My name is Christina Anderson, founder of WayMaker Fabrics. This is our story of why and how we launched our fabric company!
It all started about five years ago when I found out I was pregnant. We had just moved to a new state, and my husband suggested I start a hobby. I chose to break out the sewing machine I'd had for a couple years but only used a couple times. I didn't know what I liked to sew with and didn't even know about any of the fabrics that were for sale. I started my search to refine what I liked by buying mystery packs and clearance fabrics. I soon realized that I didn't really like most of the fabrics I was buying. The designs were basic, and the fabrics were low quality.
This launched my search for designs I loved, printed on quality fabric bases. I love the geo-style patterns and complex designs with unlimited colors that digital printing allows. Once I found some companies I liked, I started making clothes for myself and my son. The one thing I hated about buying beautiful digitally printed fabric was the wait time. I would have a project in mind, but by time I received my fabric, 4-6 mo later, I completely forgot what I wanted to make! I reasoned that this was just the way it was for nice fabric.
Fast-forward 3 1/2 years, our daughter was approaching 1 year old, our son is in pre-school and my husband asked what I'd think about doing when I get back into the work force. Did I want to return to banking, do something with my communications degree, possibly get some additional schooling for a career change? My response: I think I'd like to get into digital fabric printing!
My husband has a very innovative, entrepreneurial mind. "That's not possible" isn't in his vocabulary! So, he asked a few basic questions to flesh out what I was really thinking and started doing some research. Here's what we found:
- Aside from a couple of very large companies that do digital printing in the US, most of this fabric is actually produced overseas.
- The design shops that I've been buying from do the design, send it out to SE Asia for printing, and then cut and distribute the fabric.
- Shipping is getting crazy! Then there's import tariffs, quality control difficulties, and the fact that this whole process takes 4-6 months AFTER customer orders are received.
- Printing on stretchy/knit and natural fibers comes in two main techniques:
1) Screen printing, which is only available in very large quantities and cannot do the complex colors and designs that digital is capable of; AND uses a lot of water in the process.
2) Special printers to handle the stretch for digital printing on anything other than synthetics like polyester.
Jeff came back a few days later with "Hey, are you serious about doing the digital fabric?" Because I've learned a few things.... if you want to do this, I think we should onshore production, seriously reduce the turn time from order to shipping, and go all American made. You could target a couple of weeks instead of months and I think that will really sell!
Fast forward another 7 months, to November 23, 2022, and we've officially launched WayMakerFabrics.com!
Over those 7 months we've:
-Purchased an old newspaper building (from a God-loving family who answered the call to move with us in this enterprise) and converted it into a state-of-the-art fabric printing facility.
-Purchased high-quality Mimaki printers for natural and synthetic fiber capabilities that can handle the stretch correctly and also purchased a 10" rotary heat press (the machines and facility are capable of processing thousands of yards a month - we're not thinking small!).
-Procured financing from a great local bank and fantastic community programs.
-Created a website and marketing channels.
-Recruited wonderful strike sewists as well as friends and family to get the word out about what we're creating at WayMaker.
-And all the other business things that one needs like tax IDs, LLC structure, etc.
Along the way we've become experts in sourcing high-quality American made fabrics, eco-friendly water-based inks, wonderful artists creating the art that's in my mind with their own unique God-given signature, and so much more!
That's our story! We're a family and business that honors Christ in all that we do - This business is meant to be missional at the core, which is a whole another story to read soon in the blog...Welcome to the WayMaker Fabrics family!