Velvet tote bag.

This post was created as an assignment about the production process and its calculation for the Parsons x Teen Vogue course.

For this assignment, the task was to create a bag using a stripped fabric and calculate the costs of the production.

As this was the very fist time I could create a tangible product and see my idea come to life (concept development), I chose to design and sewn together a tote bag. Given my previous sewing experience was almost non-existent, sewing only when altering a pre-existing clothes to fit me, it seemed as an easy choice for the project. 

Regarding the stripped fabric, I wanted to come up with a different way of creating such pattern to the one that was already covered in a previous assignment: creating stripes wih a fabric die and tape.

Owing to this, I decided to use the straps as the „stripes“ . When you think of any design as a problem-solving, the straps running across the entire length of the bag provide additional support, a hidden advantage to the initial intention. 

As I intend to make my future brand ethically friendly, I decided to recycle a velvet fabric from a skirt to be turned into a bag.

So, to calculate the production :

The material for the bag, rather the velvet skirt, was 3,50€: 50cm in width and 60cm in length, which was enough for the bag. As for the straps, 2 metres of strap material was needed. This measurement also included the parts that run along the entire length of the bag. Those retail for 0,35€/m, therefore 0,7€in total.

Then one does have to include the desired wage, the amount you would like to be paid for your work. For me this is 7€/hour. Since the entire production took two hours, as I decided to handsew everything, I added 14€ as well as the desired profit (20% for me).

And you are done!

See you next time!