Life & Work with Cheryl Poe of North Kansas City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Poe

Hi Cheryl, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been sewing since I was around 8 years old, but I only recently started sewing for others. I don’t remember the moment my interest in sewing and design sparked, but I know that my mom and her mom, my Nana, were key. They helped me when I got started and I know I can still come to them with any problem garments and get their advice. I started getting more serious about sewing in High School and I ended up making my junior and senior prom dresses. From there, I just kept experimenting and learning new skills. Last year I started my own business doing alterations and custom pieces for people after noticing how many had the need for a seamstress. Working at Retro Vixen, a local vintage inspired boutique, has allowed me to reach customers that I may not have found on my own. Helping people love their clothes again is really rewarding, whether it’s a simple hem or reworking an entire garment. I’ve always loved being able to create something different and unique and experimenting with new styles. Making custom pieces for others allows me to expand my skills and construct garments that I might not make for myself. Occasionally I will do pop-ups where I have items already made that people can purchase from me and I try to use mostly upcycled or vintage materials for everything I make so as to avoid contributing more waste. Overall I want to help people keep the clothes they have for as long as they can while also enjoying wearing them again.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely a balance between my full time job and running my own business. It’s hard to decide how much extra work I can take on and still have time to relax. The alterations I get vary by week so I can’t always plan my extra workload ahead of time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do alterations, mending and custom pieces but my passion is really in making whatever comes to mind. I’m constantly inspired by other people’s clothes and how they style them. When I see a garment I like, I try to construct it in my head. Once I get an idea for something new, I can’t rest until I sketch it out or even begin working on it. I’d say I’m most proud of my growth in my skills and confidence in my work. It can be intimidating to cut up someone else’s clothing and hope they like what it turns into, but when they try it on and love it, it’s so worth it. I like to think that my use of upcycled materials and my designs themselves set me apart from others.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When it comes to networking, I’m a bit shy and I don’t tend to put myself out there. I’ve found that just going into local businesses and giving out some business cards can be a good starting point. Many coffee shops have bulletin boards or even places to put stacks of cards.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unseamly_threads