{"id":1531,"date":"2020-06-12T08:35:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T12:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/?p=1531"},"modified":"2023-02-03T11:30:46","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T16:30:46","slug":"fashion-forward-brant-shihs-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/fashion-forward-brant-shihs-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Fashion Forward: Brant Shih’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

Creative genius is a flame that cannot be extinguished. For Brant Shih, there has always been a passion inside him pushing him towards the arts and fashion. A true creative spirit, he made the brave decision to travel over 7,000 miles to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion designer. In his younger years, he studied at a vocational school in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (his home country), and majored in fashion design. As his love for fashion grew, he knew that it would lead him to new heights. Eventually, he found his way to Sailrite\u00ae, and we\u2019re honored to have helped him pursue his education in the world of fashion design.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brant, his trusty Ultrafeed and many of his custom pieces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From day one, Brant was well aware of his creative purpose. It only made sense that he dedicated his life to studying and creating wearable works of art. But in Taiwan, there were only two nearby high schools that taught fashion design. Across the globe, New York City is known as one of the world\u2019s largest fashion hubs. So when it came time to get serious about his studies, Brant made his way to the Big Apple in 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brant is currently pursuing a college degree in Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, New York. Located in Manhattan, this is the place where aspiring designers go to learn the tools of the trade. This public university is well-known for its fashion programs, and even boasts several famous designer alumni including Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Randy Fenoli of \u201cSay Yes to the Dress\u201d fame <\/span>\u2014 <\/span>just to name a few. Those are some big (patent leather) shoes to fill!<\/span><\/p>\n

And while some students at other schools would be taking written exams, one of his most formative projects was to create a custom bag all on his own. His assignment was to exemplify a specific leather manipulation technique to make a bag or purse. And in the middle of this difficult project, disaster struck. Brant found himself stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdown in New York City. Before the lockdown, Brant had been going to a communal space that had sewing machines for fashion students to use. But without access, he needed to start researching other avenues to finish his piece.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A willing model showing off one of Brant’s custom pieces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scouring the internet, Brant searched for a machine that could handle multiple layers of leather. It also needed to be portable and small enough to fit inside his living space. After ample research, Brant stumbled upon the Sailrite\u00ae Ultrafeed\u00ae Sewing Machine. \u201cAt that moment, I knew this was what I was looking for.\u201d The Ultrafeed was an investment in his craft and future career and a way to assure his productivity during an unprecedented time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor my assignment, I needed to make a handbag in any style of my choosing and combine two types of leather in a manipulation technique. It had to be done in a way so that one could see that there is leather woven on the front of the handbag and french binding on the opening. I chose to create a circular-shaped bag instead of a square or rectangle.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A masterful creation made with help from the Ultrafeed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMy Sailrite Ultrafeed Sewing Machine is a good investment, especially for people like me. I don\u2019t have a lot of space at home but I hoped to get an industrial machine that could sew heavy materials like leather. I like that Sailrite helps customers learn more about sewing and can help fix any issues with their customers’ machines.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from making purses and shoes, one of Brant\u2019s favorite things to sew and create is millinery. According to the modern fashion dictionary, \u201c<\/span>Millinery is the manufacture and craft of making hats and headwear. A milliner historically would also produce everything from shirts, cloaks and shifts, to caps and neckerchiefs for both men and women, as well as designing and trimming their headgear. The term dates to the Middle Ages, when a Milener referred to someone from Milan \u2014 the home of the fashion and textiles trade. Millinery has evolved throughout history, but remains popular with a range of different events and uniforms. More often than not, hats can indicate social status, from a cowboy\u2019s Stetson to a gentleman\u2019s top hat, or the cocktail fascinators worn by ladies at the races.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of Brant’s one-of-a-kind, handcrafted hats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what does the future hold for this enterprising young fashion up-and-comer? In a word, upcycling. \u201cI am currently working on an upcycle project on my own. I have two pairs of pants and one pair of shorts that I am cutting into pieces and reassembling into a tote bag. I\u2019ll also be using a vinyl raincoat for the bottom of the bag so it\u2019s easy to clean. I\u2019m also planning to sew a quilting pattern on the bag and use a piece of bubble wrap as the foam base for the quilting pattern.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re eagerly waiting to see what you create next, Brant!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Sailrite is your one-stop DIY shop! We are a passionate crew of do-it-yourselfers who strive to equip you with the supplies and how-to knowledge you need to tackle your next project. Do you want to learn upholstery, leatherwork, canvaswork, hobby sewing, bag making or more? We have the fabric, tools, hardware, sewing machines and notions you need to master any DIY. And even if you’ve never sewn before, our tutorials and how-to videos are designed for beginners and experienced crafters alike.<\/span><\/p>\n

Start your DIY journey today: www.sailrite.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Creative genius is a flame that cannot be extinguished. For Brant Shih, there has always been a passion inside him pushing him towards the arts and fashion. A true creative spirit, he made the brave decision to travel over 7,000 miles to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion designer. In his younger years, he … Continue reading Fashion Forward: Brant Shih’s Story<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[13],"tags":[39,48,32,15,42,37,70],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/DSF9235-copy.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/padSoq-oH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1439,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/ultrafeed-cosplay-leatherwork\/","url_meta":{"origin":1531,"position":0},"title":"Creative Cosplay With Jennifer Parker","date":"April 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Brimming with a can-do attitude and an innovative spirit, Jennifer Parker has always been a fan of the arts. From an early age, she was actively participating in local theater productions and soon found herself enamored with the costumes. Her pursuit of creative expression eventually led her to Sailrite\u00ae and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-21-at-8.24.46-AM.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1245,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/recycled-jeans-bags\/","url_meta":{"origin":1531,"position":1},"title":"Peace, Love & Handbags","date":"January 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes you get an idea for something and it takes off. That's what happened to Laurie Carty. One day, she was looking online for purses and stumbled upon a crocheted fat bottom bag. She instantly fell in love with the classic hippie-style purse and thought the design and shape of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/main-image.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1094,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/outdoor-living\/taking-diy-new-heights\/","url_meta":{"origin":1531,"position":2},"title":"Taking DIY to New Heights","date":"October 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The possibilities of things you can make with a sewing machine are limitless! Sailrite\u00ae customer Gregory Palmquist had a fleeting idea to sew his own kites after he was underwhelmed by the selection of mass-produced kite kits. This seed of an idea has grown into a bigger hobby that has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/kites-collage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2579,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/hobby\/ultrafeed-fabric-art-sewing\/","url_meta":{"origin":1531,"position":3},"title":"The Art of Sewing: A Lesson in Self-Expression & Community","date":"October 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"When you think about art, does fabric come to mind? For Jackson Martin, it absolutely does. Jackson is an associate professor of sculpture at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Since art school, he has used fabric in his sculpture and installation pieces with great effect. His most recent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hobby"","img":{"alt_text":"Jackson Martin sculptures","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Collage-Maker-11-Oct-2022-12.14-PM.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":785,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/home\/diy-life-creative-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":1531,"position":4},"title":"The DIY Life: One Man’s Creative Story","date":"July 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"When amateur woodworker and DIY enthusiast Bruce Steinert realized his La-Z-Boy\u00ae recliners were looking a bit worse for wear, he set out to have them reupholstered. To his shock and disbelief, the lowest quote from an upholstery shop cost almost as much as the original purchase price of the recliners.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home"","img":{"alt_text":"reupholstered la-z-boy recliners","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Reupholstered-Recliners.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":713,"url":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/automotive-rv\/driven-to-sew\/","url_meta":{"origin":1531,"position":5},"title":"Driven to Sew: A Lifelong Hobby","date":"May 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The DIY spirit can take any number of forms \u2014 there\u2019s no end to what you can create with the right supplies, a good idea and a little extra time on your hands. That\u2019s exactly the same mindset held by Sailrite\u00ae customer and long-time crafter Louis Cossey. Following his retirement\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Automotive\/RV"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/LouisCossey5-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1531"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1531"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2759,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1531\/revisions\/2759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1540"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sailrite.com\/meet-our-customers\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}