Fund Tracey's Unique Fashion Journey

I have always had a love of fashion and people with their own signature style. My grandparents did not live close, but both sets were full of personality with a style to match. Their lives were hardly glamorous: square dancing, playing cards, but what stood out is they dressed up just to visit or have dinner with friends. I looked forward to that part of being grown up, but people did not dress up like that anymore. Anytime I got the slightest chance to dress up, I took it. For me, that was usually school, shopping, and later the workplace. I'll bet there are feathers from one of my "everyday" bags floating around a few places I used to work.

My wildest dream closet would be stuffed with things found in VOGUE, BAZAAR, and old movies. I started refurbishing, decorating, and making things in middle school. Over the years, I went from gifts, selling to individuals, a few boutiques, and websites. Starting off on the wrong foot at an early age (12-27 drinking) limited my options; I made figuring out what I wanted to do while doing it harder than it already is.

No matter what industry I made a living in, I continued what is now known as a side gig. I gave things away, donated, sent out samples, and did a few shows. I even got an email from "O's scouts" and a magazine feature after sending out samples of my feather bags. I did not get the response I hoped for. In my do-over dream, I use an 800 number instead of a website. I have been on Etsy since the get-go, along with my other efforts providing a way to get things rolling.

Traditional financing has never been an option for me, and creating a GoFundMe is one idea suggested on my search as a way to continue doing what I want to do without a middleman. Any funds I receive would allow me to take a week from the day job for inventory and the funds to rent a booth at a wholesale trade show, get some retail accounts, and return to having my own site.

Thank you for reading. I am happy to answer questions or share some interesting stories.

Wish me luck,

Tracey