Our PROCESS
How We Work
At Soulty Tribe Threads, we understand that you may have some questions about our services, our processes, what exactly we do, how we go about doing it, or perhaps how we calculate our pricing on pieces or collections. We want to be as transparent as possible with you and answer any questions that you may have in a way that is both concise and easy to understand. If you have any further questions or doubts that we haven't addressed here, please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our team members would be more than happy to help you out.
Our Services
Services we offer include designing and manufacturing unique soft furnishings for the home, kids and nursery. We offer bespoke products, exclusive to Soulty Tribe Threads including those designed, created and made available for purchase, as well as those commissioned by and custom made for customer projects. While materials are sourced specifically for our individual bespoke projects, we occasionally procure small amounts of designer fabrics for future products and customer projects.
Bespoke Design
Whilst we sell completed pieces and collections, we do not consider ourselves retailers as such. When products are produced for retail, generally speaking, an item will be designed once, patterns created in multiple sizes and then the item will be made in large quantities in a range of fabrics, either on location or outsourced (most often overseas).
In comparison, our heart is to offer a service, designing and creating bespoke, elegant pieces for the home - pieces we hope will invoke a level of emotional value to you, the owner, beyond their functionality or appearance. Each project is individual and unique, including the design, the patterns and measurements, the pieces to be included in the collection, and the carefully selected textiles, trims and finishes.
Our design process is fluid and open to variations, and changes are often made along the way as we immerse ourselves in each project. Even towards completion, the project is reviewed and updated to create the best possible finish. Whilst fresh ideas may be implemented in future projects, each project has its own unique design component.
Procurement
We endeavour to source the majority of materials from suppliers within Australia, however, as required we will source textiles from overseas, mainly from small businesses in Europe. Custom orders may include materials supplied by our customers.
We are not wholesalers and as such do not generally have access to textiles at wholesale prices. Wholesale encompasses purchasing large quantities of a specific fabric. At this stage, this is only utilised for a few of our textiles and designer fabrics. Even then, being a small business, our order quantities are low. We may at times receive trade discounts, as, like interior designers, we are not on-selling the product as a retailer, rather we connect with the textile merchant and, utilising our craftsmanship skills, design and create something beautiful as a service to our customers.
We purchase only what we require for each project in very small quantities. It is our intention to leave little to no waste. This entails customising collections and adjusting pattern sizing accordingly. For example, where the fabric is a little wider, we may allow more depth when designing the fitted sheet, or create a slightly wider or longer quilt. This is why within our product measurements slight variations may be seen between collections.
Creating
Our bespoke products and custom project pieces and collections are handmade by our team here in our home-based boutique workroom in Caloundra, Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We are the makers and pride ourselves on our appreciation of traditional craftsmanship, our meticulous attention to detail, and our desire to manufacture products of the highest calibre. In addition to handcrafting and hand embroidering, we have invested in quality equipment and machinery to ensure a professional high-end finish to all sewn pieces. If you are interested in visiting our workroom you are more than welcome to make an appointment.
Product & Project Pricing
Pieces and collections, whether commissioned by a customer or designed and created as a product for sale, include different cost components. Generally, when a product is designed and manufactured for retail, the creation of that product includes one design stage, one sourcing stage and one production stage, which in turn is used to release a mass number of the same product. On the contrary, our pieces or collections each have their own design, sourcing and production stage.
Our product prices include the following components and are based on the project brief:
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Bespoke Design component - exploring ideas and coming up with design options for a unique piece, set or collection.
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Procurement: Sourcing component - sourcing and selecting fabrics, trims and finishes for the project
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Pattern Planning and Making component - using Adobe Illustrator we create the pattern pieces and organise the layout of the pieces across the selected project fabrics while taking into consideration fabric widths and ensuring there is little to no waste. We then determine the lengths of fabric, trims and finishes required for purchasing.
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Procurement: Purchasing component - includes the costings of the fabrics, trims and finishes, including associated shipping costs.
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Make component - the time taken to hand cut, sew and embroider a piece, set or collection.
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Packaging component - includes care labels, hang/care tags, PDF outlining details of collection (where applicable), ribbon, thank you card and protective packaging.
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Shipping component - includes parcel box, tape, shipping label, allowance for courier delivery + insurance.
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Future Plans
We work with other artisans and commission them to handcraft beautiful unique pieces to complement the products we have on offer. Releases of one-off pieces will be made at different times but customers are welcome to place orders for custom-made pieces. It is our intention in the very near future to work with other like-minded businesses to offer a limited range of Australian made products including handmade toys and other accessories. We will also be adding gift collections and made-to-order home decor pieces very soon. Look out for updates!
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Who We Are
We consider ourselves artisans of our craft. Our passion is designing and creating exquisite pieces - our artwork - finished to the highest standards. We align ourselves with exceptional and unique. We embrace the slow fashion movement and endeavour to implement its characteristics throughout our business model and for our pieces and collections to reflect its values.
When it comes to soft furnishings for your home, we believe you and your little ones deserve no less and neither should you.