As a designer and seamstress of childrens boutique wear it has come to my attention that many buyers are unaware of the Boutique Community on eBay which is centered around childrens fashion. For any lover of quality handmade items this community offers unique and one-of-a-kind fashions and accessories for children at often affordable prices.
Boutique Designer Groups... eBay provides the opportunity for sellers of like items to group together for discussion and collaboration. While linking to auctions is prohibited eBay does offer a cross promotion feature. This tool allows the buyer to view boutique items which are many times designed to compliment one another and afford the opportunity to purchase clothing and accessories of the same quality offered by designers who work together and can provide like colors, styles, etc. These groups often use nicknames or initials in their titles to assist in the buyers search. ie... thejills is a nickname for a group of designers known as Jack*N*Jill Boutique Designers. This allows the buyer to search "thejills" and all of the auctions for this group of designers will show up in the search. When viewing these listings the buyer can oftentimes see cross promotions offering matching items and wardrobe pieces specifically designed to compliment each other. Most of these groups are comprised of sellers which specialize in clothing, jewelry, hair fashions, and even decorative designs. They are planned to bring a wide variety of complementary items to the buyer.
Competition... the competition is stiff among boutique designers. This is a great benefit to the buyer. While groups generally are comprised of experienced designers who have established a reputation, there are also designers who are new to eBay that offer beautiful designs and quality work. Their auctions, most times, do not bring the same ending bids as established designers with higher feedback numbers. This is not to say that their items are of a lower quality. If you are lucky enough to find an experienced seamstress who is new to ebay you can acquire high quality fashions at very affordable prices. If you are not willing to take the chance on a new designer you may pay a little more for a design from an established designer. However, the childrens boutique community offers some of the most beautiful and unique childrens clothing I have ever seen.
Identifying quality... eBay offers several ways to protect the boutique buyer and insure that a quality item is received. Check feedback! See what other buyers have to say about the designer and if they are happy with their purchases. Read the "About Me" page! Most designers are proud of how long they have been designing and love to show off previous designs and pictures of their work. Ask questions! ASQ offers buyers the opprotunity to ask the designer questions directly. And designers love to provide measurements and details about the quality of their work. Questions indicate interest and the opportunity to 'sell' the item. Is the designer a member of a selling group? Most of the selling groups are by invitation. If a designer has been invited and is part of a group there is a good likelihood that they are respected by their peers and this will represent quality.
Look for terms which indicate experience! Most boutique designers adhere to a certain standard. Serged seams are a boutique standard. They require a specialty sewing machine and insure that a garment will withstand the wear and tear of children. If a designer does not indicate that they use a serger ask if the seams are finished. Alternate methods of finishing seams include straight and zigzag combination or french seams. Experienced designers will prewash fabrics prior to construction. This is very important when purchasing appliqued and handpainted garments. Prewashing insures that garments will not shrink when laundered or applique stitching become buckled. You will also insure a minimum loss of paint on handpainted items as the fabric sizing has already been laundered out. If you have any allergies be sure to check for smoke and pet free studios. Most boutique designers work out of their homes and you will want to insure that you don't purchase something that will be offensive to you upon delivery.
Custom Listings... many boutique designers offer their designs on a custom basis. This allows the buyer to purchase a design in a required size within specified limits. If the time frame for construction is not indicated be sure to ask the designer when you can expect delivery prior to bidding. If you need a custom outfit for a particular occasion sooner than the designer can create it you may be disappointed. The positive aspect is that the design is custom by nature. It is created specifically to your childs measurements and the buyer can often add or delete design elements. Custom listings are usually presented beautifully and models are used to assist the buyer in 'seeing' the finished garment.
I sincerely hope this short guide will assist you in your search for beautiful handmade childrens garments and accessories on eBay. The childrens boutique community is a special place filled with magic and things that children love. You will delight at the beautiful fabrics, trims and creative ideas which are utilized by this group of very talented sellers. For gift giving or for your own little ones there is no limit to the creativity and quality which is offered. Enjoy!
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