Pretty Packaging

In 2012 and 2013 so many friends and colleagues came to me with little sewing oddjobs and repairs (a sewing machine was a boon in university residence) that I decided to try market my skills a little bit. I sent out Facebook posts and even flyers to the rest of campus advertising that I could do repairs, alterations and a few simple garments. Most students just needed a button replaced or a seam redone, but I got quite a few more interesting jobs too. At first I was doing the oddjobs for my friends as a favour, but after more people took an interest and I started to advertise more, and offers of payment were regular, I decided to accept small payments for my work. Don't get me wrong, to me a button and a loose thread are not worth more than 50c, and I didn't ask for anything for ages. (I think this gave me a good rep - I was closer and more accessible than the local seamstresses and tailors, and definitely more affordable, and - in my opinion - more flexible and nice about it). For small little jobs we traded what we could afford to offer - I often got payments in the form of a slab of chocolate, a small tin of coffee or a pack of cigarettes. Essential student things.

It was after my first proper sewing job at uni that I realised I was an entrepeneur. I'd slipped into the business world without noticing. All those primary school business venture projects paid off! Of course, this realisation spurred on the need to have a name, a brand, worth marketing. Something I could put on a tag in my garments. A short and sweet reminder to the world that I made this.

I came up with brinnjal. It was one of my mom's nicknames for me (my middle name is Brinn). I also happen to love brinjals (eggplant to Americans, or aubergine to most of the rest of the world). Turns out the word 'brinjal' isn't just used in South Africa like I thought, but also in South and Southeast Asia as well. Another fun fact, it is also known as a melongene, garden egg, or guinea squash. Apparently it came from a species of nightshade (eep!) and is related to both the tomato and potato. That is so apt - the purple tomato-potato plant is a good description of it! Garden egg sounds so cute as well. I think this plant has more names than it has recipes to use it in.

That's enough learning for now (thanks Wikipedia) - back to the point. I had a name, and a design for the logo (a brinjal, obviaaaasly). I Googled extensively to make sure it wasn't being used already by anyone. The tagline 'the pondering blonde' is new, and reserved for this site, not my clothes, after someone suggested that I think too much "for a blonde". Hurrumph. It is a good little oxymoron though, if you prescribe to those kinds of stereotypes. In my case, the stereotype is mostly true - I am a ditz, a clutz and for the most part, oblivious. But not stupid, please note!

My first use of my logo!! It was for the aforementioned sewing project. I used satin in livid pink and green teeshirting and glued them down. The writing is in Typex, and I am appalled at my handwriting. The whole thing was done on a box (the one my motherboard came in) painted black. It was further decorated in lace and used as the 'wrapping' of the dress, which was a birthday present. We even lined the inside with black fabric and threw in rose petals for extra prettiness.

This was the affirmation that what I was doing was worth other people's attention, that I was good enough at it to share it with people other than my immediate family (who would love anything I made, regardless). Yay, me!

[Update.] This is the CG version of my logo, which is currently on all my cards and everything:

#logo #label