November 16, 2011
Mistakes that are masterpieces
At La Condesa, we do everything by hand, in almost all cases by choice, due to our attention to detail and love for a job well done. On other occasions, it's because there's no other option. The latter is the case with our labels.
It got into my head, blessed be the hour, to make the labels vertical because I thought they were more original, and because at the beginning, when we didn't even have money to make our own labels, we used a 100% magenta satin ribbon cut on the bias to sign our garments.
Well, when I went to the label supplier, curse the hour, and explained my idea, he told me it wasn't possible with his machines to cut labels at 45º, at 90º yes, but not at 45º. I believed him, and stubborn with my idea, I ordered them and came home very happy. What does this imply, even two years after buying them, dear friends and yet readers? That all, and I mean ALL, the labels of ALL and every single one of ALL our jackets are cut by a hand with the pulse of a panhandler, since, once cut, they then have to be burned, ALL of them one by one, so that the satin doesn't fray at 45 beautiful degrees, simulating the pink guillotine that ended my ancestor La Condesa in that fateful summer of 1789 in France.
Pure craftsmanship. By choice? No, friends, no one consciously chooses to destroy their right thumbprint or spend hours making labels while the rest of the seamstresses look at you with a "oh well, what a silly idea the girl had" face. It was due to an enthusiastic novice's mistake. And that, my friends, is what we are going to talk about today: the mistakes you are going to make whether you want to or not, you are going to make them, seriously, really, yes, no matter how prepared you are, it doesn't matter, you're going to get screwed, you're going to make mistakes, and you'd better start accepting and forgiving yourself, or the path will become even steeper.
We've all made them, we're all going to keep making them, but it's true that the early ones sting especially because you don't have the financial margin to afford them and because you feel completely incompetent. But hey, it doesn't matter, that's actually when you learn the most, so don't insult yourself internally and just laugh at how naive you've been.
For your enjoyment, here are some of my most notorious mistakes. I hope this makes you feel that you are not alone on this path of tripping and getting up:
- As I was saying, I ordered the labels from a place that didn't know how to make them the way I wanted, and then I discovered that other suppliers did. But the best part is that I ordered 5,000 of them. I thought I was ordering 5,000 units, but it turns out the guy, in his jargon, was talking about 5,000... METERS!!! Considering that each label measures about 12cm, friends, we found ourselves having ordered more than 41,600 labels in the first year of business!!! BRAVO. That's betting on your future business, so far into the future that my grandchildren will have to keep singeing their thumbs with the famous labels that their smart grandmother ordered. MORAL OF THE STORY: even if you look like an idiot, ask a thousand times, ask for a delivery note with a prior quote, and reconfirm what you are ordering in writing, never just verbally.
- To top it off, I paid for the entire order before picking them up, and when they delivered them, the ink hadn't risen enough to create the relief I had requested. I paid for screen printing and practically got a digital print result. Did I complain? Of course, but my friend, having already paid everything, you become the last priority. MORAL OF THE STORY: never pay for a complete order in advance without having an exact sample of what they are going to manufacture. Pay half when you place the order and half when you are satisfied with the final result.
- For one of our first orders to stores, I went in person because I was fond of that particular store. I took notes on the order sheet and we signed on the front. Months later, upon delivery of the order, the store owner refused to comply with the payment terms of the contract because they were on the back, and according to her, she hadn't seen them or signed them—what a character. This has become a classic in the workshop, and when someone hasn't done something they were supposed to, we always say, "Oh, you put that on the back!" MORAL OF THE STORY: always go to important meetings accompanied, even if it's just a friend, so that there's someone else on your side who can witness what was said and pay attention to minor details. And above all, never be ashamed to talk about money, about when you're going to get paid, and about "better give me your bank details and I'll send you a transfer."
- At the beginning of this year, when La Condesa was doing best, we were on the verge of bankruptcy. The reason? Getting carried away and making a decision without knowing the company's natural rhythm, meaning, what a full year of life is like, what its highs and lows are, and when they occur. If you're going to embark on a project with a new partner, however exciting it may be, you need proof, data, lists of who you know, data on who you sell to, where, how many stores come to see you; unfortunately, mere emotion isn't enough, you need data to back it up when making a decision. MORAL OF THE STORY: when money is at stake, your instinct needs data to support it. And don't be afraid to say no and let some opportunities pass, no matter how appealing they seem; others will come, for sure.
That's enough for now. Don't think I'm not still adding to the list, but at least I've learned to take it philosophically. Please, do the same and neither give up nor beat yourselves up. By the way, any mistakes you'd like to vent about?
A thousand hugs,
La Condesa trial and error