There is something hopeful about beginning again.

VVC Designs has always grown from my love of beautiful fabrics, thoughtful construction, and clothing with a sense of history. I am creating a new home for those interests—and for the stories, questions, and discoveries that accompany them.

This newsletter marks a new beginning for VVC Designs. It will be part studio journal and part exploration of slow fashion: a place to look more closely at how clothing is designed, made, worn, valued, and preserved.

My approach to sewing has never been about producing clothing as quickly as possible, well, it may have started that way, but I quickly learned how unproductive I was. I am drawn to garments that reward a closer look: an unexpected construction detail, a carefully shaped seam, a vintage-inspired silhouette, or a fabric whose quality and character suggest what it might become.

My work often begins with the material. I especially enjoy working with deadstock and vintage fabrics—materials that already exist and are waiting for a thoughtful purpose. From there, the process may involve pattern development, fitting, traditional tailoring, experimentation, and quite a bit of problem-solving.

Some ideas become finished garments exactly as imagined. Others evolve along the way. Occasionally, a project spends more time than expected in the “thinking about it” stage. That is part of the creative process too, and I want to share more of it here.

This newsletter will include projects from my own sewing room, but I also want it to become a place to explore the larger world of slow fashion.

“Slow fashion” can mean different things to different people. For me, it begins with developing a more intentional relationship with clothing. It means valuing craftsmanship, understanding materials, extending the life of the things we own, and resisting the idea that clothing is disposable. It can include sewing, repairing, buying secondhand, choosing custom clothing, supporting skilled makers, or simply purchasing less and choosing more carefully.

I am interested in the people and ideas shaping this conversation. In future articles, I plan to review books and other resources, share interviews with designers and sewing professionals, visit fabric stores and exhibitions, and examine the many ways people are reconsidering how clothing is made and consumed.

I do not expect to have all the answers. I see this newsletter as an opportunity to learn, experiment, and share what I discover along the way.

·       Behind-the-scenes looks at garments in progress

·       Construction techniques and design challenges

·       Vintage patterns, clothing, and sewing machines

·       Deadstock fabrics and responsible material sourcing

·       Books, documentaries, exhibitions, and other slow-fashion resources

·       Interviews with designers, makers, educators, and fabric professionals

·       Reflections on personal style and creating clothes worth keeping

You may also encounter occasional detours into an irresistible fabric find, an unusual vintage machine, or a project that has taken on a life of its own. Those stories are often too interesting not to share.

If you are interested in thoughtful clothing, vintage-inspired design, beautiful materials, sewing, or the evolving conversation around slow fashion, I hope you will subscribe.

By subscribing, you can follow projects from the first spark of an idea through the decisions, experiments, setbacks, and final stitches. You will also join me as I learn from the books, people, and practices contributing to a slower and more meaningful way of thinking about clothing.

I would love to hear from you as well. What does slow fashion mean to you? Are you most interested in garment construction, vintage style, sustainable materials, interviews, book reviews—or something I have not considered yet?

Thank you for being here at the beginning. I look forward to seeing where this new chapter takes us.

—Valerie