DESIGNED to wear

Christina Albeck talks to us about what inspires her Danish designs and why she has decided to start offering printed patterns

Tell us a bit about your background?

I have worked as a Pattern Designer in the Fashion Industry for the past 25 years. First in California, where I lived in my twenties, and then upon my return to Denmark, I became a teacher of pattern making on CAD and started working in the Danish Fashion industry. I worked mainly as a freelancer and got to work on women’s, children’s, and menswear.

What inspired you to start Wardrobe By Me?

As a freelancer, I experienced the ‘on and off’ periods significant to the fashion cycles, and felt frustrated that I had to wait for work coming my way. After discovering the Indie PDF market, I thought; “Hey, this is easy, I can do this!” Little did I know!

The first couple of years, Wardrobe By Me was more of a hobby for me, but since January 2018, it has been my full-time job..

How would you describe your style of patterns?

I would describe the women’s collection as simple, modern, contemporary.

I focus on the types of garments that I wear myself.

And clothing that is worn over and over because you love the fit, the comfort, and the fabric. The fit is very important to me and style is best reflected in well-fitting garments.

Tropical Shirt Pattern from Wardrobe By Me

The men’s collection is focused around the pieces that men wear on a daily basis such as shirts, T-shirts, sweaters, shorts, chinos, or light jackets or cardigans. I do look at what’s in style currently, but tend to gravitate towards what I would call ‘normcore’. Men tend to stick with what works, and again where the fit is key.

Asta Jersey Dress from Wardrobe By Me

Recently Wardrobe By Me patterns have become available in a printed format. Tell us why you’ve decided it was time to do this?

Selling PDF patterns is great, but some people still prefer going to the fabric shop to touch the fabric, and get inspired to buy a pattern and the fabric together for a specific project. Expanding into paper patterns is a way for Wardrobe By Me to reach new customers, and also to place our product where it really belongs, in the fabric shop.

How can sewers get hold of your printed patterns?

The paper pattern collection is available in fabric shops in the UK (distributed by Hantex), Denmark, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Spain, USA, and Canada. We now only sell PDF patterns from our website. We have a list on the website with links to all the shops that sell the WBM Paper Pattern Collection. We have chosen this solution to minimise the cost of shipping for the customer.

What is your best-selling sewing pattern and why do you think this is?

The best-selling women’s patterns are Mirri Jersey Dress and Asta Jersey Dress. Both are very simple, but great fitting dresses that are easy to style, and quick to sew.

When I first designed Asta, I had the dress hanging in the studio for several months before deciding to release it. I felt it was too to obvious and simple. I’m happy that I finally decided to go ahead, and I know my customers are too!

I designed Mirri for my sister (her name is Marianne, but we have always call her Mirri). She has always been a sucker for a good wrap dress. The Mirri Jersey Dress is stunning, and I love the fact that there are only four pattern pieces!

The best-selling men’s patterns are the Tropical Shirt and The Cargo Shorts.

It’s quite interesting to see, that on the women’s side, it’s the easy, uncomplicated patterns that sell best, whereas the men’s patterns are much more complicated.

When we first launched the line of patterns for men – we were targeting women sewing for men, but it has turned out that there are many men out there that sew. And what’s more, they are not intimidated by more complicated sewing techniques.

What pattern plans do you have for the rest of this year?

We plan three months ahead, and try to focus on a mixture of wardrobe staples, spiced up with an occasional trendy piece.

We are releasing a front button skirt next and have a cute boho dress and a jumpsuit in the pipeline. If they do well, they will also become paper patterns in the near future.

In the autumn, I have ideas for a ‘loungewear’ collection. I’m thinking about the type of garments that you want to wear when you come home from work. For the men’s collection, we are planning a coach jacket, which is simple front zipper jacket with welt or patch pockets and a collar.

You can find out more about Wardrobe By Me patterns in print in the UK here - hantex.page.link/wbm

Cargo Shorts Pattern from Wardrobe By Me