Motor City Sewing

Tag: sewing machine motor

From a studio tucked into the Russell Industrial Complex, Sarah Lapinski operates two businesses, Motor City Sewing and Wound Menswear. Motor City Sewing pays the bills — in theory — with small-scale sample sewing and pattern-making, allowing Lapinski to develop Wound, the designer line she began with former partner Sarah Lurtz.

Lapinski, 30, received a post-collegiate gift of a sewing machine and took to sewing like a fish to water. Lapinski joined the Pure Detroit Design Lab, where she met Lurtz, who left the businesses last year.

Lapinski says she finds most of her commercial sewing work through the Internet, or word of mouth. She creates samples for designers to take to trade shows or draft patterns, most of which pay an hourly rate.

Wound, meanwhile, has been on hold, though Lapinksi has signed up for a few fashion shows and plans to debut a collection this year.

Lapinski said she came close to breaking even last year.

A small profit was eaten up by equipment costs. Her entrepreneurial drive, she said, has been fueled by the ability to live simply on a small income and, in part, by her own lack of experience.

“If you don't know what you can mess up, you have no limitations,” she said.