Liamolly Reborn: The Determination of Seema Sudan & Bringing Small Industry Back To North America

I want to share this article about Seema Sudan, co-owner and designer of the Liamolly knitwear collection based in New Orleans, Louisiana.  This is a good news story about an entrepreneur who made a pitch to her community at-large to fund the purchase of several industrial knitting machines, which would allow her to start production of her knitwear line in the USA, and more importantly, in her community of New Orleans.


Seema had previously been working with knitting mills in Asia, who also were kind enough to produce her line of Knitwear, which she sells to boutiques across North America, and her children's line, which is sold exclusively at the wonderful Antropologie stores worldwide. 


Unfortunately the Asian knitting mills could no longer produce her small production runs so Seema used the internet, social media and a non-profit, private funding organization for arts based businesses called Kickstarter to raise the capital she needed to purchase her equipment.


Seema reached her funding goal in November and is on her way to achieving what she set out to do; purchase several industrial knitting machines allowing her to set up her manufacturing and design business in her community of New Orleans!


Here is the link to Seema's Kickstarter profile and you can see how she achieved her goal by viewing the list of donors.


Please watch the video which I think is very interesting and very well done.



Here is the link to the Liamolly Website


Have a look around, take inspiration! Maybe even buy something! ;)
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PS: If you were not aware of it, Anthropologie is one of the more popular mid-market clothing retailers, with retail locations across North America and expanding into Europe as well. They are known for their unique styling and fashion lines, which now includes children's clothing produced by Liamolly, as well as home furnishings. 


Anthropologie has two retail locations here in Toronto, which are gorgeous as they do a fabulous job at merchandising. 


Have a look at the Anthropologie website as well, it's very well done. While everything may not be your cup of tea, this is a very popular retailer and they showcase what is current in terms of women's clothing.


• Here is the Anthropologie link to their sweaters. Be inspired!


• Of interest to Ravelry members: If you didn't already know, there is also the Anthropologie Group on Ravelry. This group is very popular with over 16, 000+ Ravelry members and they do knit-a-longs all the time to knock-off pieces they've seen online or at the stores. That's what we crafty people do! Either buy it ready made off the rack or make our own version. Check out the completed projects from some of the knit-a-longs on the Ravelry group. Very impressive.


Have a great 2012!


May luck and good fortune shine upon you!
God bless.
Patrick.