Calling all brides-to-be! If you’ve been looking to add that touch of glitter to your BIG DAY look, or nail that sassy vibe for the hen party, the search is OFFICIALLY over. Say HELLO to Threaded by Pooja, a label that brings a touch of shimmer to any outfit with its gorgeous, glossy clutch bags…
Behind the brand is the lovely #GIRLBOSS Pooja Jeshang who handmakes each and every one of the glittering beauties you see below. I managed to grab five minutes with the designer to talk to her about her brand…
LOVE her designs? You can get 10% off with BRIDAL EDITOR’s unique code: THEGLITTERBRIDE10 (P.s. This runs until the 31st of August 2017).
#1 Tell us a little about the history of Threaded by Pooja? Where did the brand begin? How did you get started?
“Threaded began from my little studio in our flat in January 2016. I remember this was straight after a private Christmas fair I participated at my husband’s workplace. Initially, I started making some fabric bags from Indian embroidered fabrics, and Tanzanian printed fabric with vivid and bold patterns. But for the Christmas fair, I also handmade Christmas cards and Christmas ornaments.
Six months before I launched Threaded online, I was working part time at a retail store on Oxford Street. One day I was pushed over by a passenger/daily traveller when I was going to work and injured my knee. It was a tough time, and I wasn’t enjoying my job on top of that – so I decided to resign and give myself some headspace to think about it. Christmas was around the corner and I started to make some Christmas ornaments, to keep my hands busy even whilst my knees weren’t. I sold them at a private fair and people asked me if I used Etsy. I didn’t was my answer, so I really needed to get myself on it after Christmas and New Year.
Fast-forwarding, I eventually made Threaded my full-time job. Even then, for the next six months after launching I was finding it hard to work on SEO’s and keywords and getting my little shop noticed – it’s not all glitter and games (although I am a big hoarder of tissue paper, washi tape, glitter, and anything sparkly!). At the same time I didn’t really know what my niche was, or who my audience was, so the first few months in 2016 was also about finding out what I really enjoyed working with.
In December 2016, I launched sparkly glitter Christmas ornaments and they were a huge success everywhere (if I do say so myself!). I decided there and then to listen to my instinct and make sparkly bags out of glitter fabric. In January 2017 I launched a collection of cosmetic bags made from glitter fabric, and the second thing you know, I had a big order for a bride from Australia, who wanted these bags for her bridesmaids. Always trust your gut, clearly…it started from there, and here I am now enjoying making every bride and bridesmaid’s dream clutch bag!”
#2 Where can brides-to-be etc purchase your gorgeous glittery bags?
“Brides to be can purchase my bags from my Etsy Shop and from a lovely blog: And So To Wed where I have just opened up a little shop!”
#3 What type of materials do you use, and where are they sourced from? What can brides-to-be always rely on Threaded by Pooja for?
“I use premium glitter fabric that’s non shedding and these fabrics are sourced from a local supplier in London. For lining I usually use black cotton polyester if the bag is a darker colour, but if it’s a classic white bridal clutch then the lining would be matching so white polyester cotton. The zips on our bags are high quality and are also sourced from London. Brides to be can rely on our clutch bags, because each bag is handmade to perfection. We make sure that every letter is first placed properly and sewn carefully making sure they are enforced onto the fabric so that they don’t come off.”
#4 What’s your favourite requests to make?
“My favourite requests are when brides choose the most beautiful colours according to their wedding themes! It’s always lovely to see new colour schemes and to keep adding to my collection of bridal clutches.”
#5 Tell us about the design process for a new piece or idea. Where does it begin? Where does the inspiration for a new bag often emerge from?
“I usually don’t have a plan of what I intend to do, most of it is visualised in my head. Sometimes I may draw out the ideas in my notebook, if it requires me to do a complex task and sometimes I will make a prototype before I make the final piece. I am usually awake sometimes till 12am – but this is where all the inspiration culminates and when I wake up, I am aware of those ideas and I start to make them!”
#5 Tell us about the design process for a new piece or idea. Where does it begin? Where does the inspiration for a new bag often emerge from?
“I usually don’t have a plan of what I intend to do, most of it is visualised in my head. Sometimes I may draw out the ideas in my notebook, if it requires me to do a complex task and sometimes I will make a prototype before I make the final piece. I am usually awake sometimes till 12am – but this is where all the inspiration culminates and when I wake up, I am aware of those ideas and I start to make them!”
#6 What do you love most about creating your signature sparkly bags?
“The fact that I am creating something beautiful for a bride-to-be for her big day, and making sure its her dream clutch bag to carry around!”
Click here to discover more from Threaded by Pooja
All images are sourced from Threaded by Pooja
