Where To Find The Hudson Valley Etsy Team This Weekend

We got one big event for you this weekend. Yours truly, Meerwiibli by Sarah-Maria aka The Tailored Mermaid, will be participating in the Garrison Fine Crafts Fair for the 3rd year in a row (though I guess that's not anywhere near their anniversary - the fair has been an annual event for the last 45 years!

The Tailored Mermaid

We will be at the fair, which is located in Garrison, NY, right on the Landing by the Hudson, selling the Meerwiibli line as well as a selection of women's clothing and accessories by the wonderful group of designers we carry at our brick and mortar location in Beacon (which will be open all weekend as well). The fair is this Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, from 10AM-5PM.

Meerwiibli by Sarah-Maria

Happy shopping and hope to see you there!

In The Press!

Just wanted to  pop in and share some press that a couple of our members have received recently....

Elena from Elena Rosenberg fame was recently featured on Wag Magazine Online

Sarah Maria from Meerwiibli recently had her pieces included in a Fall Fashion shoot for Chronogram Magazine

Have You Seen This?

The seasons are changing, we're digging out the cold weather clothes - happy to see some old favorites and wondering if it's time to let go of that old raggedy skirt that you have worn into the ground.  There's also the holidays coming on, sooner than we're ready for, and the party clothes could use an upgrade.  Myself, I have just 40 lbs of tonnage and I have hungry eyes for some new things for my incredibly empty closet.

Check this out!  Color, pattern and style wrapped (excuse the pun) in a modern design that can be dressed up or down to take you anywhere.  Nice simple neck with a purple landing spot for a fabulous statement necklace.  Boots or pumps could rock this.  I love this dress!  (PS - does anyone else covet that beautiful red hair on the model?)  When you go to the listing be sure to click into the back view too.  It is spectacular.

Zig Zag Wrap Dress

This fashion gem comes from Meerwiibli by Sarah-Maria of Phoenicia, NY.  Merwiibli means "mermaid" in Swiss-German and Sarah-Marie says she has been sewing since she was a little girl.  Just the sort of passion and experience that would produce such  blazing hot wearable art.

Have You Seen This?

I know, I know.  In this heat wave who wants to even think about a jacket.  Right now we're interested in putting as little clothing on as we can get away with in public.  But I'm telling you, that snap of chill in the air is just around the corner and when it comes, you are going to want something, light, cute that still reminds you of summer and colorful fun.  This stylin' little item is a red and white, (some of my favorite colors) mixed pattern/mixed fabric short jacket with a peplum and Elizabethan sleeves that button up with red snaps.  It's perfect for jeans and would dress up any old shift dress for work or dinner.  Made by Sarah-Maria Vischer of Merrwiibili in Phoencia, New York, her Etsy shop is stocked with many, stylish, hip items to bump up any wardrobe.  Check her out!

Panning Stripes Red and White Jacket

Labeling Handmade Garment

by Lyudmila Klebansky (WoolSolution)

When I started selling my knitwear on Etsy two things bothered me:

How to label my knitwear? and What info to put on the labels?

In my research I found that according FTC rules all handmade garment has to be labeled using general industry standards. I don’t know how strict the FTC rules are and I don’t want to find out.

So, Here is a summary:

The FTC requires your labels permanently attached to the garment and include 4 things:

1. Name of the company or RN number
I decided to use my Etsy userId and plan to brand my business under this name;

2. Fiber content in descending order by percentage
That’s why I use yarn from well known manufacturer like Zegna Baruffa. I can always go to it’s website and verify technical spec using manufacturer’s label.
“But I don’t know the fiber content!” You might say. Let me just say this – if you are selling garments you made, it is now your job to write down the fiber content when you buy yarn or fabrics. Writing it on the receipt (which you will keep) is a good idea.

3. Country of Origin
That’s the tricky one. Most people do not realize that “made in USA” cannot be used by most of us sewing/knitting in the USA. Even if you handmade the garment in USA, your fabric/yarn was most likely imported because very few mills operate in the USA today. Once again, it is your job to write down the country of origin info when you buy yarn or fabric. And if you don’t really know the origin of the material just put on your labels “made in USA of imported fabric/yarn” .

4. Care instructions or how to wash it
You are not allowed to just say “dry clean only” when the garment is really machine washable. You really should find out the best way to wash your garments and list just one washing method. For most of my knitwear I usually say something like this: “Hand wash warm, dry flat”

In my next post I'll share with you what I've learned from Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC ) website and Etsy forums with this topic.