PDX Profile: Karina Potestio
Submitted by crafty-admin on June 3, 2008 - 5:47am.
DIY Alert Blog | PDX Profiles
I love Karina Potestio's bird skirts - they're so happy. And I love that she's a self-taught seamstress. Her busines, Luna, is all about cute clothes and accessories for women, girls, and maternity. Definitely check out her Etsy store for more pictures!
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How did you get started sewing clothes?
I remember my mom sewing all of my clothes when I was a little girl living in my native Guatemala. As a teenager, I deconstructed clothing to learn how to make things for myself. As an adult, I moved to Portland and started a family. I have always sewn clothes for my three daughters.
What kinds of things inspire the garments you make?
What inspires my entire line is creating unique, handmade affordable clothing for families like my own. I started selling when I realized that on my husband's salary as a public school teacher, we couldn't afford most of the hip handmade clothes I was seeing around Portland. So when people tell me "you could sell this for more," I say "no." I want everyone to have an alternative to mass produce clothing.
Things that inspire the design of individual pieces include colorful fabric and textures, and mostly my own kids, what they are interested in.
What would you say is the biggest reward and biggest challenge of having a sewing business?
There are two things that come to mind. First, staying at home with my kids is important to me, and sewing allows me to do this, I also really love to see kids (and adults) wearing my creations all over town.
It is a challenge to balance family time and all of the time I spend sewing. Sometimes that means staying up later than I would like, but this is the trade off for having a home business. It is also frustrating to have to put off new designs for a while because I don't have enough time to make them.
Which is your favorite among the pieces you've made?
That's hard to say. I get excited when I am working out a new concept. But the guitar shirt and little bird share a special spot for me, they are signature pieces.
How do you think "Art" is different from "Craft?"
I think the two hold hands, at least in my experience. Art is its own language, it is an expression. Which is so nice for me because I am not a native English speaker. I am always translating in my everyday life and I don't need to do this with my creations!
What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I am too busy with my family and sewing so I don't really know a bunch of hip places to hang out. Creative spots for me are anyplace with my girls, especially when we have a little down time to spend in our backyard.
I do really like to shop for fabric at Cool Cottons on Hawthorne.
