Next March will mark four years of my small handmade clothing business, Alternativ Bones—a milestone I never imagined reaching! I never thought I’d still be here, let alone improving my offerings and appealing to a growing number of customers. It’s been an interesting journey filled with lessons, especially when it comes to planning my collections.
The Beginning of Something?
My business began like many others during COVID, while I was on maternity leave after shielding for six months during my pregnancy. I can’t sit idle, so after sewing scrubs, I wanted something more. That’s when I decided to start my own handmade business. With a large collection of fabric already accumulated and the discovery that I could print my own custom designs, I was ready to dive in. But how would I turn this into a real business?
Disclaimer: I’m still figuring out how to make my business provide a full-time living, but the journey so far has been immense.
The Challenges of Planning Handmade Collections
At first, I believed I could step into the handmade world, and my products would sell immediately. I envisioned endless orders for every fabric I printed and thought I’d be inundated with requests. Oh, how naïve! I laugh at the idea that this could even happen now. My planning was non-existent—buying a print, announcing it, and rushing to release it in the hope of a quick sale. I spent a month building a website, staying up late to add new designs, and hoping that the next day customers would come flooding in.
I joined every online Instagram market I could find, spending hours curating my offerings. But looking back, I realize I was chasing my tail—reacting instead of planning. I learned quickly that I needed to stop being reactive and start making my own choices.
Why Seasonal Prints are a Game Changer.
Unlike many handmade businesses that prefer all-year-round prints, I’ve always loved seasonal outfits. Think about it—as adults we often shop for specific occasions, like a night out or a wedding. Why should handmade kids’ clothing be any different? My early planning revolved around seasonal events, with a focus on Easter, Halloween, and Christmas prints. This approach has evolved over time (as you may have seen in my Easter Prints blog), but one Christmas, I had 42 prints available. What was I thinking?
I’ve learned to resist my own FOMO about leaving prints behind and now focus on quality over quantity.
Over time, I’ve expanded into themes like ponies and dinosaurs, which led to the creation of the Alternativ Bones Pony & Dino Club. I started planning monthly releases, frequently updating the website with new themes every four weeks. It sounded great in theory, but I soon realized I’m not Primark or Shein. I can’t (and shouldn’t) keep up with that pace. My ethos is about creating clothes that are loved and built to last—not disposable fast fashion. That realization sent me back to the drawing board to make further changes.
From Instagram Markets to Artisan Events
In the last two years, I’ve become a familiar face at Birmingham Artisan Markets, selling my handmade children’s clothes at Kings Heath, Bournville, and even briefly rented space at Redbrick Market in Digbeth (a story for another time!) Markets added a new layer of complexity: I needed a constant supply of ready-made clothing in various sizes, prints, and styles, alongside my made-to-order items. Those early market days involved very late nights—I don’t recommend doing a market on four hours of sleep! But now, as a seasoned pro, I’m already planning for 2025.
With made-to-order items, market stalls, and even the possibility of wholesale, planning has become essential, and it now needs to be effective planning. At my Biz Mates Network group Christmas Meal, I even won an award for being the most organized! So, what’s changed?
Planning for 2025 I invested in The Maker’s Yearbook, a planner that changed everything. One line stood out to me: “We need simple systems to help us reduce the amount of time we waste procrastinating, comparing ourselves to other people, or just trying to figure out what comes next.” That’s exactly what I needed. Now, I’m planning every detail for next year.
Seasonal prints? Done—Easter is already ready to go. Market stock? Scheduled—I’ve set aside time to ensure my stalls are filled with the items you love. Increasing visibility? In progress—this blog is one of the many steps I’m taking to help more people discover what I’m about.
Next year, you won’t see 42 prints at once, but you will find thoughtfully curated collections, filled with high-quality designs that are perfect for your wardrobes. I’m giving myself time to plan so you can see the best of what I have to offer.
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