Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Fischerstrom.
Alexandra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As many others, I found myself having a lot of free time early on in 2020. I spent the first few weeks of the lockdown sewing face masks that I donated to hospitals and sold to people in my community. After a few intense weeks of mask making, I decided to shift gears as masks were beginning to become mass-produced. I started experimenting with making different types of clothing and came across a YouTube tutorial of how to sew a bikini. You can’t have too many swimsuits living in San Diego! I decided to try to make my own, and the process was easier than I expected. I really enjoyed being able to make a bikini that fit exactly how I wanted it to. I started making swimwear for some close friends, and after practicing for a bit I decided to open my Etsy shop.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have learned a lot since I opened my online shop in 2020! Acquiring customers and competing with big fast fashion companies is not easy. There are many swimwear companies out there and it takes time to build a good reputation and a loyal customer base. A lot of time and effort goes on behind the scenes to make my customers have a good shopping experience from start to finish. It can be challenging to balance costs, time, and inventory while delivering orders as fast as possible.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I was born and raised in Sweden and wanted my brand to have a connection to my background. The word “leva” means “to live” in Swedish, and I find a lot of inspiration in the minimalistic and contemporary Swedish look. I enjoy being able to use my interest in fashion to create items that are inspired by my background, combining classic styles with contemporary fabrics and color palettes. Having this business as a side job allows me to have a creative outlet and is also a fun way for me to develop my skills in sewing and marketing. Using social media to advertise my brand and connect with customers has been a challenging but fun experience. I am now exploring ways of venturing more into this industry while getting my feet wet.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me when it comes to my business is doing something that I genuinely love. I put a lot of thought, care, and detail into the pieces I create. Being able to give joy and confidence to others through my pieces is ultimately what inspires me to keep creating!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/levaapparel
- Instagram: instagram.com/levaapparel
