Hello blades , so I emailed cosmo about my sewing, hoping they'd take interest (I included pictures) but they haven't emailed me back.. and the new issue should be coming out soon... this is what I emailed them : Hello, pardon me if this isn't the right email to send you this.. I tried to look for another one that regards this topic but I couldn't seem to find one. So heres the background, i'm 19, and I live in the state of Washington.. I currently live with my grandmother (she's fabulous, and I have a big room to sew in), and I work at a grocery store, graduated in 2012.. Anyway, the reason i'm emailing you today is because first of all I love your magazine, it inspires me on my creations, and to be bold with it, and personally not to give a fuck about what other people want from me, I do it for me, and what I think i'd like. I read your guys's latest article in the september issue about getting yourself out there and I got this idea on emailing you guys.. I've talked to my group of friends about this (they're mostly guys), and they told me I had enough potential to go beyond, so what do I have too lose? I'm also apart of this forum, i'm kind've known on there, and a lot of people on there told me I should try and make something out of well, making clothes! Okay, okay, okay, enough about why i'm contacting you, and about me. Lets get on to the visuals of my creations... (check the attachments) In the attachments I included the fish bra I made, it was originally from a coin pouch my grandmother had from a long time ago. I think its a nice costume bra, and I LOVED making this.. this was my favorite.. The one titled Vanity, is just another costume bra I made from left over scraps that were too small, or wouldn't fit into my other projects... this one is a little out there, I made the green flower removable. ( I love working with tulie!) And last but not least, is the black dress I modified this was just recently, ( I did not make the black dress, but I sewed the fabric on it), the black dress I got from my mothers yard sale, it was a no name, probably made in the early 90's.. the fabric thats on it, is from a robe one of my good guys friends gave me so I could use it for fabric. This was a pain to do. Anyway, what I want from this? Honestly, I have no idea, I want to sell these, or get myself out there, and another thing, I want the things I make to sell for cheap, like 10-20$ cheap. Pouches would be 3-5$... Why? Because all I spend on these, is my time. I honestly get my fabric from thrift shops, yard sales, a yd of tulie runs for 2.50 at fabric stores, and I find all the accessories just laying around. I see everyone selling costume bras, dresses for 30-50$ . I'm a thrifty person, also a poor person, I don't have that kind of money.. so I mainly shop at thrift shops, yard sales as well. I want to start a website of some sort... but I know shipping costs a bundle! & I wouldn't be able to sell stuff like these for the price I want too. If you read this, I appreciate it, you made my week! I'm emailing you to see what you guys think of it, where I should go from here, if you guys actually reply to this, you made my year! Thank you, Caressa. I mean did I do alright? I mightve slipped on some grammar, I added a tone similar to the tone they imply in their magazine...I'm just wondering why they haven't replied... I mean, are the clothes I make not that great? Do they not appreciate a young sewer Just a rant, and a little bit of help..
I would read your letter and think, "OK what action do I need to take on this for the purpose of my job? Nothing. Next letter (17 out of 136 for the day)" Maybe I do not understand Cosmo or the types of things people send to them. But it sounds like you are a 19 year-old figuring out your plan for the future, and writing to Cosmo about it. I don't quite understand what you want from them. You have some talent and an idea to start a business/career, and that is great for someone at your age. But how does that involve a magazine? They charge a lot of money for advertisements so they won't help you there. Also, keep in mind that a lot of "public" e-mails like that will just remove attachments for security reasons. Employees are stupid and can't be trusted to only open safe attachments. So the person reading your letter might not have even seen your pictures. I would get started on the web site; that is really the best way to get yourself out there these days.
Maybe the part where you said fuck and your terrible grammar and punctuation. Overall it sounds mad desperate and not convincing. It's also extremely unprofessional. You sent three images....THREE. That doesnt prove a damn thing to them. How is three images gonna make you stand out from the rest of the people emailing with proper grammar and better work? I think it was a bad idea emailing. You should have called or wrote a real letter. Remember youre talking to a potential employer not your fuckin 19 year old friend.
Damn... Well thanks for your honesty, you could've put it in a nicer way though, and have you ever read Cosmo? They fuckin' cuss and use chat lingo all the time... && the pictures are the shit I made....without that, what's the point of sending the email? Edit: also, I didn't want to be employed by them, hats a long shot....I just wanted them to give me feedback or tips.. Double edit: I'm sorry, but your post really irks me...you really could've put it in a nicer tone.... I was asking for feedback from the start, you didn't have too use that 'you're really stupid, it's not good.' tone, I know it's not good, but the tone I used I thought I did alright.
I kindve figured they removed the attachments.... I just figured why. It, because they wrote an article about getting yourself out there and the steps too take... Well one was too email the people who would like too see your work.....so I took their advice But yeah, I need a website....I'm not too good at htmling though...
I think the part where you spoke about wanting to sell your stuff kind of made it sound like you wanted them to buy your work. Its sort of like saying "well put me in your magazine so i can sell my stuff to people", when usually they're the ones who get paid to feature things people are wanting to sell.
You should have posted that on here BEFORE e-mailing them. I would've been more than happy to correct the grammar and improve the "flow" of the email. To be honest, the first impression I got from reading it was a trailer-trash girl trying to start a company. I know that's not the case from reading other shit you post, but that's just the vibe I got. Sorry if that sounds harsh. Not telling you how to run your business, but you should charge a little more too. It may seem alright making them now (because it's on a smaller scale) but assuming this actually takes off, I guarantee you you're gonna be pissed off making and selling something with such a low profit margin.
Again, I don't want them too sell my work, I was more or less asking for tips.. Yeah you're right, I should've put a little more thought into it and go into detail about the clothes and where I can start off with what I do... I also typed that email while I was stoned... probably not a good idea . I'm not even sure if it was the right email address. Thanks everyone for your input, I appreciate it. ... If anyone is good with running sites/htmling, etc. Pm me?
[quote name='"thewarden"'] but assuming this actually takes off, I guarantee you you're gonna be pissed off making and selling something with such a low profit margin.[/quote] If I end up selling my items, skirts and dresses would be about 15-20, bras would be 10-15. I could just do 20-40 prices But it hardly costs anything too get my supplies, 5 bucks at the most. && not too mention I have a job and uhhh...sell other goods. I just want too see people wearing my outfits more then anything. Its just the shipping and shit where its gunna get me , that's what's making me skeptical on seelling stuff online.
for sure. All I'm saying is realistically put some thought into the pricing, don't just pull a number out of your ass. How much are the materials? How much effort/time to make each item? How much do you WANT to make from each item? Ask yourself questions like that.
I recommend OP go back to school...no kidding, serious. OP, that box you are in, you have to know what it is before you can think 'outside it'.
Noooooo thanks, I graduated with a 3.0 avg, I'm not going back too that shit. Pardon me though, I'm going to get a little rough right here, have you ever sewed sir? You always have too think outside of the box, inside of the box is sewing two pieces of fabric together with no imagination.... My pieces that I make are different, some have a theme and some you can make it what you want it too be... The stuff I find randomly, I picture it on a dress, I have the fabrics memorized, so I just mix it around in my mind... Like I said, I was baked when I sent hat email...sure my grammar isn't 100% but I'm just a burn out, what do you expect? But yeah, make a layerd dress (top layers only), and I'd like too see you try to do it, without a mannequin, or a unthreaded sewing machine that won't thread...... I make everything by hand, soooooooo........I'm sorry if I'm not thinking outside of the box to your standards.
Mags like that work months in advance. If they find your work appealing, don't know why they wouldn't but who knows, they will want an interview, more examples, contracts.... Sweetheart, this could be 10-12 months... Don't give up, stay with the dream. People don't plan too fail, they fail too plan. What is your back-up plan? Look too some local shops/shows...
Oh I have, and that's around the range I came up with probably will change with shipping.... I want too be different, sell for cheap. Not too many people do that anymore, especially sewers who are selling their own things....it's always overpriced....costume bras are the worst, some charge 100 sometimes, COSTUME BRAS, no, you can get a bra for 3-4 bucks., you put tulle as a base (usually) and you find little stuff too create your theme.....that's not hard, dollar stores, joanns clearence aisle...shit like that... These girls just buy little things, and some lace, other bases and they spend ove 20 bucks on it.... FOR SUPPLIES...damn. That's why they run em for so goddamn much... Bracelets as well...I see girls charging 15 bucks for it! Bracelets are suppose too be the cheapest accessory, well obviously not diamond or shit like that... But who makes hat? . If this does set off I'd want my customers too have money in their pockets and flirt in their outfit . I'll make profit, just not enough too live off of...which is fine, I have other jobs. I don't mind making multiple outfits n one day, I can't get bored with sewing...I love it too much.
well that's good. It's just leagues apart to do something as a hobby for personal use and to turn it into a profession (to some extent) to make money off of. Gotta keep that in mind. "but who makes hat?" had me lol'ing my tits off hahaha reminds me of these hahaha
[quote name='"thewarden"'] "but who makes hat?" had me lol'ing my tits off hahaha [/quote] I was hoping no one would notice that , I was too lazy to edit it . I'm on my grandmothers ipad.. so it autocorrects. I'm also get my 'to's' 'too's mixed up as well.... harsh flaw of mine but I can never remember!
Only read OP, but do you understand how many letters a DAY a magazine like Cosmo gets? And any idea how many actually get read, completely? Secondly, I doubt they would even consider opening an attachment, to risky on their part. So the fact you had attachments, they might of just trashed the whole email.
dont wanna be mean but its too fucking long and chatty. The person on the other end is just gonna get pissed off. Show them your work and make the content about the work so that when the first person who reads it forwards it to person is gonna actually pay attention they dont have to read a load of (sorry) bullcrap about how you live with your grandma who is super fantastic...not that that aint great and all but its gonna annoy the fuck out of someone who reads it at 9am edit i wouldn't normally do this but i think iv seen call other people out about being underage SO oct 2010 join date....and ur 19.....hmmm