...it's Eliza Gran

I'm so glad Eliza was kind enough to give her a little insight in her beautiful house and studio and tells us a bit more on how she started her amazing clothing line for children...Eliza Gran was born and raised in New York city and was a very talented illustrator before she started to design children's clothing...many of you recognize her clothes by the lovely flower patterns...if i would have a little girl she would definitely be walking in one of her dresses...

{studio with table and fabrics}
1.) At your ‘about page’ we can read that you ‘just’ started sewing and designing clothes for your own children… it sound so simple…is that all that it took or did you follow some sewing courses before you made your first samples…?
No, it was not as simple as it sounds.  I started out doing the samples myself, but my sewing was not nearly good enough. I had to find a seamstress, which I had no idea how to do.  I finally found someone through a now-defunct sewing store in my neighborhood.  She was great and not too expensive, but then she disappeared...her phone was disconnected and everything.  There were so many mishaps when I started out. So then I found another seamstress on Craig’s List, and she has done all my samples ever since then.  I could not run my business without her.

{Livingroom}
2.) What were/are the advantages of growing up in a huge city like New York? Do these influences come in handy with your day to day business activities?
I’ve never lived anywhere else except for New York, so it’s hard for me to say.  Maybe I’m biased, but I think growing up in New York is good for you, but I’m not exactly sure why!  Now that my production is based in India, I don’t necessarily need to be in NYC any more, but my husband’s job is here.  I do sometimes think about moving to the country, but I suspect I’ll live in Brooklyn forever.  All my friends and family are here.

{piano and the world map and Ruby}
3.) Your amazing collection is available in many stores, but I’m wondering…how important is having an online shop for you? And are their any tips you can give on how to find retailers?
It’s too soon to tell if the online store is going well from a business standpoint, but I really enjoy selling to customers directly.  I get so many nice emails from people, and some complaining ones, but it really helps me see what people like and don’t like.
To find retailers, you have to do the trade shows. They are pretty awful, but in the beginning that’s the only way to get your line seen.  You also need reps. It’s really hard to find good ones, but when you do, they make your life a lot easier.  My rep in California gets me in a lot of great stores.  Of course she gets a percentage of the sales, but it’s definitely worth it.

{Livingroom}
4.)What kind of house do you live in, what do you really like about it and what do you miss?
We live in a perpetually “up and coming” neighborhood in Brooklyn that happens to have lots of beautiful, large Victorian houses.  There are not as many restaurants, stores, etc. as in other parts of Brooklyn (like Park Slope, where I grew up), but we have a really big, really great house.  Since I work at home, I spend quite a lot of time here.  Often there will be several kids, a babysitter, my seamstress, an assistant, two cats, and a few others...it gets a little crazy but I like it.  I seem to need a certain amount of chaos to keep me going.

{studio with details fabrics}
5.)   Where is your studio or atelier located; was it difficult to find a manufacturer or do you still make many pieces of the collection yourself?
My studio is on the top floor of my house, right next to my kids’ playroom.  We design all the samples there, and then they are shipped to my factory for production.  My factory used to be in Brooklyn, but they closed down, and then I went with one in Manhattan, but they were way too expensive and way too busy with bigger designers to work with me, so now everything is made in India.  It was a pretty difficult decision, but I’m very happy with them and the quality of their work.
{Charlie and bed in childsroom}
6. ) Your children obviously play an important role in finding inspiration for new designs, are they at an age yet  that they give you tips or ideas for ‘what is not and what is hot’ or just practical tips?
Yes my oldest is almost nine so she is very vocal about which items she likes and which she does not.  Basically everything needs to be more sparkly!  I get lots of advice from my three kids, their friends, and their friend’s moms, but I try to stay true to my original aesthetic – my designs are all based on clothes from the early 1970’s.  So if it doesn’t look like something I would have worn as a little girl, I’m not making it.

{Violet sitting and books in closet}
7.) How important are books for you and your family…I know you used to be an illustrator…can you mention some favorites?
The books are taking over the house...new ones come in all the time but the old ones never seem to leave!  My husband works at a magazine and brings home lots of books, and all the grandparents give my kids books all the time, and I am constantly buying books, so there is a ridiculous amount.  I was an illustrator for several years so I have a definite fondness for great illustrated books, like those by Saul Steinberg and William Steig.  And I love books about art, fashion, textile design, and interior design.

{bedroom of one of the children}
8.)Who’s beautiful bedroom is this? And where does the lovely bed come from? {I find it such a good idea to create the chalkboard on the wall}
That is Violet’s room.  She’s almost nine and she’s the biggest reader in the family...she’s happiest in bed with a big pile of books.  We got the bed from The Land of Nod. She desperately wants her room to be painted pink...which sounds fantastic to me, but we’ll wait a while to see if she changes her mind before we start painting!

{the dining table and kitchen}
9.) How do you combine your work with family life? And why did you choose for the beautiful green color on your kitchen wall? (Love the little yellow mini orchids, those are my favorite)
My work and family life are completely intertwined.  I always knew I wanted to have three kids, and I knew I wanted to work for myself, so I had to figure out a way to make it all happen.  It doesn’t always run perfectly smoothly, and in fact sometimes it doesn’t make any sense at all, but I get to see my kids after school and still run my business, so it works for now.
The green was just one of those, you know -- wander into a paint store, see a color you like, and decide to paint the kitchen -- kind of things.

{bye bye}
10.)…and finally what is the magic tip to start and run such a beautiful brand as ‘Eliza Gran’?
I hate to say it, but all the clichés are true. The trick is to stick with it and work really hard, even when things are not looking so good. The amount of work is insane.  A great tip is from my father, who is an architect. He always said the biggest mistake a small business can make is to expand too quickly.  That’s really true – you have to keep focusing on making your product better, instead of trying to get “bigger”.  Hard, but true.

..website..
..shop..

Comments

[Barbara]

what a wonderful and inspiring home. keep up the great open houses, they are so lovely!

[Jennifer]

I love seeing home tours, it's so fun to see how others live & decorate!

[kristin]

fantastic article! i adore eliza's clothing line. her business advice and peek into her lovely home were very inspiring!

[cheryl]

Great interview, great advice, and lovely images! Thanks.

[Carrie]

Thank you for this open house! I love Eliza's work,being classic and mostly Liberty printed designs.
It was fun to see glimpses of her home!
My fridge was old and didn't match our stove,so I chalkboard painted the sides (looks awesome) and added a stainless steel sheet to the doors. Now we can write our grocery list and love messages directly on our fridge!

[erica]

i adore eliza gran's clothing! i don't have any children, but her women's line is fabulous. i hope she keeps her online shop. it's really nice to receive a handwritten note in this day and age...

great interview, such lovely, inspiring photographs! i would love to find fabric like that for my sofa, too. hmmm....

[tyler]

what a wonderful interview. love the part about 'chaos to keep you moving'. for some reason, i too am more productive in a whirlwind. glad to hear you are tempered by your father's advice to grow slow. lovely concept and sweetly nostalgic designs. inspirational 'open house' as always.

[karen MS]

I love this interview! It is so inspiring! I love her house and her clothe line is amazing!

[angela liguori]

What an interesting interview, beautiful pictures and inspiring home! I loved to read the way she integrate her family and work, I can definally find myself there! Thank you for sharing.

[Sandrine herlin]

I just discovered this blog and being a designer myself, it's very interesting and encouraging! Internet is really a great thing! if you'd like to visit mine it's : www.sandrineherlin.net
Have a nice and sunny day,
Sandrine la sardine from France!

[Nancy Cook]

love love eliza gran
big fan for a long while
i'm curious about the bedding and where it is from. any info?
thanks