Let's discover... Lisenn from Crazy Zipper
I am inaugurating a new category of articles for this blog. I want to introduce you to the behind-the-scenes world of women (and maybe men?) who are active in the sewing community. The idea is to discover their journeys as women, entrepreneurs, and sewing and DIY enthusiasts.
Today, I invite you to discover Lisenn, who a few weeks ago created the website Crazy Zipper, a site selling independent sewing patterns in Spain. Two of my patterns are already there. Others should follow once the translation is complete.
Let's go!
Hello Lisenn, could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
Hello, my name is Lisenn, and I have been living in Barcelona for over 20 years. I am originally from the Hauts-de-France region of France.
I came to Spain for an Erasmus exchange in Gijón (in Asturias). In Spain, I met my Italian husband, and we decided to stay and start our family in Barcelona. Luca, Alys, and Gaël complete our small (large) multicultural family.
Between Catalan, Spanish, French, and Italian, everyone at home speaks their own language, and we manage to understand each other, even if it's quite comical at times.
We love to travel, and especially during our trips, we enjoy getting to know people, local gastronomy, and generally I come back with a suitcase full of fabrics and local products 😊
Regarding my professional background, I was lucky enough to work on the web for a large American IT company from my first job in Spain, and I loved it so much that I decided to make it my career.
Over time, I specialized in digital marketing and worked for several multinationals in the fashion, food, and health sectors.
Tell us about Crazy Zipper: how did this idea come about? What is currently offered on the site? And what are the plans?
The idea for Crazy Zipper gradually took shape. I had wanted to set up my own e-shop for a long time. One day I came across Makerist and then several other sites (Wissew, Oh My patterns, FibreMood, etc.) and little by little, I started thinking seriously about developing a similar offer (on a smaller scale, of course) in Spain.
I really like the fact that when you buy a sewing pattern, you know who created the pattern, which humanizes the act of sewing.
Initially, I started by working full-time, and it was exhausting.
During the COVID pandemic, I couldn't keep up with the pace of remote work, Crazy Zipper, the children, and I think the situation of total confinement that we experienced in Spain for several months. I made the decision to take a break and dedicate myself fully to Crazy Zipper and to spend more time with my family.
My plans for the future are, of course, to promote and grow Crazy Zipper in the Spanish market, to include new designers (it's a very feminine world), and gradually to develop new services (currently under consideration, so top-secret).
Do you sew or practice other DIY activities? If so, what do you particularly enjoy? What would you like to learn? What is your pet peeve in sewing/DIY? Any tips or tricks for patterns/sewing/DIY you'd like to share?
My grandmother sewed, my mother sews very well, so naturally, I have always loved needlework, embroidery, and sewing, as knitting resists me.
I sew for pleasure. A few clothes for myself, a little for the children (they are growing up and unfortunately don't want much sewing anymore) and a little more for the house or as gifts.
I have always worked with a computer, so being able to do manual activities gives me a lot of satisfaction and peace of mind. Besides sewing, I sometimes draw, do calligraphy, watercolor, cook, etc.
I started a pattern-making course but it stopped due to the Covid situation, so that will be my next project when classes resume. Even though I have the basics, it's just for the pleasure of learning new techniques and spending a few hours in good company.
I don't really have any sewing tips to give; I consider myself an amateur sewer and I enjoy discovering other sewers' tips rather than giving them.
I'm lucky enough to reread the assembly guides for the patterns sold on Crazy Zipper, and it's a wealth of information for all kinds of tips & tricks. Maybe I'll create an e-book of tips from the Crazy Zipper designers 😊
Is Spain a country of sewers and DIY enthusiasts?
Like many other European countries, sewing is no longer an "old-fashioned" activity. I don't think there are more haberdashery openings in Spain, but haberdasheries are moving online and starting to offer online classes, specialized workshops, and sell on the internet. The same is happening with fabric manufacturers.
The pandemic and the need to get sewing machines out again, and especially to have time, allowed many people to discover a new hobby or a calling.
Social media has really dusted off the image of sewing and "handmade" in general. It's a growing community that loves to share its creations without being overly professionalized, unlike other communities like cosmetics, lifestyle, etc.
Can you describe a typical day/week for an entrepreneur who creates a PDF pattern selling website? Any advice for women who want to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure?
When I started, I truly thought I could do everything at once. I still laugh about it. After a few months of activity, my advice for future entrepreneurs is to study the viability of their project, create an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), and test this MVP as much as possible with their loved ones and a small part of the market. I recommend Eric Ries's book "Lean Startup" for anyone who wants to get started.
It is important to put your ideas on paper, to think about a strategic plan for all phases of the project, and to test, test, and test. You must learn from your mistakes and know how to correct quickly. If there are business incubators, get close to them to truly understand the time, knowledge, and economic implications of launching a project and/or a business.
For my part, I did a master's degree before starting, participated in start-up weekends, and approached public organizations that could offer me advice, contacts, or training.
And above all, don't count your hours. Weekends no longer exist. However, being able to see the result of your hard work is priceless, and frankly, I really enjoy exchanging with the creators who have decided to trust me.
I am lucky to have a husband and close contacts who fully support me, give me time, and are extremely understanding.
"Someone once told me: if you want to become an entrepreneur, you get a free ticket for a rollercoaster, and that's exactly what it is, but it's really worth it, the view from the top is much more beautiful."
Thank you Lisenn!
Find Lisenn on the Crazy Zipper website, on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest
See you soon!
Lydie