So this thread in convo seems to indicate that a few people are interested in the making of chainmail jewelry, and I want to talk about it while I wait for my materials to arrive. I'm starting a design book, and people's ideas/requests are welcome.
While personally I want to do clothing— vests, shirts, and skirts in colored metals and rubber links— that's not where I'm going to make my money. They're too expensive and the market is too small currently. It's mostly wealthy goths and fetish scene folks I can think of who might buy these things. Apparently people like earrings, something I'd not actually thought too much about. Neck jewelry (necklaces, collars, chokers) and arm jewelry (cuffs, bracelets, watch bands) were more what I was thinking. But earrings are small and fast and it sounds like they will sell well.
I want to position my work as wearable art and market it that way. There's a huge glut of ren faire geeks (I count myself one of them) selling to other ren faire geeks (who don't have much money; I know because I'm one of them). I want to sell this stuff to people who haven't necessarily seen it before, and many of these people are seriously confused when I say chainmail— they think of letters that promise curses if they aren't repropagated. I've got some marketing ideas for the local community, but I've no idea if they will work out at all well. Hmm. Maybe I should make chainmail chain mail...
I can also make sculptural items out of chainmail. My first attempt at a basket was not a success, but I've since found more info about how to do them properly.
Do you make jewelry, or clothing of unusual materials? Want to talk about it? |
