What’s The Difference?
Last year, the Bluff Pocket Blazer in Prairie Roze won the Made In Alberta Awards fashion category. On the application form, Natalie Gerber and I were asked what makes our product different from other similar products. After snapping photos of the prize winner’s companion, Peoniez, in Alberta’s Red Rock Coulee last week, I realized I hadn’t yet shared with you all the details that make these little botanical beauties so very special.
1) Fabric
The base fabric is a textured natural 100% linen, which has been certified Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX to be free from harmful substances. The design is hand sketched by Natalie herself, and the yardage for each blazer is printed to order in her Calgary studio by a two-person team. The printing system is water-based, PVC and phthalate free, low in VOCs, and uses solvent-free inks. The jacket is fully lined in 100% Italian silk charmeuse so it feels as good as it looks.
2) Involvement
I hand make each blazer personally, with the help of my production assistant. In the fashion industry, designers are often far removed from the manufacturing process. But being integral to the making of my jackets allows me to solve problems that result in a better made and better fitting garment, and create efficiencies that result in a very high value-for-price ratio. I have wear tested this garment, as I do all of my designs to refine the fit and make it truly exceptional. Thoughtful details like the inside chest pocket have come from an owner who designs, makes, and wears her products.
3) Connection
Clients are offered a private shopping appointment to try on and discuss customization options and determine fit personally with the designer and pattern maker. They and anyone interested can see the blazers being made in our publicly accessible studio in cSPACE and engage with those making them. They can see photos and videos of the manufacturing process, blog posts offering styling tips, and material origin and manufacturing credits on our website. We offer better than just a blazer made in a foreign country by an unreachable stranger, it is an experience and a relationship we care deeply about.
4) Customization
Clients can create something truly one-of-a-kind with us. Common fit issues are avoided and every size and shape is celebrated via personalized fit. Clients can enhance the standard design with a unique lining colour choice, or the addition of contrast piping along the facing edge. This type of variance and celebration of the individual is extremely rare in the women's outerwear category, but each blazer looks like it was made specifically for the client, her shape, and tastes... because it was.
5) Sustainability
My devotion to a sustainable business model means we only create to order instead of wasting materials on the gamble of ready-to-wear. We have a low waste sampling process where every stage of new design testing results in a complete, saleable garment, instead of a shell that is disposed of. If a muslin is required to test fit on a client, we salvage larger pieces for press cloths and smaller pieces are donated to Shona Rae Studios, where they are made into rag dolls. We also donate all of the off cuts of these blazers. Larger pieces are returned to Natalie for her remnants sale and those remaining are donated to the Maria Montessori preschool in cSPACE for use in student collage projects.
Jacket: Bluff Pocket Blazer in Peoniez
Photos: Ken Heinbecker
