Rising Stars: Meet Amy Schelton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Schelton.

Amy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
About three years ago, I found myself faced with the opportunity to take a “gap” year from working full-time in the corporate world. Family obligations created the necessity for me to sell two homes and relocate to TN.

During this nine-month period, I started sewing clothing as a way to occupy my time. I was immediately drawn to different textiles and textures and enjoyed the ability to create whatever I wanted, be it a couture gown or a fantasy costume. The joy the creative journey brought me was very satisfying. Much to my surprise, people were enchanted by my creations which inspired me to keep going and pushing my skill set.

From this experience, my motto came about… Inspiringly Selfish Design, creating what I want, how I want, when I want. It gives me a lot of freedom and license to not put guideposts around my creativity.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The only struggle I have is turning away individuals who ask for looks to be created just for them. I am one person, with a full-time career now, sewing on a machine from 1961 (my mother’s). I can’t mass produce, I don’t have endless access to the same fabric over and over again nor would I personally gain any satisfaction from recreating the same design again.

I’ve created exactly four custom pieces since I started and the stress I put myself through to attempt to make everything perfect for my client zapped all the joy out of the creative process. I was the conduit to create their vision and not my own and at that point, my creative hobby began to feel more like a job.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a collector of textiles. Fabrics from all over the world are stacked in every cabinet in my home. I purchase from the New York Fabric District, the LA Fabric District, my local fabric store, and through Etsy to have access to textiles from across the globe. I work with local artists to hand-paint items. Anything can inspire me to create but mostly I’m inspired by textiles. A beautiful piece of fabric may sit in the cabinet for months until inspiration strikes and I know what it will become or I’ll bring home new fabric and immediately start cutting and draping.

Creating couture-style pieces for men and women and sometimes children and dabbling in fantasy costumes is what drives me. Working together with my photographer husband, Brad Schelton, we are able to take the vision all the way through to a finished image with amazing models and hair and makeup artists. Seeing a piece of fabric turn into a garment and then creating the vision for the model, the hair and makeup artist, and the photographer is what completes and closes a project for me.

My biggest difference is I give myself no “rules.” I don’t constrain my creativity. If I want to create a modern Snow White – I do it. If I’m interested in cottage core, I do it. If I’m entranced by Bridgerton – I create the dresses.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid-19 only allowed me more freedom and the ability to create at a faster pace. Being home more really allowed me to be super productive and create many pieces until we had the opportunity to work face to face with models again to actually photograph the pieces.

Personally, I feel it also sent many people online to look for pieces. I set up an Etsy shop this year and I’ve been very pleased with my results so far.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/costumescouture/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216665282204816
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CostumesCoutureShop?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Image Credits
Brad Schelton