This past December, I went to Shanghai to visit my factory (and luckily had enough time to do some touristy activities too). I just wanted to share my trip and give you guys a behind the scenes tour.
Production is not the most glamorous part of the fashion industry, and maybe sharing details about it takes a bit away from the "magic" of it all. Garments don't come out of thin air though, production is obviously very important. So if you're curious, read on*! Or, if you only read my blog for pretty pictures of models in dresses, there will be more of that later, so stay tuned!
 |
| The cutting table. They stack the fabric and cut so many pieces at once that it requires a saw. It takes a lot of skill to do this neatly and accurately! |
 |
| Seamstresses at their sewing tables. |
I spent months sending prototypes, patterns, and samples back and forth with the factory. I visited the factory to inspect the bulk order before they shipped it, so they were finished producing my order before I got there. I was very happy to see the employees in action though -- they were such a happy and talented group!
 |
| Haute Holly dresses on a rack and ready to go! |
My favorite part of the trip was the food. The factory manager and sales representative were such gracious hosts. I ate a lot of hot pot, noodles, and seafood -- yum!
 |
| Factory's owner, his wife, and my sales representative at Japanese BBQ restaurant. |
 |
| Hot pot lunch with Fiona, my sales representative. |
Everything was great at the factory, and Haute Holly dresses were going in their boxes. I went to downtown Shanghai to explore for a couple of days. Here are a few of my favorite sights!
 |
| Longhua Temple. Beautiful, ornate temple. Bonus: they give you free incense with your admission ticket! |
 |
| Yuyuan Garden. Built during the Ming Dynasty. Gorgeous buildings, bridges, and landscapes. I wandered this garden for hours. |
 |
| 1933 Shanghai. A Bauhaus building with Escheresque ramps and staircases. I had to include an image of this place because I found it to be so inspiring. |
Thanks for reading babes! Hope you enjoyed. Let me know if there is anything else you'd like to see on my blog.
xoH
*Semi-off topic: I love watching videos about how they manufacture crayons, macaroni, etc. I know I can't be the only one. The precision of an assembly line is so satisfying to watch.
