Sew Much Talent

by angela
Wednesday, May 7, 2008

In a plan to manufacture their Detroit-based clothing line, Wound, Sarah Lapinski, 30, and Sarah Lurtz, 26, opened Motor City Sewing factory inside the lofty Russell Industrial Center in January 2007. Albeit an eventful and pretty successful year including a large fashion show in Eastern market featuring a full collection designed and produced completely by the Sarahs, national and local magazine press from Metro.Pop, Twist and Nylon and wholesale boutique sales, Wound has been in park for a while now. The factory, however, is in full throttle.

While Lurtz bid adieu to the line in fall '07, (she still frequents the factory to help her best friend, Lapinski), her former partner has kept the factory going with scissors, thread and determination. "If I can be a part of being a business owner, and keep an interesting place to work for other people," Lapinski says, "I will."

The factory, a 1,000 square foot space filled with vintage to newer sewing machines, a long wooden cutting table, a rainbow of thread spools, patterns and fabrics is now home to 5-10 clients. One couple moved from California to Detroit to begin production of their denim line out of Motor City Sewing after seeing a video of the factory on web-based video site, Youtube.com. Lapinski offers consultation, sourcing, pattern drafting, sample sewing and cut and sew production through M.C.S and is keeping busy with the list of jobs she currently has. She hopes to hire a labor force in the future to up production. Here's what else she had to say...

So when last we talked about the biz, you were running things on the solo tip as the owner and head woman in charge at Motor City Sewing. What are the latest projects you've got going on there?

Things have been in transition. Including "who I am as a designer". I don't think many people around here are quite ready to go into manufacturing nor am I able to keep a full time production staff. The "denim couple" in the Russell and getting things together so they can hit the ground running- (they're) ones to watch, definitely. I'm rooting for them. For now, the factory is a dream studio. So many machines to play on, the massive cutting table to roll things around on and the other bees in the hive that make the Russell spin and churn. I've been tossing around the idea of holding classes in patternmaking and "so-you-wanna-be-a-fashion-designer." I know a few wonderful craftspeople to head such and such up. I share the space with designer, Jeanine Shinoda, an architect by trade.

Now the company is still quite small so you may be willing to hustle a little harder in order to keep things going, no?

As a small business or entrepreneur type, you have to be flexible, ready to move on a dime. It's much easier, and necessary for survival, for a small biz to react to changes. I cover a small, niche market here, and their needs, skills and abilities are changing, as well. Besides, you gotta keep it interesting... cast nets and respond to the current situation to remain viable.

So aside from that full time gig, you spend a lot of time on other fashion/art projects around town. You helped create the Comme des Garçons display at the MOCAD (which was AMAZING by the way) and created the entrance for their 'Be In Art' benefit.

I enjoy the small projects that come through, such as the Comme (des Garçons) wall and the MOCAD 'Be In Art' entrance. I'll be kicking up dust at the "Considering Detroit" exhibition at MOCAD with the Time Stereo crew. Can't say yet whether it will be wearable fashions, but I need to come up with something quick! For the Sunday classes with kids, during the exhibit, I will be crafting up super hero costumes with different powers to make Detroit the best city to live in. I've also done curtains and weddings, besides the small production runs. Also, the incentive package for the film industry presented by the Michigan Film Commission has attracted a lot of movies to the area. I'd love to pick up some wardrobe or costuming assignments.

Now, you're one gal who, despite her passion for fashion and creative talent, has stayed planted here in "the D" while others seem to flock to bigger cities with a, well, more thriving fashion scene and more stable economic state. What is it about Detroit that keeps you around?

I stay in Detroit primarily because Davin (her husband) and I bought a house when I wasn't looking. I swear he tricked me! It was during Detroit People Mover fashion show madness. My head wasn't on right, but I couldn't have left Lurtzie, (Sarah Lurtz) at that time, anyway. So going back a little further, I would say the (Pure Detroit) Design Lab was also responsible for keeping a hook in me. I do have so many great friends and networks here and great things are afoot, besides wildly talented and interesting folk.

Do you miss Wound? I know lots of people miss Wound. I heard you girls, (including Sarah Lurtz) might do a few tees. True or false?

As for a return to Wound... at the moment I'm waiting for inspiration. Another facet to continuing operations, is finding a trustworthy, experienced business manager. I hope the lovers will still be there if or when I do make a triumphant return. Tees are definitely a possibility. Is that oxymoronic? I truly love Wound and designing menswear- the market is sooo hot right now. Guys are much more free in their personal expression through clothes; very exciting for a designer. It's time to regroup, get a solid business plan and raise some funds. Detroit Renaissance Inc. has been talking about initiatives they're planning, overall, to enrich and transform the region, and the fashion community is on their minds.

Also, I heard a rumor about a jewelry line you've concocted with some very interesting charms. What's up with that?

I'll be selling killer jewelry online at etsy.com. They are must-haves. Look for Woundlette...

For more information, check out Motorcitysewing.net.