Meet Alexis Bailey | Designer & Digital Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexis Bailey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexis, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Hello Alexis Bailey started with a recognition for how much fast fashion practices had taken over the sewing world in the way fabric was being purchased and the types of fabric and patterns being bought. It felt as if even in a slow fashion capacity fast fashion was permeating so deeply. I began my blog to bring more attention to how we can choose more sustainable and eco friendly materials and make better choices in our making habits, including slowing down the making practice by hand-sewing our clothing. This lead me to creating my business Fibr & Cloth Studio after a trip to Europe made me want to bring the hobby of sewing with me and make it portable. Now I sell sewing patterns built to be wardrobe staples, hand-sewing supplies, eco friendly apparel DIY sewing kits and other sustainable items from my business Fibr & Cloth Studio and bring awareness to sustainability in the making practice on my blog at HelloAlexisBailey.com.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I sell DIY kits, but these kits are different in that they teach you how to hand-sew. The kits come with everything you need to hand-sew your own garment from start to finish. Encouraging hand-sewing in a community of machine sewing fans is not always the easiest since most people see the sewing machine as the easiest way to sew, however it really isn’t. Hand-sewing in my opinion (having da lot of experience with both forms of sewing)is the simplest way to learn basic sewing techniques. It’s also more affordable as not everyone can afford a sewing machine. Hand-sewing also doesn’t have as much of a professional looking finish as a machine sewn garment does but it depends on how much practice you give to the craft and how patient you are when stitching. I always remind people that way before sewing machines came into existence, people were sewing super intricate detailed garments by hand. That’s what hand-sewing is to me, a taking back to the roots. An encouragement of a relationship with our fingers to the cloth we use to make and wear garments. I feel if that relationship was valued more, fast fashion wouldn’t even exist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Dallas is full of some of the best places to eat and some pretty rad live music. We recently visited a place called Reveler’s Hall that has a great jazz band playing (and some pretty good duck wings). Downtown Dallas and Deep Ellum are where you’ll find some great places to eat, drink and hang out like Punch Bowl Social or Select Start. If you want some late night tacos, Fuel City is where it’s at. Le Bon Temps and Cake Bar are great for delicious desserts. My favorite place to visit is Chocolate Secrets in Uptown where you can have ALL of the above. Live music, great food (try the ham and gouda panini!) and the salted caramel cake is just AMAZING.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely dedicate this shout out to my husband, Matt. Every idea I’ve come up with he has been all for, he supports me, packs orders with me, takes photos for photos shoots which make every sewing pattern I put out a success. He’s been my ride or die since day one and has always encouraged me to make my dreams and opportunities happen, reminding me that there are no limits or boundaries to what I can achieve. And it’s not just because he’s my husband but that he’s a genuinely good man.

Website: helloalexisbailey.com / fibrandcloth.com

Instagram: @helloalexisbailey/@fibrandclothstudio

Youtube: Fibr & Cloth Studio