June 30, 2023
How the Prism Dress Changed Our Small Business Forever
In the unpredictable world of fashion, success can often be as sudden as it is unexpected. Such was the case for our tiny apparel brand when the Prism Dress took us by storm, catapulting our brand into the spotlight and pushing us to new heights.
This is the story of how we discovered a limited supply of fabric, faced overwhelming demand, and navigated uncharted territories to meet the needs of our growing customer base.
The Discovery:
It all began with a stroke of luck when we stumbled upon a forgotten gem—a deadstock bolt of fabric with less than 100 yards remaining. Intrigued by its unique texture and vibrant colors, we knew we had found something special. With excitement brewing, we wasted no time in turning our newfound fabric into a sample dress that would capture people's attention.
Overnight Success:
We decided to unveil our sample dress through an Instagram video. To our astonishment, the response was immediate and overwhelming. Within hours, we received an avalanche of orders—over 100 in total. The demand was staggering, and amid our excitement, we were also a little afraid…
We gotta sew all of these! ;)
Challenges and Solutions:
The surge in demand quickly also led to a major predicament: we had run out of the fabric that had made our initial dress so captivating. Determined not to disappoint our eager customers, we embarked on a journey of discovery, exploring the field of surface design and sublimation printing. Countless hours were spent on research, hundreds of phone calls were made, and numerous emails were exchanged.
Despite the time constraints, we managed to locate a small fabric printer overseas. Mirroring our own team's size, this printer possessed the expertise we needed to create a matching fabric. With great anticipation, we awaited the arrival of the new fabric sample, which was promptly shipped to us for approval. The painstaking efforts paid off, and we finally had the perfect fabric in our hands.
Expanding the Collection:
With the fabric crisis averted, we decided to leverage our newfound success by expanding the Prism Dress collection a bit. Building on the original design, we introduced a stunning gradient variation, aptly named the Sunset version. This addition gave our customers even more options, and maybe took a little pressure off production of the original Sunrise version. It is also a beautiful option for transitioning seasons because it has a darker, more jewel-toned presence.
Managing Growth:
As the orders poured in, our tiny team of four was both thrilled and apprehensive about the rapid growth we were experiencing. Aware of the risks and costs associated with scaling up too quickly, we made a conscious decision to approach the expansion gradually. Our goal was to ensure that each dress we crafted carried the same level of love, quality, and personal touch that had initially captivated our customers.
The Challenges of Success:
Keeping up with the ever-increasing demand has proven to be an extraordinary challenge. Our dedicated team now finds themselves working tirelessly to sew each dress while maintaining the highest standards. We receive a multitude of emails every day from anxious customers eager to know when their dress will be ready, and the requests to try on dresses in person keep pouring in. We want our customers to know that we are fully committed to delivering on our promises and are working at full throttle to fulfill their orders.
What's Next:
The success of our small apparel brand, driven by the incredible response to our Prism Dress, has been an exhilarating and transformative journey. From the fortuitous discovery of a limited fabric supply to overcoming production hurdles and managing rapid growth, we have learned invaluable lessons along the way. Our commitment to excellence remains unwavering as we continue to pour our hearts into crafting each dress with love and attention to detail. With our customers' unwavering support, we look forward to embracing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, knowing that we have built a brand rooted in quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.