Apparently ... it was SEW ME! I've been going to these kind of shows for quite a few years. Generally I find that they are a variety of crafty pursuits - mainly attracting females. There have been a number of name changes over the years - either with the Newcastle or the Sydney shows / expos / fairs - "Stitches and Craft" "Craft and Quilt" etc.
I think that variety in any pursuit is a good thing. So these shows cover patchwork, quilting, beading, scrapbooking, yarns, dyes, laces, haberdashery, bag making, and so on - essentially just about every craft need is generally covered. When this show was advertised - I noted that the name had changed to "Craft and Sewing Show", well, at least I didn't think it was called that last year? Anyway, with the word "sewing" featured prominently and the fact that "It's Sew You!", I was a bit more excited than usual this year - sewing - YAY!
OK. Well it didn't take to long to realise that this was just another craft show. Yes, there was variety, but I am perplexed about the lack of attention to the dressmakers amongst us. How many sewing blogs are there out there in the sewing world? How many great new exciting independent pattern makers are there out there? How great is the interest in sewing clothing? Well, from my perspective - HEAPS and HEAPS and HEAPS!!!
Why aren't the pattern companies interested in promoting their products in these arenas? All of the sewing machine brands were there .... and, as I did my time on the
Sewing Guild stand - the question we were most often asked was "Where is the best place to buy good fabric?". The Craft and Sewing Show had tonnes and tonnes of fabric to buy .... patchwork fabric that is .... where were the fashion fabric retailers?
Of course, there aren't many independent fabric retailers left in our local area - but there are a few. I know that we have a large national store that sells fabric and just about everything else that sewing folk need - and that's great - but where were they? I just see so much need in our community for people who want to learn to sew, and for those who want to sew clothes and learn new techniques and to get great results .....
so many opportunities .... the
TEXSTYLE exhibition (a selection of the Senior Textiles Students major projects) is a case in point - fabulous creativity and technical skills - this section of the Craft Show attracts hundreds and hundreds of high school students - they come to be inspired and to go home ready to create ..... after the exhibition they wander around the rest of the show - do they see fabulous fashion inspired creations, tools, materials?
 |
| http://www.craftfair.com.au/Sydney2011/app/pages/view/texstyle8/ | |
I know that it is very expensive to have a stall at these shows - and that the energy involved in setting up and organising is quite immense - I also realise that internet shopping has changed the way people prefer to purchase - and for many people they really don't have the luxury of choice .... but I do see these shows as a great opportunity to promote garment making skills.
So there you have it - my rant for the year ....I'd love to know what you think ......
Posts
