Since the early days of eBay, conscientious shoppers have turned online to find unique, handmade products not readily available on the high street. US-based handmade marketplace Etsy, which has been going for over five years, and the UK alternative, Folksy, offer Slow shoppers the opportunity to buy artfully crafted products from virtual marketplaces. These marketplaces offer everything from garden ornaments and sweet-smelling soaps, to vintage handbags and couture wedding dresses.
Fashion in particular flourishes on these sites, giving new designers the opportunity to sell their creations without the worry of large overheads. The showcase section of each website means sellers are likely to reach a much larger customer base then if they’d set up a shop on their own website. This often means designers are more flexible, and some even give shoppers the option of requesting a customised outfit or accessory.
Tempted by the concept of a unique outfit designed to fit your exact needs? Etsy is probably your best bet, as the variety of designers is vast. However, there are a few things you need to take into consideration before you add a designer dress to your shopping cart:
1) What time frame are you working with? A wedding in two weeks is probably going to be too short notice, particularly if you’re dealing with an Etsy seller based abroad.
2) Similarly, bear in mind that Etsy sellers often have limited resources and staff, and you therefore might have to wait while they finish the previous customer’s order.
3) Check seller feedback. Etsy has a feedback scheme that works in a similar way to eBay. Always look at this before proceeding with a purchase. Have a browse of the community pages too, to see if any recommendations stand out.
4) Check the fabrics. Most designers are happy to send you a swatch of fabric before designing, so you don’t get a nasty surprise when the finished article arrives.
5) Measurements and style. If you’re requesting a product made from scratch, remember that you’ll probably need to carry on a lengthy conversation with the designer after making the purchase, to discuss measurements, colours and styles. It’s also useful to have an image or sketch of the kind of dress you’d like, for a clearer idea of your expectations.
Have you ever bought a customised outfit on Etsy?
Image: YongS
