for Papoose Clothing, a line of vintage inspired children’s clothing and accessories. Though I knew how to sew from my mom teaching me at a young age, it wasn’t until college when I perfected my skills and really fostered a love of the craft. I continued making clothes for myself after graduation, but I didn’t take myself seriously until I began fashioning pieces for sweet little niece. I fell in love with designing and creating children’s clothing, and opening up a shop felt like a natural step. 

Short Sleeve Peplum Dress with Ruffle Bib by Papoose Clothing on Etsy

 

What inspires you every day?  Nature will always be an inspiration to me, whether it is a positive and beautiful experience or one that is not so enjoyable but still breathtaking. Living in the Mississippi Gulf Coast, hurricane season is a way of life, not to mention basically two seasons: hot and arid or hot and humid. Besides that, good music, old movies, and anything vintage will always tug at my heartstrings and influence my designs.

What else do you enjoy in your spare time?  I love to read, and I have a slight book collection problem. Amazon beckons me even now with my ever-growing wish list. I also have a Netflix addiction. My husband and I love to watch series together, and we are currently watching every X-Files episode. He’s actually already asked me several times today when we were going to watch the next episode.

 

Cats and Dogs Long Sleeve Bib Dress by Papoose Clothing on Etsy

What is YOUR favorite item that you’ve made? I have to say the Cats and Dogs Long Sleeve Bib Dress with Peter PanCollar from the Midnight Moon collection is my favorite item right now. I based the entire Autumn/ Winter collection off of that adorable fabric print, and it’s my favorite dress design I’ve created so far. I think it has the best mix of whimsy and imagination without being too ridiculous to wear.

Give your words of wisdom to other artisans and crafters:  I wish I would have known the importance of branding and setting yourself up for success before opening a shop. I have been learning and growing continuously these past three years, but things could have gone so much smoother if I had known beforehand who my target audience was, what precisely I was trying to cultivate and create, and how to price items correctly. I understood the artistic side but not the business side, so read up and learn as much as you can ahead of time while you also create and stock up on items for the big opening day!

Ashley's designs are both charming and timeless. I so wish I had a little girl to dress in one of these stunning outfits! (Although I do have some nieces that may end up receiving one as a holiday gift!) Ashley is currently offering FREE domestic shipping for the month of October - just use coupon code "SHIPITTOME" at checkout.

You can also find Ashley's designs online at her website, Papoose Clothing, which shows the entire current collection and more information. Also, be sure to stop by and give her some love on Facebook. 

Find Papoose Clothing here:

www.papooseclothing.com
www.papooseclothing.blogspot.com
www.etsy.com/shop/papooseclothing
www.facebook.com/papooosechildrensclothing
www.pinterest.com/papooseclothing
www.instagram.com/papooseclothing