Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location,
affiliations, personal stuff).
My name is Lori Chalmers and I design a line of handbags, belts and accessories under the name Cha Cha. I live and work in Toronto Canada, one of the best cities in the world. Originally a graphic designer, I worked for a variety of ad agencies, corporate offices and independent artists before taking the plunge and committing to Cha Cha full time this past May. I truly love what I do and can’t imagine my life being any other way right now. I am fortunate enough to have the best boyfriend, family and friends who support me and my crazy ideas unconditionally. Every day I try and pour all of these feelings into every piece I make at Cha Cha. You can check out new pieces and my process at chachalifestyle.com
What is the first thing you can remember making
by hand? How and why did you make it?
When I was about seven years old me and my neighbor used to set up a stand in her driveway and tried to sell paintings we made, of course the only people to buy them were our parents. One of the first things I sewed was a pair of red velvet jeans in 9th grade home economics class. While everyone else chose a simple t shirt or apron, I chose pants that had buttons, zippers and pockets. They were bad, but with all the work I put into them I had to wear them once. I have a few friends who still make fun of the day I wore red velvet jeans in public.
What inspires you? Where do your ideas come
from?
I’m inspired by my every day life, from the lovely ladies I see lunching in the park by my studio, to the graffiti that I pass one the way to work. Color is one of my biggest inspirations. As odd as it sounds I dream about purses quite often and many ideas come from that.
What are your favorite materials?
I am a serious leather lover. canvas, wool, vintage fabrics are all close seconds.
What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?
The importance of great pictures. They make a huge difference. When you take away the ability to pick up and feel a product like you can in a physical store you have to make up for it with pictures that accurately represent the color and size of your product. A good camera and a few lights were one of my best investments.
Why should people buy handmade?
Handmade items have a real story behind them and that makes them special. In a world where almost everything has rolled off an assembly line I think it is nice to have something that has had some real love put into it. We live in such a disposable society where we buy things on impulse and get bored of them 2 weeks later. I feel you appreciate and value handmade items more.
What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?
Maybe some sort of multi-tasking feature when it comes to changing info on your items, opposed to going in and adjusting every single item.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
Right now creating takes up a lot of my time. Making bags has been a hobby of mine for so long, now that I am doing it full time I am searching for a new hobby. Till I discover that new hobby I enjoy eating, sitting on nice beaches when I can find them and going for walks with my four legged man, Louis.
Read any good books lately?
I read Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs, that was a crazy one. Other then that, it has been lots and lots of fashion magazines. Recently I read a great article about Grace Kelly that inspired me to create a few new dressy clutches. Stay tuned, they will be in the shop soon.
In ten years I'd like to be...
at Cha Cha creating high end, quality bags, belts and jackets that make women all over the world feel beautiful. I will be spending the spring and summer working here in Toronto then taking off when the cold Canadian winter sets in to my second home where the view from my balcony will involve lots of blue water and and some sort of fruit trees. I have yet to finalize where my tropical paradise will be.
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