About By Aivhe

I bought a secondhand sewing machine and taught myself how to sew. This was actually my second attempt--the first was a disaster. But something tells me it wasn't me; it was the machine. And the second time, it happened: I didn't just learn it, I fell in love with it.

I made flat pouches and gave them to family and friends as holiday presents. They loved them and encouraged me to sell them online.

While I was mustering the courage to sell (read: imposter syndrome), I low-key documented the making of my projects through Instagram Reels. I posted it and went to sleep. The next morning, I woke up to a notification that it had surpassed 10,000 views. And I was like, 'Is this the sign?'

I launched my first batch of products online--toiletry bags, flat and quilted pouches, probably no more than thirty pieces. It wasn't a hit on day one. But what surprised me was that the first few people who placed orders were still my family and friends--hyping my skills and leaving heartfelt reviews.

And since I didn't have the budget for paid advertisements, I kept posting consistently on Instagram--even the nonsense parts of the business that still reflected my personality. Organically, my account grew--and my sales did, too.

After almost a year, I've saved up enough for an industrial sewing machine. It was never a question of whether I'd upgrade from the beginning--the only question was when.