Paige Galloway (Bucknell’22) is a Biology major, TA, research assistant, nurse’s aide, and pre-med student, all the while juggling starting a brand new Etsy store. Paige started The Sublime Shop this year and it specializes in embroidery, bleach, tie-dye, and thrifts. Some pictures of the pieces she’s selling can be found on Instagram: @thesublimeshop, as well as on Etsy- https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSublimeShop20. I got the chance to interview her about fashion and what it’s like to have a small business.
What gave you the idea to start The Sublime Shop?
I first started embroidering my own clothing at the beginning of quarantine just for something to do with my niece, Alayna. I have been thinking about starting my own small business for probably over a year now, but I had no clue what kind of business I wanted to start. After I got into embroidery, the idea just clicked! I started The Sublime Shop with Alayna for a way to sell the clothing we were embroidering, bleaching, and tie-dyeing during quarantine.
What was it like to make your first piece? Was it hard?
It was definitely challenging to make my first piece. I had never embroidered before, so I got a lot of help from my mom, who knows how to do pretty much everything! My mom showed my niece and I the basics of embroidery, and we embroidered an old pair of jeans with a bunch of designs just for practice. We spent multiple hours working on the jeans to get the hang of it.
Do you have any recommendations for someone who wants to start their own Etsy Shop?
Go for it! You would be surprised how much support your family, friends, acquaintances, etc. will give you. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well my small business is doing. You could also start out just by selling on Instagram like we did; it is an easy way to dip your toes in the water!
Can you describe your personal style?
I would describe my style as comfortable, simple, and timeless. I do not enjoy wearing clothing that is not comfortable, so I don’t do it. When choosing clothing items, I like to choose pieces that I can wear for years and that won’t go out of style. I typically steer clear of trends because they go out of style quickly! I also choose simple pieces so I am able to mix and match my outfits as much as possible. Avoiding trendy and elaborate clothing allows me to save money on buying new clothes and to reduce my carbon footprint by not throwing away clothing as often (I actually don’t throw away clothes: I donate!). I also like to draw inspiration from the 60s and 70s, as I love fashion from those decades.
Can you tell us about your partner Alayna Luther?
Alayna is my niece! She is my sister’s daughter and is currently in tenth grade. She has been really helpful in creating clothing with me and gives different perspectives and ideas than what I am able to come up with on my own.
What is your favorite thing you have sold?
I seriously love everything I make, and I would not sell anything I did not love. I would have to say my favorite item I have sold was a bleached, tan, NASA long-sleeved t-shirt. I almost did not want to sell it because I loved it so much.
How do you manage the logistics of working with customers and shipping orders?
Since my shop is still fairly small, I just like to communicate with my customers directly. I like to have a conversation with them to make it feel really personal and genuine. I talk about prices and how they would like to receive their order. If they live pretty close to me, sometimes I meet them in-person to give them their order, so they do not have to wait for it in the mail. I do also ship orders if that is requested. The furthest I have shipped something is to Hawaii! I was a bit nervous sending something that far, but I get tracking numbers for my packages to make sure I know where they are and when they arrive!
What do you see in The Sublime Shop’s future?
I see a lot of growth in The Sublime Shop’s future. I have so many new ideas that I hope to materialize soon. I’m hoping over winter break that I will be able to really expand my merchandise. It is hard to find time now since school has started again and since I’m working as a nurse’s aide, but I do make time! I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next.