The sewing and craft festival - here we come!
Madeleine Wideland Designs is participating for the first time at the Sewing & Handicraft Festival, which takes place February 24-26 at the Stockholm Fair in Älvsjö. Hurray!
Was I headhunted to the festival?
After a sluggish and actually quite boring January, it feels extra fun to have such a fun thing to look forward to. I have wanted to participate in previous years, but before the pandemic I wasn't ready and then there was a break. Now the fair has started again and this time I didn't want to miss the opportunity. In fact, I was also contacted by the fair organizer who saw my design and thought it would be a good feature among the other exhibitors. It feels a lot of fun and a bit good for self-confidence!
How to prepare?
It is now two and a half weeks until the fair opens its doors and the preparations are many. What should I bring to the stand? Should everything be included? What sells best, meter goods or finished products? How should I decorate the stand? How big is 8 square meters?
I write lists, measure fabrics, sew cushion covers and try to visualize how I can optimize the surface so that everything looks nice and tidy and at the same time have room to handle meters of fabric. I have visited the fair once several years ago and there were many different exhibitors. Designers, seamstresses, sewing machine sellers, accessories and much more. I would like to manage it in the best possible way and I think that a nice stand is everything.
What kind of fair is this anyway?
This fair is a paradise for do-it-yourselfers as well as industry professionals, with around 10,000 visitors over the three days. If you love textile crafts, needlework, sewing and everything related to it, this is the place to be.
Many self-employed people in the textile industry have, just like me, their sales online and at least I long to meet others in the industry but also to be able to show my products "IRL" and meet customers. As a solo entrepreneur with a workplace at home, you don't meet that many people every day, there are even days when I haven't spoken to a single person..
It goes without saying that much of the experience with textiles and interior design lies in being able to feel, squeeze and see how the fabrics are made in reality. Looking at pictures in a web shop can never be the same.
At the fair, there will also be a lot of activities in the form of workshops and other things where visitors can try different techniques and see what is new in a certain niche. Hopefully I'll be busy with curious customers myself, but I'll probably manage to take a little detour to see what others are doing and get some inspiration.
What do I expect?
Inspiration, conversations and happy people...
To have so many skilled and knowledgeable people around and to be able to absorb everything after a couple of years in solitude, it feels so incredible!
to find out more about how others work with sustainability...
Personally, I am curious about how others work with sustainability now that it is more of a matter of course that you as an entrepreneur do it in a strategic way and it is not directly a sales argument as it was just a couple of years ago.
The textile industry is one of the worst both in terms of environment and working conditions, globally. It is not entirely easy to know how to do it all the time, and as a sole trader there is a lot to keep track of. You don't have a sustainability department that only works with these issues. We constantly strive to get better and find new solutions. Here you can read more about how we think and work with sustainability at Madeleine Wideland Designs.
…and how they adapt to current circumstances…
I'd also love to get some input from industry peers on how they're getting through this time of financial uncertainty. No one probably goes unnoticed through this time and most have to find ways to adapt the business, I think.
…and especially
...I hope with all my heart that visitors will find us and love what they see! I am passionate about craftsmanship and want to be a part of passing on traditions from previous generations and putting my own stamp on it. It will be so much fun to meet like-minded people.
Finally
I will of course write a post when the fair has been and I can evaluate and summarize how it was. If you've read this far, you're probably interested in sewing and needlework in one way or another, so I hope to see you at the fair!
You will find us in stand C04:21 and there you will find all our fabrics and products as well as the occasional novelty and unique product that is only available there from time to time. Warm welcome!
Here you will find more information about the festival : https://www.syfestivalen.se/
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