I found a tagging gun!

The trouble with being an indie designer is that the supply chain for us “little gals” is pretty non-existent. Couple that with the fact that so much sewn manufacturing is now being exported… makes it really difficult to find reliable sources for silly things like tags and a tagging gun! (Just ask modkids about her tag drama!)

Thank goodness for Google and DSL. This would have been totally impossible for me ten years ago. But on the internet (a.k.a., my lifeline), I found a company in California that has some lower minimums for fabric runs. I found a tags from a woman in Florida, a cut and sew company in Toronto that works with small manufacturers, and I found my tagging guns on a online catalog.

It sounds like a little thing but trust me, buy a tagger new. Don’t make the mistake of trying to save a few bucks with a used one on eBay. If they’ve been damaged or misused in any way, they have a tendency to jam. Believe my previously stabbed finger, it’s not worth the savings. Anyway, a whole kit is only 20 bucks.

You’re going to have to get refill fasteners and needles for it (they are not interchangeable). So when you find a reliable source for a quality tagging gun and supplies, bookmark that baby! Shhh… here’s mine!

If you need some help on picking the right one, I found this really helpful page on how to pick a tagging gun.

Tag away, friends!

Now I realize there is a huge difference between a sewing as a hobby and actually trying to sell my stuff. There’s no way I’m going to make each little shirt and dress by hand myself. I’m just not that good.

I found this great book called The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing by Kathleen Fasanella. I haven’t been online much since I’ve been devouring whole this book like bread. I realize how much work it will be to do this right and of course, I have to do it right. So I have to decide if I’m going to go the GOAT/WOAT (graphics and words on a shirt) route, as Kathleen likes to say or… really make something original.

I just got back from New York… how I love the city in the spring! Went crazy in the fabric stores. It was just like Project Runway! OMG, how to choose. I ended up with $100 worth of dreamy cotton jersey blends in colors like sherbet flavors. Now what will I do with it all. I guess I should teach myself how to sew.