Discover: Transient Craft – Handmade Bamboo Clothing
“Our lifestyle reflects our craft…
We make our products for the activities we love and chose a natural performance fabric that is more sustainable than the average athletic textile.”
Tell us about yourself! What’s your background and what do you do?
We are a two-person start-up specializing in bamboo sportswear. We design, dye, cut and sew all of our products from our home in Golden, CO. Kate has a degree in Textile Design and Tom has a degree in Economics. Half creative, half business.
How did you learn your craft? Tell us about your first finished product.
Our lifestyle reflects our craft. We climb, hike, run, travel, and are concerned about our environment’s trajectory. We make our products for the activities we love and chose a natural performance fabric that is more sustainable than the average athletic textile. All of our products are multifunctional and meant to be worn multiple ways.
Our first product is also our staple product, a bamboo tube scarf. It is multifunctional and can be worn in all climates. Tom wore an old synthetic neck gator to cover his bald head for almost all activities. I wanted to make him a scarf that was brightly colored and made out of natural fabric. Once we found bamboo rayon, we dyed it and sewed it together and the rest is history.
“All of our products are multifunctional and meant to be worn multiple ways.”
Where does the name of your business come from?
I was watching a History Channel documentary on “Trench Craft” and I liked the sound of it. According to Wikipedia, "Trench art is any decorative item made by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians where the wounded soldiers were encouraged to work at crafts as part of their recuperation, with embroidery and simple forms of woodwork being common.” “Transient Craft” is our own spin on the fact that we travel all over the US crafting our own product, by hand.
How long does it take to make your product and what’s involved in the process?
We start all of our products from a bolt of white fabric. From there, we dye it using a fiber reactive dye made for plant fibers. The dye process we use is of our own creation, it is a mix between tie dye processes and fabric painting with dye processes. After the fabric is dyed we then need to create a product to sell with it.
All of our products are our own design. We start with a sketch, create a template and basic measurements and make a sample. We then test it ourselves, give it away and ask for feedback, or take it with us to a pop-up market in a small quantity and see if there is interest.
Once we have a product we like we can streamline the production process and come up with a way for us to produce it. Most of the time we can cut down fabric with basic measurements or a template and use our Serger to sew it together.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Life. I am inspired to make what I would like to have.
What’s your favorite product that you’ve created?
Our multifunctional dress. I love the colors, the versatility and simple design.
What question do you get asked the most at pop-up markets?
“How do they make fabric out of bamboo?”
What’s something unique about you that most people don’t know (or wouldn’t guess)?
Bamboo is S-O-F-T! Everyone who touches our fabric is always blow away by how soft it is. It is unlike the Bamboo sheets. With zero cotton, we have a 95% Bamboo and 5% Spandex jersey knit fabric that always performs.
What’s your favorite beverage to sip on?
When I'm at the Denver BAZAAR I like to sample beer from all the local breweries.
What’s up next for Transient Craft?
New designs (with finished edge) and new ways of working are next for us. Check out our ETSY store for the latest!
We are attempting to divert more sales to Online Retail on our Etsy.com shop and we have recently launched a Wholesale pricing sheet available to all retailers. We've recently began running live sales on Facebook and Instagram.
Ever since places began shutting down, we knew we had to do something different. Our revenues mainly depended on live market places; now this business model is in jeopardy. I think when small business owners are pushed into a corner, this is when the greatest innovation happens.
Help support us by shopping Transient Craft on Etsy.
Who is your business' best friend?
Good Karma Products, Inc.
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