Clothing:"Fan" made vs. Company Made

[wannabehokage]

This is something thats been kinda on my mind. As a amature seamstress (i've been sewing for over 10years but i still have a LOT to learn) the thought of what people like best pops in to my head now and again. Most everything that I make for BJD's I sell. I like to design, I love fabric, and am always trying to do diffrent styles. Of which useually dosen't fit my boys. Like many others out there who make clothes and sell them, we are always striveing to make them as 'proffesional' as we have means to do. Finishing seams, lineing, putting down lots of $$$ to buy surgers. But my thoughts still nag at me. Are people more apt to buy something that came from a company? (ie-Volks, Dollheart, Luts, etc.) Then to buy something that would be considered amature or 'fan' made?
What are your guys thoughts on it?
I know what people buy can come down to anything really. Style, color, look, etc. But its a thought that i've had. And After going to one of the osaka dolpa's last year and seeing the fan/amature market there and literally doing a convention 2 days after I got back from japan and seeing the market here. It was something I started to think about.
Ok..so enough rambleing and internal thoughts from me what do you guys think?

[mikan]

Personally i tend to support independent designers, e.g. Hiya (FV Studio - my boys will wear anything she makes!), Nideru, Kellyhime (LavenderKiss), Elena (Sprite & Malice), etc.

I drift towards thinking that more love & thoughts are put into the clothes made by independent designers, but that's for me :oops

Out of all the outfits my two SD13 boys have (not that many though), only one pair of V-jeans and Shirou's Uniform Set are from Volks.

But i think at the end of the day, quality & design matter the most.

Good luck!

[Creative Torpor]

As long as the clothes look professional and are to my tastes, I will buy them whether they are made by a company or by an individual. I tend to swing more towards companies, however, just because I can't be arsed to look through a person's Marketplace thread.

[Brightfires]

As long as the clothes look professional and are to my tastes, I will buy them whether they are made by a company or by an individual. I tend to swing more towards companies, however, just because I can't be arsed to look through a person's Marketplace thread.

Same here... Though I do prowl Marketplace threads, too. :)

Some of my crew wear styles that you just can't find on company sites, or that are very few and far between when you do. In those cases, I don't have a lot of choice. I can either commission the outfit, make it myself... or look for it somewhere other than Iplehouse, Luts, 4D or Volks.

[bishieprince]

As long as the design strikes me and its of good quality, it doesn't matter if its from a company or by an individual person=)

[Taco]

It all depends on how well the clothes are made. So far I've tended to buy more from companies, but I certainly wouldn't rule out buying from an individual if they had stuff I really liked. My suggestion is to make sure you have really good pics of your stuff to show people, so they know how well it's finished and can see the details of your work.

[naughtyfairyspirit]

I sew myself so I've never bought any clothing, but I do a lot of "window shopping" and I do tend to like what the company's have more often than whats in the marketplace. That is usually based on the type of fabric and the quality of the garment, company's have us "home sewers" beat more often than not.

[Aussie grrrl]

I think (as has already been said) it all comes down to quality and design. I sew some clothing myself because I can't find what I want either from a company or "fan made".
If it is different to the usual stuff the companies make and of good quality (not obviously hand made, as in seams not finished, crooked sewing...) then I think it is more likely to be bought, but if its the same old stuff then people are more likely to go for the bigger companies.

[timid]

I'm really new to this, and the only dealer stuff/homemade stuff I've seen is at a recent Dolpa. Most of it looked great, so I'd definitely be interested in buying from independent sellers. I do think it's nice to know who made things like clothes. As it is, however, I've only bought from companies because it's more convenient.

[sgtgeorgecarter]

I have clothing of all grades and from all sources. It simply boils down to whether or not I like the piece at the price.

I have several independent designer's outfits and most of them are better finished than the big companies' garments. They have pride in their work and in their creative process and can afford to take the time for some of the fine details, where a larger operation wouldn't find it cost effective.

It does boil down to word of mouth and good pictures though. You need good pictures to sell.

[Janne]

I tend to buy what I like when it's at a price I like too. (I think this is why several of my little guys are in Dollmore. *^^* It's sort of the JC Penny of doll clothes, for me.)
And I agree that some small sellers' clothing is better made than some companies (although I've bought some very nicely made company clothes, too.)
Loved the artist clothes available at the NY Dolpa this year - but you do pay for that attention to fabric and quality and I'm always watching my dolly dollars.

[sgtgeorgecarter]

I tend to buy what I like when it's at a price I like too. (I think this is why several of my little guys are in Dollmore. *^^* It's sort of the JC Penny of doll clothes, for me.)
And I agree that some small sellers' clothing is better made than some companies (although I've bought some very nicely made company clothes, too.)
Loved the artist clothes available at the NY Dolpa this year - but you do pay for that attention to fabric and quality and I'm always watching my dolly dollars.

LOL it is like JC Penny's isn't it!

Dollheart makes gorgeous items, as does Volks. The fit and finish is first class.

but you do pay for that attention to fabric and quality
Yes you do, and for some people you pay ridiculous money. But it has to be something you really want. At least it does for me.

[Janne]

Dollheart makes gorgeous items, as does Volks. The fit and finish is first class.

I agree, and have to add IpleHouse, CustomHouse, LUTS, Cheerydoll and Ajumapama for quality. When I'm ready to spring for a well-made outfit, I'm always quite happy with them.

For designers, I know I can depend on BittenBefore and Softly She Walks for design, good fabric and solid construction. Mio too, of course.

I do check eBay, but unless the photographs are really good, I'm always afraid the sewing might be unprofessional. I've learned the hard way to steer clear of knock-offs. *^^*

[Karhys]

Company clothing is I guess in general easier to get.. and you can usually count on a certain degree of quality as well. But for stuff made by "fans", the good stuff is really, really good, and more than worth seeking out once you know the quality is there.

I tend to mix and match between both, but I prefer to get from fans or dealers if I am able. I like company stuff but I also have that sort of thing where I don't like my dolls to be wearing what everyone else's dolls are wearing. ;) So in that sense items made in much smaller runs by fans are more appealing too.

That said, the quality of course can really vary. I tend to watch a fan/dealer whose clothing I like before I'll buy from them, and if I consistently like the look of it, then I'll buy something -- usually in the lower price range -- to see the quality in person. Then if it's up to par, I know I can rely on them and buy anything I want from them. :D I've found some really great seamstresses this way who I will always return to and consider first when looking for new items for my boys.
(And if it's not up to par, I'm usually only out a little bit of cash. ;))

Of course, the best way is to be able to see an item in person before you buy it which is why Dolpa events and stuff totally rock. XD I've gotten most of my best stuff at Dolpas.

Personally, I am a total slave to Gloomy Puppet Show (which is a Japanese group of I think 3-4 women) and have been for like four years, and I will pay any price they ask if I like the item. Unfortunately I'm not the only one and their dealer booths at Dolpa get totally overrun. :XD

[Janne]

Your guys dress amazingly well, Karhys! (My guys can only look on in envy!)
I wish we had more fan-made clothing of that style available here in the US. (I know there's a few, like Hitasura's.)

[Kimber Rose]

I am extremely picky these days. I generally buy from companies, but if I can find something of amazing quality, I will buy from independent groups too. But my rule is pretty much that unless it looks like something store-bought, I don't buy it. I'd rather spend $100 on a single outfit that I can mix and match with other things than spend $100 on a bunch of other things that don't fit properly/have fraying threads/uneven seams, etc..

I'm probably becoming a brandwhore, but I feel better when I buy high quality stuff from companies or highly-sought-after designers (who usually seem to be from Japan).

[wannabehokage]

Love what I am hearing so far. I am always striving to be 'professional level'. I know I still have a lot of tricks to learn but the goal is for clean, clean, CLEAN work. I know after seeing what there is to be had at the dolpa's in japan I really want to be at that level. So for me Y!japan is a good inspiration to look at. I fallow a lot of work from the groups Rangetu, Choco Labo, Kirsche Haus, and Candy House. Thanks for all the input, its nice to know what people think. Now back to sewing for me. Less then 3 weeks to dollectable and I have LOTS to sew.

[Agnes]

I think people like buying from other hobbyists directly but you gotta work for your good reputation. After a while, seamstress names get thrown around like company names - people know what you mean whether you say Dollheart or Brennil. I'm willing to pay for nice clothing but I'm also frustrated by how limited individual seamstresses are; frequently they have a number of staples, things like tees, jeans, bland pants, in the interest of selling more, but that means fewer unique outfits and less chance of me finding something I like. Or they stick to BJD cliches like Gothloli, fake Victorian, punk, etc. Aside from being good quality, if you can find a unique niche, it can become a trend that people flock to (Shiroi_Yukiko's kimonos, Kellyhime's dresses...)

Also, if you're trying to be a successful seller, PLEASE be transparent and reliable about your sales schedule. If you have to do pre-order periods, so be it, but do them at the same time each month/season/whatever. Announce them, keep people informed. Nothing I hate more than visiting someone's website every other day for a month with nothing available and finding out half a year later that there was an ordering period but now everything is sold out again. Life's too short; I'm not going to keep refreshing that page forever. This is where companies get my business and seamstresses don't.

[Aussie grrrl]

Of course, the best way is to be able to see an item in person before you buy it which is why Dolpa events and stuff totally rock. XD I've gotten most of my best stuff at Dolpas.

Sucks being in the most isolated capital city in the world sometimes:angry No dolpas or anything remotely like it here in Perth!

[zooji]

i think it's depends on the design & material.
i do bought stuff from companies & seamstresses if i saw something that i like
but i'm also selling on etsy (oopsabi) & post most of my handsew outfits for "re-home" on flickr( http://www.flickr.com/photos/18512362@N03/ ) ^__^

[shelley]

I could never buy clothes from anyone, no matter, a company or an individual, except shoes, simply because of one reason: I like to make them on my own. Even if I see some beautiful outfit and think it would be nice to dress my doll with that, my second thought is always not "let's go and buy it", but "let's go and make something like this on my own".

[Maverynthia]

I've actually started to buy from Etsy for my doll clothes. This is mostly based on price as Volks, Dollmore and all them overprice everything. Like a T-shirt for $30, when the nice hand made one on Etsy is $10....and looks better too. I got a 5 piece outfit from ebay (shirt, vest, coat, pants, hat), hand made for around $34.

Then again, my dolls are personal to me, and thus are not..."trinkets" to put on display to say "My doll is better than all your dolls". Which is the way I see people buying expensive clothes and wigs for their dolls and then ripping other people dolls up for the way they are dressed.
Sure sometimes there is a certain look your going for like military captain and only HZ has the right outfit, but you can do more for less if it's just shirt and pants.

[usagi665]

I would rather have a very well made outfit from an independent seamstress than one from a company. The prices of the companies don't bother me, as I would spend an equal amount if not more from an independent seamstress. I would prefer the seamstress because it would ensure my outfit is fairly unique.

[XinAn]

I buy clothing for where ever as long as they are well made, the origin shouldn't be the sole factor in my view. ^__^

[OolooKitty]

I would like to buy from independent designers, as I don't want my doll to look like anyone else's. However, if I see an outfit I like from a store or doll maker, and it suits my doll, I would certainly buy that too...

[OolooKitty]

Oh, and I can't sew, so my only hope for the poor things to not wear mass-produced clothing would be to buy from people who make handmade clothing.

[Buff]

I think the real issue is that companies make the clothes for $100 for something that would take a single seamstress a long time and lots of skill to make. That's why I stopped taking commissions for sewing. It was not worth my time to make like 50 cents an hour sewing because the market would not support personally made items being at a higher cost than company made.

It doesn't bother me at all though. I might eventually organize all these patterns I've made and sell those instead!

[Chibi_Fluffy]

I try to sew things for my BJD, it makes buying clothing less expensive xD

And I think that other people that are way better then me at it do the same thing and sell their stuff ! (Which I would like to do but I am really not good enough)
So I really like to buy from them instead of going to a company =O

And you can commission things which is really great =D

As I promised myself not to buy clothing and do it myself... its also easier to go to "fan-made" when I decide not to follow it XD

[Gingoro]

Most companies don't usually make the kind of clothing I want and many available tailors on various sites/forums don't know how to sew for what I'm looking for. Two out of three of my dolls are stuck in the 1700s so needless to say, everything for them has to be commissioned.

It's expensive, but works a lot better and I'm usually happier with what I get than buying something from a company.

[RavenStorm]

I like doing my own and buying clothing from doll companies. They do have alot of sute stuff there(dollmore)

[r.littlewolf]

Personally, I prefer "boutique" style outfits that are made by people who obviously know what they're doing and have set up shop to sell their items. Like Atelier Soda, Mio, or a number of different people on DoA. The big companies are going to get my money anyway for dolls and shoes, and I like a little bit of handcrafted element to my dolls and their stuff.

I think it also depends on the style of your doll. If I want something *really* specific as a style, I'm probably better off getting a commission for it than trying to piece together an outfit from a company. It's been my observation that most clothing is either casual/modern or Goth/Loli/EGL style. I know there are exceptions but if I want a more fantasy styled costume for one of my boys, it's a lot harder to find something company made that to find a seamstress who can do quality work and fit it to my concept.

[Gulwen]

when i'v been to the sumikas hear in Japan i have mostly get the things made by other delars then Volks sens they have a vider range of things. I have a lot of things from Volks to but i think the other thing are more personal

[yunnrila]

I prefer getting clothing from companies, just because I'm such a lazy person and ordering from companies is easier for me. However, I also love clothing from many designers and would definitely buy from them if there's something catches my eye. :)

[throughtheforest]

For me it's all about the details. Soom's clothes are so detailed, I haven't seen much prettier. I've had some wonderful hand-made clothes for my Alice Cherry Blossoms though.

[aihre]

I'm quite picky when it comes to clothing: my dolls have quite specific styles, and I overwhelmingly prefer to pay more for quality (this also goes for anything I buy for me!). I love supporting independent designers, and I find it much easier to find specialized independents that achieve the style I'm looking for. For example, I love dressing my dolls in traditional Chinese/Japanese/oriental costume, and I've found many designers that make kimono, etc, in the styles and colours that I'm looking for, and at great quality and authenticity to boot. The same goes for feminine "little-girl" dresses that are not Lolita or excessively embellished.
(And there's also that potential of commissioning individuals to get that unique/period/authentic look. I also have a thing for my dolls looking OOAK. :) )

For casual and street clothes however, companies also make good things at affordable prices, so I do buy from them too. I think that companies do better with clothes of less complexity -- they're able to provide more colours, variety of styles. Not saying that they can't do detailed clothing (case in point: Dollheart), but I find that for more specialized/niche appearances, large retailers like Dollmore etc, don't seem to be able to match independent designers for authenticity and detail.