Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Artefacto Apparel. In Leslie's words:
"Artefacto Apparel creates simple, comfortable and versatile clothing for women made exclusively from a hemp/organic cotton blend fabric, and dyed in small-batch form. We offer a “modular” wardrobe which consists of different styles that are available in a variety of lengths and colors. Our clothing is designed to be mixed, matched, and layered in endless ways, allowing women to have effortless style.
I am building my Facebook audience. “Like” my page and enter a raffle for a free give-away! I’ll be regularly holding give-away raffles, as well as other promotions, so it’s really worth connecting to. Also, it’s a great way to get sneak-peeks at new designs.
I’ve recently completely re-vamped my entire line of clothing. If you haven’t checked out my Etsy store in the recent couple weeks, head on over because it’s a whole new place!"
SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business.
Leslie: I’ve been sewing since I was a child. My grandmother was a professional seamstress and she and my mother taught me endless amounts about making clothes. I began Artefacto in 2008, however at the time I only sold clothing at a handful of local artisan fairs. Then in 2012, I opened up an Etsy shop. Until recently, Artefacto Apparel has been a part-time venture that I did alongside being a college Spanish teacher (yes, I had an entirely separate career and life, unrelated to sewing), as well as raising my children. It wasn’t until the universe conspired in some powerful ways in my family’s life, and my husband’s career (ways that at the time seemed like endless adversities, yet have turned out to be blessings in disguise), that I decided to drop my teaching job and dive head first into making and selling clothing. So as of this past June, Artefacto Apparel is my full-time job (alongside my other Full-Time Job of raising four kids!)! I guess you could say that I had a bit of a “quantum” moment in life, and I decided that I wanted to take a chance on doing what I really love! After all, we only get one chance to live, so it’s important to not have any regrets!
SouleMama: What inspired you to start your business?
Leslie: The main reason I started my business was because I wanted to make clothing that I couldn’t find in the marketplace. During college and graduate school I spent a lot of time living and travelling in Europe and Latin America. It wasn’t the fashion that I saw in any one city or country in particular that inspired me, but the overall exposure to the fibers, fabrics, and colors of the world that I had accumulated throughout my time abroad that led me to the designs that I create in Artefacto Apparel. I saw how women in other countries fearlessly and effortlessly layered their clothing, and I wanted to be able to bring that same sense of style to my customers, without needing to have an innate sense of fashion themselves. In essence, I wanted to be able offer a “curated” wardrobe of sorts, composed of layering pieces, enabling women to look and feel beautiful without them having to “think about it.” I’m a busy woman and I know the value and importance of being able to “throw” something comfortable on in the morning, without that “something” being a pair of sweat pants. So my goal with Artefacto Apparel is to offer an eco-friendly wardrobe in which women can do more with less; a wardrobe that has no rules, just options.
SouleMama: What inspires you?
Leslie: I am inspired time and time again by anyone who is self-actualized, and is true to their inner voice, and the pursuit of their dharma. I am inspired by what I could be five, or ten years from now, or twenty, if I stay true to my dreams and to the belief that anything is possible. I recently saw the movie “Man on a Wire” which documents the story of Phillipe Petit, a Frenchman who high-wire walked between the Twin Towers in 1974. It took him years to plan the event and he needed the help an entire team to pull it off. When he was arrested after completing the walk, the police asked him “Why did you do it?” His response was: “Why not?” I thought it was brilliant! He followed a dream not because it made any sense, but because it came from a sacred inner place of truth. I ask myself time and time again what the world would be like if we could all live our lives so audaciously!
SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
Leslie: Yes, I have so many! In fact, these days I litter my house and studio with inspirational quotes. It’s important for me to nourish my spirit with ideas that are positive and uplifting, and continuously remind me that I’m part of a universe that supports me. Henry David Thoreau and Mark Twain have endless quotes of inspiration. But Rumi always seems to come though, time and time again. A few of my favorite are:
“What you seek is seeking you”
“Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.”
“Respond to every call that excites your spirit”
For today's giveaway, Artefacto Apparel is generously offering the following gift to ONE winner:
To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 9:00 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winner is...
gorgeous clothing. The ease of the clothes looks amazing!
Posted by: melissa
Thank you, Artefacto Apparel!
