[Sca-cooks] Not just clothing - was Things to BUY at Pennsic

[AEllin Olafs dotter]

Some would - most probably would not.

I was in a conversation a few weeks ago with someone (who doesn't know 
me, or what I do) who was expounding on the idea that a garb merchant 
could sew a t-tunic in 20 minutes. Um, no... he explained to me that he 
was talking about professionals who knew how to sew. I told him I'd give 
him the references of costume shops I've worked in... He explained to 
his audience that he was talking about low-end, mass produced stuff... I 
told him I can't mass produce junk in 20 minutes... though I might be 
able to get true trash under an hour... with the industrial machines 
he'd explained to them I didn't know about, which themselves cost 
money... I know, I do, in fact, have one...

Moreover, someone here spoke of a seamstress charging $7 an hour. 
Perhaps that works in your small town, but here, that's poverty level - 
certainly not anything I'm willing to work for. $12 is the minimum I get 
in a shop. Yes, the garment industry pays pieceworkers that $7... but 
that assumes a whole business, with managers and salespeople paid a lot 
more!

This is not just about clothing. It's the same attitude that has people 
complaining about paying $10 for a three course meal, because they 
"know" you could have brought the price down if you'd just tried. People 
don't have any idea how much work is involved in things they don't do, 
and they often devalue other people's time. Especially since they see 
this as just a hobby... you're sewing, or cooking, or making whatever, 
because you enjoy it, so there's no real reason to do much more than 
cover the material! Or, in the case of cooking, even really cover that 
cost...

AEllin

a5foil wrote:
> So do you think people would actually pay reasonable prices for early period
> garb?
> 
> I would make stuff for sale if I thought people would buy it. The problem
> from my perspective is that it takes a certain amount of time to make garb I
> would be willing to sell, and I would have to charge for time and materials,
> resulting in prices that would be at least $75 for a plain wool tunic or
> gown. A really *good* plain tunic, an authentic plain tunic with no visible
> machine stitching, but a plain tunic nonetheless.
> 
> OFC: Kate got an A on her medieval French food presentation.
> 
> Cynara
> 
>