Behind the Seams: Creating by Hand

The Quiet Work

Most of my days start the same way — a cup or two of coffee, a playlist humming low, and a pile of fabric waiting to become something new. There’s no design team or production line. Just me, a needle, and an idea.

When people hear “brand,” they imagine meetings and mood boards, but Everybody Loves Everybody began in my living room, with my mother inspecting each spool of thread and design like a quality inspector. My creative process looks more like therapy than business: long stretches of silence, bursts of color, and a few stubborn seams that refuse to behave.

I think there’s magic in slow making — in choosing to craft something with your own two hands, even when shortcuts exist. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being present.

Lessons from the Stitch

Every garment I’ve made has taught me something — not just about design, but about patience. Fabric will always do what it wants; your job is to meet it halfway. Some days, my stitches are straight. Some days, they wander like I do.

I’ve learned to forgive uneven hems, to celebrate the small victories: a pocket that lays flat, a sleeve that feels like a hug, a neckline that lets you breathe. The work teaches me to soften — to take up space, to trust the process, to start again when the thread tangles.

Sewing by hand has become my meditation. Each pull of the needle is a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful.

The Story in the Seams

When I make something, I think about the person who might wear it. Where they’ll go. How it will feel when they put it on. I imagine them standing a little taller — not because what I made is perfect, but because it was made with care.

That’s the soul of ELE. It’s not fast fashion; it’s slow intention. Every product, post, and project here comes from a real pair of hands — mine — and a heart that believes in connection over collection.

Maybe that’s old-fashioned. But I’ve never minded being a little out of step with the world.

An Invitation to Make

You don’t need a studio or a sewing degree to create. Start small. Mend something. Write something. Cook something. Use what you have, where you are. Creation is less about materials and more about courage.

If you let your hands move, your heart will follow.

From my corner of the world,

Erika

💬 What’s the last thing you made with your hands? Tell me below — or tag #EverybodyLovesEverybody so I can see it.