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Without role models to guide her, self-taught fashion designer Wendy Mullin of Built By Wendy went from selling her handmade dresses in her front yard to owning four stores across the U.S., running a successful clothing label, collaborating on pattern designs for Simplicity and authoring the Sew U book series. As part of Etsy’s Handmade Portrait series, Wendy took time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about how she’s built her business from scratch. Her sense of style and process are rooted in making garments by hand, and though she’s not an Etsy seller, Wendy’s beginnings are similar to many handmade clothing makers getting their feet wet in businesses on Etsy. Her passion, hard work and drive got her where she is today.
Wendy did a lot of drawing, arts and crafts as a kid living in the Chicago suburbs. Her mom, a seamstress, saw that she had an artistic tendency and encouraged her to explore. In high school she focused her creative energy toward photography and video, but with a sewing room back at home, she always found herself making things. During college in Kansas in 1989, Wendy started selling her handmade clothing in record shops where she worked.
After moving to Manhattan and showing her work at Steven Alan’s showroom, Wendy got quite a bit of press for her clothing and guitar straps. She now has shops in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you like clean lines with a bit of fun nostalgia, you should have a look at her collection at Built By Wendy.
You can watch more of our Handmade Video Portraits, and we’d be so thrilled if you’d subscribe to our free Etsy iTunes podcast.
If you’re into how-to books, join us on Monday, July 21, 2008 in the Virtual Labs to meet Crafty Mama author Abby Pecoriello. More details here.
29 comments
Sign in to add your ownTeenAngster says:
I LOVE Built by Wendy. Her clothes are so amazing! What a great behind-the-scenes look at her process and where she came from. Great video.
3 years ago
Chillionaire says:
So inspiring! Her designs are awesome and the Manhattan store is sooo cute Fabulous video!
3 years ago
pookeh says:
i ADORE built by wendy. thank you so much for this video. you made my friday!
3 years ago
papermenagerie says:
Built by Wendy is the best, and I so love her patterns and "Sew U" book. It's great that she hasn't lost touch with her handmade roots.
3 years ago
MissDandy says:
This was a real treat to watch - I admire Built By Wendy so much! Truly inspiring!
3 years ago
jamieribisi says:
Very interesting. I loved hearing her story.
3 years ago
shopgoodgrace says:
I love Built By Wendy & have many of her patterns. So thrilled to see this Etsy article about her. :)
3 years ago
ledthread says:
Ah yeah cool. I used to live around the corner from her LA shop. Wendy is definitely an inspiration. And thanks for including my stuff in your Related Items!
3 years ago
Schmutzerland says:
I really really really love that she used her gambling money to buy craft supplies! What an inspiring story!
3 years ago
littlehabanero says:
love! built by wendy,i was really excited to see this.
3 years ago
MissCrowland says:
That was really inspiring.
3 years ago
ZuliDesigns says:
This was an awesome video and story. I love to hear about self made successes! Wendy seems down to earth and definately creative! Makes me love her clothes even more!!
3 years ago
reiter8 says:
Thanks so much for this great video portrait! I have been a fan for some time and it's great to hear how it all started. She's so calm for having 3 stores, books, and seasonal lines! A real inspiration!
3 years ago
voudrais says:
I love built by wendy! This story and video was so inspiring because my dream has always been to design and make fashion happen with my hands.. and it's so so inspiring to hear that someone made it that far without big name schools like Parsons or FIT, etc.. (her fall winter collection's inspiration was soo cute too!)
3 years ago
thetinies says:
Love love LOVE her clothes, and I've got a couple of her patterns that I can't wait to get started on.
3 years ago
sparklinglotusdesign says:
What a great story..would love to check out one of her shops! Thanks for the video!
3 years ago
leolucaescobar says:
Thank you for this. So inspiring!
3 years ago
catecorcoran says:
Yay, Wendy Mullin! Thank you so much for this video interview. What a great idea.
3 years ago
lovemaryxoxo says:
Encouraging story.
3 years ago
fernfiddlehead says:
This was super-fantastic. Wow. I am in awe.
3 years ago
yellowspringscrochet says:
What an inspiration!! Thanks!!
3 years ago
SusyJack says:
This was great. Whenever I get down, I'm gonna think of Wendy, out on her front lawn, doing her thing.
3 years ago
emilyfrances says:
Many congrats to Wendy for making her dream come true. I have so many exciting thoughts in my head now (and I can't wait to get back in my sewing room!) Also - a broken spoke's trench coat is quite amazing.
3 years ago
LittleSparrowNest says:
Wow!!!! Such an awesomely inspiring short.. This one really struck a chord with me.. Her story is the epitome of what you get when you don't give up and go for it all the way.. thank You for this! xoxo gsg the Sparrows Nest
3 years ago
topsyturvydesign says:
Rad portrait! Wendy is a Dynamo!
3 years ago
purlhandknits says:
This one was so interesting! Thanks for the great portrait Etsy!
3 years ago
artnestshop says:
EEEEK! I have loved Built by Wendy for nearly 10 years now - I remember when her shop had ONLY guitar straps~ She is such an inspiration and her book gave me the confidence to start sewing clothing or sewing anything for that matter - it was such a treat to learn even more about her story - Thanks ETSY!!! Susannah @ Art Nest
2 years ago
viciousthreads says:
wendy is amazing!!! i have one of her guitar straps from the 90s. i don't think she makes them anymore. :(
1 year ago