WWW.GATHERED.HOW/SIMPLYSEWING 69(Left)CustomersarespoiltforchoicewithJulia'sselectionoftraditionalandmoderndenims.
(BelowandRight)TheDenimCompanyshopstocksplainandpatterneddenimina varietyof
coloursaswellashaberdasheryandsewingpatternstoinspire.Customerscanplaceorders
online or via the phone, or Julia offers a pop-up shop service for local sewing groups."ThroughTheDenimCompany,
I havetheluxurytoselectfabricsto
createclothesandaccessoriesthat
I know will inspire others"
I havetheluxurytoselectfabricsandmix
andmatchdenimstocreateclothesand
accessoriesthatI knowwillinspireothers,”
saysJulia.Clearlyspottinga nicheinthe
market,TheDenimCompanyhasgonefrom
strengthtostrength– somethingthat’snot
withoutitschallenges:“Sincewelaunched
officiallysixyearsago,thecompanyhas
growneveryyearandit is difficult to keep it
containedandtonot
losethesmall
businessvalues,”she
says.“Qualityfabrics
andpersonalised
customerserviceare
themostimportant
thingsweoffer–
whereverpossiblewe
sendeveryorderonthedayit’sreceived,and
wealwaystryandaddthatextrasampleor
a matchingthreadtomakeit special.”There’s
nodoubtingthatJuliagoestheextramile
whenit comestokeepingthecustomer
happy,explaining,“Wedostilltakeorders
overthephoneif theypreferandoftenhave
lengthydiscussionsonfabricchoicesand
patterns. After all, not everyone wants toplaceanorderonlineandsometimesthey
needthereassurance they are making the
rightdecision.”
Connectingwithcustomersandfellow
sewersis reallyimportanttoJulia,and
a chanceencounteronsocialmedialedto
a collaborationwitha fungroupofwomen
dubbedTheYorkshireGirls.“I wastaggedon
Instagram, in a pictureofa groupofladiesall
wearinga dressmade
fromourRosemary
fabric,”shesays.
“Nowhavingmetthis
vibrantgroupof
sewers,I believethey
reallyexemplifywhat
sewingis allabout.”
Recallingthestory,
Juliagoeson:“Theyallliveinandaround
Yorkshire(hencethename!)andinitially
wentalonetoa greateventcalledSewUp
Northandnow,throughsocialmedia,have
metupandformeda trulyremarkablebond
throughtheirhobby.Thisformeis oneofthe
greatbenefitsofsocialmedia– onelady
commentedonthegroup,wasinvitedtojoin
and now they all meet up for regular sewingPhotos: Melanie Bradford, Pure Photography Studio, wwwpurephotographyuk.co.uk