The Fashion File - Melancholy Kitties

The Fashion File - Melancholy Kitties

How did you discover BJDs (SDs, Delf, Ai whatever types you collect)?

I have always been a doll/toy collector and a few years ago I stumbled upon an auction for one of the four sisters and was completely floored. She was amazing and huge and expensive and perfect but I never imagined I would own one. I moved on to collecting Blythes and 1/6th Dollfies and once Volks began to sell directly, I purchased a Dollfie Dream, found Den of Angels, the rest is history!

What got you started in making clothing for them?

We were already sewing for Blythes and Pullips and it felt very natural to just move into bigger dolls. We decided that when we launched the website, they would be a big part of it.

When did you first start selling your clothing?

In October of 2004, I started out with a friend and we sold our stuff on eBay and LiveJournal. When she had to pull out, my fiancé Mat stepped in and early this year we launched MelancholyKitties.com.

What inspired your business name?

That was Mat's brainchild. My name is Kat, so that much is obvious and we really wanted to convey the sort of creepy/cute esthetic we aspire to with our clothes. Sad kitties -- it's perfect.

Did you encounter any obstacles before selling/marketing your clothes?

I suppose sizing is always a bit of an obstacle, since there are so many different bodies that customers buy for. We still don't sell things for boys since my Lovely House boy is so puny!

What is your favorite fabric/material to work with?

I really love working with vinyl. It's not always an obvious choice since you have so many limitations working with it, but when it works it can be really great.

What is your least favorite fabric/material to work with?

Stretch velvet! Mat usually makes our skirts, and he had an idea for a really great long fishtail skirt, but it took so many tiny corrections to get the fit right, it never would have been something we could reproduce easily enough. I have that one though, and it is great.

What has been the most rewarding part of making clothes?

There have been so many! It's really a thrill to see our stuff on other dolls and we've had so many great customers. It's crazy that I've been able to turn a hobby that I love so much into a business - I'm still thrilled about that.

What is the most difficult part of making clothes for your dolls?

I really like selling pieces that are unique and affordable and I love offering separates and allowing the customers to piece together whole outfits. So, we try to design things that are going to be easy enough to reproduce, while remaining high quality. Sometimes I want to just go over the top with details and layers and whole sets, but I want to stay true to that original idea. Actually, for our next line we're going to try for both, offering some limited outfits, as well as going back to stocking the boutique with fun separates.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Wow, everywhere! Very often from movies, anime, manga, and fashion magazines. We have very similar tastes, so as soon as I spot something, I know Mat has too. It's really funny. Fabrics and trim inspire us very often too - EGL (elegant gothic lolita) is all about ribbon and lace.

What has been your favorite outfit/piece so far and why is it your favorite?

Mat's is definitely the bondage piece he did for the Dollfie Dream body. It was a crazy idea that worked out really well and inspired lots more designs.

Mine is probably the black lace tank top since my F08, Mina literally lives in it and a pair of black bloomers. I also really like the outfit with the underbust corset I'm working on now. It's a combination of three pieces I like individually, but which work much better together.

Where do you usually sell your clothing?

We sell clothing though our website, MelancholyKitties.com. We have sold things on eBay, but we reserve that for one of a kind pieces.

Are there any tips or advice for novice "seamstresses" you'd like to share?

Don't be intimidated! If you stare at a pattern long enough it will make sense -- even if it is in Japanese!

Who is your favorite model?

That's tough, but it might have to be Pia, my Lovely House ShinB. She's really versatile and it's really hard to take a bad picture of her.

Who is your "dream doll"?

Mat's was always Cyndy. Of course, I adored her too, but she was definitely the limited doll he seriously considered on more than one occasion. The most amazing thing was that I bought him a raffle ticket for a Cyndy on Den Of Angels and we won! She's really amazing and it's still unbelievable that she's ours.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about yourself, your dolls or your clothing?

We have a new line of clothing in the works, and if anyone would like to jump on our mailing list to be notified of the boutique's re-open date, they can email me at melancholy_kat@aol.com with the subject "Notify Me!". We also have a full range of esthetics services, including faceups, body sanding and blushing and some things just for Dollfie Dreams. More information can be found on www.Melancholykitties.com.