Happy Birthday to ME! 30 years ago this month I officially started up my little costume business. What a crazy thing. Faire Ladies, Faire Lords started as a gamble on working for myself in the arts. I’m sure my parents wept and my partner too. Goodby safety net and standard life. Hello avocation!
Story time:
In 1996 I started this business working part time and also in the fashion industry while finishing my college and university education. I built a booth (pictured), jumped into the SCA as a vendor, and also started attending small 1 weekend Renfaire events close to home, 1 day marketplaces and tourneys; whatever I could, hoping to attend and grow customers.
After the millennium passed, I made the decision to go fulltime. I was clocking in over 45 weekends traveling to small shows annually for a few of those years. Driving all over 3 states in a giant station wagon overfull with the booth and products. Whew! I even organized demonstrations in charter schools, and produced renaissance weddings and to make ends meet. I produced Twelfth Night in San Diego for many years too. In 2008 I tried to launch a wholesale division. Awful timing. I persevered, times moves on. During this time I got established at Koroneburg Renaissance Festival and worked with a great friend, Jesse. I launched this retail website with much better success.
So, the next big thing was being accepted into the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in 2017 and the Northern California Renaissance Faire a few years later. Mind you, I had been applying to large shows for almost 2 decades. Some things don’t come easy. Now I’m a ‘real vendor’ at 2 big shows and have concentrated my efforts on scaling the business UP and improving my online shop. I teach interns, donate to theatre groups, I volunteer and do my best to give back and support artists and independent businesspersons.
What’s next:
Its 2026 and life is good. I’m thinking about the next phase in this career, looking for booth managers for example. Taking the decisions one day at a time. I love this job. Time to celebrate!! Coupon: “happy birthday to me” is good for 15% off any items in the online store. Go for it!!!
Thank you everybody for lessons learned, hands held, and mostly for loving my art.
~ Martina