About this project
My name is Alexis Black. I am a professional corsetiere and owner of Electra Designs Corsetry. I have been making corsets for over 20 years. When I began, I did not have access to any type of corset-making information. There were no commercial corset patterns, no books, online communities or blogs, no instructional dvds or printed materials. I had never seen a real corset in person. Most people at that time didn't even know what a corset was!
The few people who were making corsets professionally online were generally very secretive and protective of their craft. I looked far and wide for materials and instruction. I would have done just about anything to have someone show me how to design and create amazing corsets. I taught myself how to design and construct corsets from the ground up, through trial and error...A LOT of trial and error, literally blood, sweat and tears. Over the years I have perfected my own unique methods for creating beautiful, perfectly fitted, high quality modern corsets for any size, shape, gender or purpose. I want to teach you how to do it too.
Courtesy of the internet, these days most people not only know what a corset is, they can tell the difference between a high quality corset that fits well and does it's job, and the mass-produced so-called "cookie-cutter corsets" that have become so prevalent. Thanks to a very active and passionate online corset community, demand for well-made corsets has increased to the point where many corsetieres (myself included) have long waiting lists and turn-around times because we just can't make quality corsets fast enough. Hand made corsets are very labor-intensive, time-consuming and can be pretty expensive.
More and more people wish to learn how to make corsets for themselves and others. Despite the increasing availability of corset-related information, learning how to make corsets can be a very daunting endeavor. With some effort, beginners will find a few helpful online communities, patterns, books, and even the occasional video tutorial. To my knowledge, there are currently no comprehensive instructional materials that do an excellent job of teaching people how to design and make really good corsets.
In an effort to share my love of corsetry, I have been teaching people how to make corsets in my home corset studio. Unfortunately, 99% of the people who wish to participate are unable to attend due to financial, travel and scheduling limitations. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't ask me for corset-making instruction and resources.
I have been reluctant to create instructional materials because it is a huge and very time consuming project. In order to do an excellent job of making comprehensive videos, patterns, printed materials and kits, I would have to take 6-12 months off work as a corsetiere. As a one-woman business, sacrificing my only source of income is not an option. I need enough money to replace (or at least substantially subsidize) my corset-making income so I can focus my effort and resources on creating the best instructional corset-making materials possible.
In addition to keeping food in my tummy and a roof over my head while I work on this project, your contributions will help pay for supplies, equipment, and the assistance of my talented graphic/ web designer and cameraman, Rodney Saenz and others who I will commission to assist me.
If you don't sew, or have no desire to learn how to make corsets, please consider backing this project as a way to help empower those who use my corset-making materials to start their own corset businesses. Contrary to popular belief, most modern corsetieres are no longer wildly competitive. I think I speak for many designers when I say that it is very exciting and inspiring to see what other people make. Many talented, hard-working people have become jobless or under-emplyed over the years. Many others work jobs they hate. My product will teach very valuable skills that will enable more people to work for themselves, while making beautiful garments that can last many generations.
My project is about sharing, teaching, and inspiring. It's about opening up, becoming transparent, and empowering people. It's about allowing others to stand on my shoulders, skip 20 years of trial, error, guesswork and frustration and get right down to making something beautiful, sustainable and functional. The more funds I raise, the more information I will be able to share in my videos, printed materials, corset patterns and corset-making kits, so please pledge generously.
Thank you for supporting my desire to share the secrets of my craft with the world. Be sure to check out the amazing hand-made rewards I am offering to supporters. I promise, you won't be disappointed!
FAQ
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I do not currently offer patterns for sale, but if this project gets funded, I will create a line of patterns, plus instructions for how to customize the patterns to fit any size or shape. I may even offer custom drafted patterns. Please share this project with your friends so we can get the funding to make it happen. :)
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I do plan to offer short, free tutorials online, but the bulk of the materials will be sold to the general public.
If the campaign is successful, I plan to sell the materials on my web site, etsy, and possibly on Amazon. If the campaign is not successful, I won't be able to create any materials.
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I do not currently have any classes scheduled. Please join my corset making meetup group to receive updates when a new class is scheduled. http://www.meetup.com/Make-Corsets/
I no not plan to offer another workshop for at least a year. If this kickstarter project is successful, you will be able to learn everything I teach in my workshops and much more, at your own pace, right in the comfort of your home.
The corset-mamimg instructional materials made in this project will be affordable and easily accessible. I plan to offer materials for every level, from Tenacious Beginner, all the way up to Industry Professional. Thank you for supporting this project.
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I am currently fully booked and will be unable to accept new orders for at least a few months. Please join my mailing list at electradesigns.net to receive an update when I have openings. Thanks for your patience. :)
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I have not yet designed the prizes, but I will most likely design at least three marionettes, which will be printed on card stock. I'm thinking of making three different skin tones (possibly different body types, too, as I would love to make a plus size one). Each doll will have a different corset outfit on. The marionettes will have only one outfit (drawn on), but the paper dolls will have several changes of clothes (mostly naked body with interchangeable corsets and other garments). If possible (not sure if kickstarter will provide email addresses of sponsors), I would like to give you a choice once they are designed. I plan to make the other choices, as well as the paper dolls (also hoping to design several choices) available for sale on etsy after the campaign.
I am so excited about the paper dolls and marionettes, I can't wait to get started designing them. I have to catch up on my corset orders before I can get started on the prizes, but I KNOW you are going to love them.
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I have not yet created the gifts or worked out the details, which is why the description was intentionally left a big vague, but here are the basics.
At the $500 level, in addition to all previous rewards, you will receive a multi-size underbust corset pattern, with a dvd showing how to put it together.
At the $750 level, you will receive all previous gifts, including the pattern and dvd (from the $500 reward), plus an overbust corset kit containing a multi-sized overbust pattern, printed instructions, and basic materials busk, boning, bone tips, waist tape, coutil, eyelets etc. The dvd from the previous gift will be applicable to both the overbust and underbust patterns. -
I plan to create instructional materials for intermediate to advanced sewers, with steps that are easy enough for a tenacious beginner with good command over a sewing machine and a good understanding of garment construction.
First, I wish to create some materials for beginner corset makers (they would have to know how to sew well, be very detail oriented, and patient, naturally), for example, how to make a simple 4 panel (8 panels all together) waspie without a busk or waist tape. More advanced students may work on more complicated patterns, that include a busk, waist tape, front modesty panel, etc. For fashion design students and people who already have some corset-making experience, I would like to cover pattern fit and customization, modification of style lines, fancy embellishment, etc. The more funding I receive, the more topics I will be able to cover.
I haven't planned it all out yet, but I want to create a big collection of dvds, patterns, printed materials, and kits, as well as some free online tutorials for at least 3 levels of ability and experience. I plan to sell them ala-cart and as sets, so sewers can pick and chose only what they need to fill in the gaps in their knowledge and learn a few new techniques to take their work to the next level, or they can buy complete courses that show how to make a particular style from start to finish. The techniques from one level will be built upon in the next.
There is so much I wish to share. If this project is funded, I plan to create the first ever, very comprehensive, easy to follow, step by step, multi-level corset-making system. It won't be just bits and pieces of info taken from other sources. Serious sewers and designers from competent beginners to advanced industry professionals will discover ways to take their craft to the next level.
I have not yet worked out the pricing because I want to make many products for many levels. A multi-size corset pattern might be between $30-60 depending on the style and complexity. A dvd with step by step instructions for a waspie might be around $60. A 3 part dvd set for a more complicated corset (long line overbust with all the goodies, for example) may be around $250. Corset making kits may range between $60-$130 depending on the style, level of complexity, and materials. I want to make it so you can buy just a pattern, just a dvd, or just a kit, or you can buy a set that has everything.
These are, of course just rough estimates. There are so many topics to cover. Very advanced materials will naturally cost more than materials for beginners.
My goal is to start with the basics for beginners and work out and up in complexity, so students who enjoy making a waspie, for example, and wish to learn more, can move up to the next level, which will build on what I have already taught them. Students who are more experienced can just jump ahead to the more advanced stuff.
If I get $20k in funding, I want to make a dvd (or multi-dvd set for longer lessons), printed materials, patterns and kits for the following 3 corsets:
Basic waspie construction for beginner corset makers
Underbust corset construction with minimal size modification
Overbust corset construction with full customization and extra bells and whistles not shown in prior lessonsI will be teaching my own very effective, time tested techniques, which are different than what you will find in other books, kits and patterns.
I wish I could be more specific about pricing, but until I receive funding, and begin work on the project, I won't really know for sure how it will be broken down. Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what you can expect.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
282
Backers
$22,792
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on March 2.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
Personal thanks on Electra Designs facebook fan page and Twitter
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Thank you post card from me to you, signed, featuring Electra Designs corset, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
Set of 4 printed corset postcards featuring Electra Designs corsets, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
Articulated card stock marionette featuring Electra Designs corset, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
Hand made fragrant herbal drawer sachet (pretty enough to hang from your rear view mirror, printed with Electra Designs Corset, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Paper doll set featuring various Electra Designs corsets, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Beautiful hand made, corset-printed lingerie bag, your name listed in the producer credits on my first collection of corset-making dvds, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Instructional corset making dvd with multi-sized corset pattern, made by Electra Designs for this project, VIP pre-release priority ordering, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
Corset-making kit with all the basic materials to make your own corset the Electra Designs way, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Hand-drafted, one-of-a-kind custom corset pattern, made to your unique measurements, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $1,500 or more Pledge $1,500 or more
One-of-a-kind, hand made table top corset sculpture, made by Alexis Black, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $2,000 or more Pledge $2,000 or more
Mockup plus personal or remote fitting using your hand-drafted custom corset pattern (reward #10) to insure your pattern fits you perfectly, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
Introductory collection of unique Electra Designs corset patterns with comprehensive instructions, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $7,500 or more Pledge $7,500 or more
Hand-made one-of-a-kind custom overbust corset, made to fit your measurements (or that of a loved one), includes mockup plus personal or remote fitting, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $9,500 or more Pledge $9,500 or more
20 hours of personal, one-on-one corset-making and/or pattern drafting instruction, in my studio or via skype, plus all previous rewards
Pledge $9,750 or more Pledge $9,750 or more
Hand made, one-of-a-kind, full size Electra Designs corset display form, plus all previous rewards (except reward #15)
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
One-of-a-kind 11"x14" painting inspired by Electra Designs Corsetry, painted by Alexis Black, in your chosen color pallet and mood, plus all previous rewards (except reward #15 and #16)
Project By
Connected as Alexis Black (50 friends)
My name is Alexis Black, and I am a professional corsetiere. I attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, and am primarily self-taught. I made my first "corset" at age 15. The art of corsetry has been my passion ever since.
I spent the early part of my life working retail jobs that I resented. I felt my time and creativity being slowly sapped away from me. In my limited spare time, I enjoyed designing, illustrating, and most of all, sewing corsets. As a very young, single mother with limited resources, I found it very difficult to justify my somewhat eccentric hobby. Materials were scarce and costly, and I had no place to wear the corsets I made. I sold most of what I made at local consignment shops just to cover the cost of materials.
In, 1998, in an effort to pay for supplies so I could continue making corsets for pleasure, I began selling custom corsets online. I was the first person to sell hand-made corsets on ebay. At the time I was also attending fashion design school where I maintained a 4.0 GPA and worked part time as a tutor. I was also working part time in retail.
About a month before graduation, I was forced to drop out of school due to a medical disability. That same disability made working a regular job impossible. Thankfully, what might have been a tragedy became an opportunity. Rather than wallowing in my despair, I turned my attention to the art of corsetry. I created a healthy home work environment where I could work with, rather than against my limitations. Electra Designs Corsetry was born.
Over the years I have made hundreds of corsets for people around the world. Electra Designs Corsetry known for superior quality, beautifully made custom corsets for people of all shapes, sizes and genders. I try to improve with each corset I make. I love my job! I get to work from home, on my time, with wonderful clients, beautiful fabrics, and very creative collaborators.
During the first decade of my career, I provided free corset-making advice on the online corset-making forums. I found the medium very time consuming, and greatly ineffective because without a strong foundation in the basic techniques and materials, it can be hard for beginners to apply what they learned. I eventually stopped doing it because it felt like a waste of time.
In 2008, I opened my home corset-making studio to students, and began teaching corset construction and pattern drafting workshops. Due to logistical limitations and my heavy corset-making workload, I have only been able to teach a few workshops a year. Many of my students are unable to take time off work to travel to my studio for a week-long session. I feel I can multiply my efforts and reach more people by making videos, kits, printed materials and brilliant corset patterns that students can use to learn at their own pace, in the comfort of their own homes.
My desire is to share my passion for the art of corsetry by teaching people around the world how to design and make beautiful corsets for themselves and others. You can learn more about me and Electra Designs Corsetry by visiting Electra Designs Corsetry, my facebook fan page, and my corset making meetup group page. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me!
