Local Sewing Studio Asking for Help to Save their Costume Closet

The Marilyn Johnson Sewing Design Studio, LLC, located in Laurel, Maryland, is a multifaceted design studio that specializes in the fabric arts. We provide custom orders for weddings, prom, galas and other formal or costumed events, cosplay, tailoring services, and theatrical builds and rentals.

We pride ourselves in providing a safe, nurturing atmosphere while producing services of the highest quality and care. Our motto is: “Countless unseen details are often the only difference between the mundane and the magnificent!”

Our Costume Closet, which supplies thousands of rentals for schools, theatre and dance troupes, film studios, and individual clients for theme parties, galas, Renaissance Festivals, Comic Con, is very important to our Studio. However, the past few years have been challenging due to changes in the economy.

We have our peak seasons (Spring: Bridal/Prom, Fall: Bridal/Halloween), and the in-between months of alterations as our bread and butter. This income alone is not always enough to cover the expenses of garment building and maintenance for our costumes, let alone to allow us to take that next big leap. Now we need the capital to grow and bring in the costume clientele to match the level of our custom clientele.

Therefore, we have launched a campaign on Indiegogo in order to raise funds to keep our Costume Closet. Our Studio rent is $3,000 a month and the past several months have proven difficult in making ends meet. We do not want to give up our costume closet, as it took 16 years to build, and it is a personal passion of the Studio to provide beautifully built, clean, and creative costumes. But storing these costumes takes up most of Unit J, which is half the studio and half the rent – a whopping $1,500 a month. While the new space and other changes to our look and staffing has created a thriving and robust climate for our alterations and custom work, our rentals are taking longer to pick up steam.

The main goal for funding is to cover the costs of maintaining the Costume Closet for the next year, which includes the rental fees and other overhead expenses for that part of the studio, cleaning costs, and material costs for any repairs needed. We have recently implemented several new marketing tactics and slimmed down our operation as much as possible. Now we need the time and capital to see it through.

Please follow the link below to visit our campaign. Even if you are unable to make a donation, please spread the word. Any bit of help is greatly appreciated by the Studio.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-us-save-our-costume-closet/x/10536716#/story