"No one comes from the earth like grass. We come like trees. We all have roots." - Maya Angelou

One of my greatest joys in founding and running PatternReview is the connections I have made with people around the world. My dad always says "People are like the colors of a rainbow, each one brings something unique to this world. Enjoy them!" I am my father's daughter and a people person. Of the kinds of people I have met, I find myself drawn to MAKERS the most. I think they are the kindest, smartest and some of the most empathic humans in this world. My search for people to interview for Maker Stories led me to Anjori Halder a few years ago. Anjori is committed to spreading positivity with her sewing and custom iron-ons and she does this with sustainability in mind. From upholstering a sofa to a beautifully sewn wedding outfit for her sister (see the last photo), there isn't a project she hasn't jumped on to, when the inspiration strikes. She was exposed to sewing from an early age when her mother "magically" whipped out dresses for her and her sister. Today she honors the memory of her late mother whenever she sews and keeps the magic alive.

I had such a great time chatting about sewing, our mutual love of Hindi cinema, Salwaar Kameez outfits and the ongoing challenges and rewards of parenting a spirited young girl. The full interview is done via Zoom and you can click on the link below to listen and watch on our YouTube channel but for those of us who prefer to read with a beverage in hand, I have transribed it below. I hope you will take the time to read about Anjori and connect with her. Please support her sustainability mission and her positivity through her website Bee Threadly. Thanks for reading! 

Click to see the full interview on PatternReview's YouTube Channel  

Bee Threadly https://www.beethreadly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beethreadlies/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bee.threadly/

Bee Threadly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bee.threadly

Anjori on PatternReview https://sewing.patternreview.com/members/beethreadly

Deepika: Hi Anjori, tell me a little bit about your background and how you learnt to sew.

Anjori: Okay, I guess I can start from the beginning. I am a first generation immigrant to the US. I was raised here for most of my life. So I have both the American and Indian cultures in me. So trying to figure out what to pass down to my daughter but being an immigrant family the focus was always math and science! [Deepika nods! OMG yes! I have a 12 year old daughter so I get it]. My dad was an engineer so I followed in his footsteps. I became a computer engineer. My mom was a professor but decided to stay at home to take care of us and I was exposed to sewing because of her. I would watch her do all these measurements and cut them out on old newspapers. The next day, I would have a dress. It was magic. She didn't really like making sleeves because most of my dresses were sleeveless.

Deepika: Sleeves are hard! There is a lot of movement which happens up here.

Anjori: And I didn't understand that until I started sewing. Even though I was exposed to sewing but I wasn't interested in it until much later when I was invited to a themed wedding where each bridesmaid had to wear a different decade clothing. Mine was a big poodle skirt from the 50s. I made a crinoline. Over the years I dabbled in a few things here and there. But there are three things I have made which I am glad I did. Two Salwar Kurtas (Indian style tunic and pants) and a vest. My mom had cancer and after her treatments her skin became very sensitive. And she was always very cold. So I made a few set for her in soft fabrics she actually didn't even realize that I was sewing. She was very happy to see that I had sewn it! She loved them. That was heartwarming for me.

Anjori and I talked a lot about our love for this special outfit which looks so flattering and is so comfortable.

[Left to Right : Anjori's mom knitting in their driveway because she loved the sun. Next her mom with Anjori and her sister. Right: Anjori with her mom when she was in college]

Anjori: My mom passed away in November 2012 and my family kind of fell apart. Almost a year later I had a miscarriage. So I was a wreck. So my husband suggested that I take some sewing classes. So I did and made a pencil skirt. That's when I learned how to sew from patterns. Because my mom never used patterns. I sewed a button down shirt next. But I always had fit issues. I had trouble finding {RTW] things which fit me well. So I thought of making something which I would wear. Later that year I got pregnant and we moved as well. I was a new mom and staying at home and that's when sewing inspiration struck again. Managing work and being a mom and always having a deadline was really hard though. I felt that something was missing. I went back on to PatternReview and looking at all the patterns and looking for what to make. And I made pants! I don't know why I do these things to myself.

[Anjori with her dad, sister and brother]

Deepika: I always say that not knowing something is actually a blessing. Because you have no fears. If you don't know how difficult things are supposed to be you'll jump right in and honestly there isn't anything hard in sewing. It's fewer seams vs more! From the forums : Being a beginner is fun!]

Lets talk about your website Bee Threadly. Now it started off as a blog and now its your business. You make custom iron-on embroidery patches. Tell me how that came about and what is your core vision.

[Bee Threadly gives back - I believe education is one of the key ways girls will be able to break the barriers and succeed on their own merits. Bee Threadly is supporting Malala Fund to help girls continue receiving education, by donating 20% of profits to the cause.]

Anjori: So it started off when I was making clothes for my daughter. I wanted to make them more store bought. I wanted to add some positive messages. I came across this woman who was making literally art on her sewing machine. She was not even using any fancy foot and that inspired me to try free-motion embroidery. Kids clothes are perfect for practicing. They are small and they love everything. The store bought stuff wasn't reflecting her personality. She loved trains and construction vehicles. But you only find that in the boys section. I started making things like a bulldozer with the words "ground breaker" on it. That evolved into the patches I am making! I just launched the store in February. I am actually doing a new collection soon I will be releasing different collections based on the season. I have got bunnies, bees, jellyfish etc.

[iron-ons from opening launch as well as the spring/summer collection]

My core vision is just adding fun and positive messages to kids clothes, specifically girls clothes. I found it odd all the girls clothes I found in stores were unicorns, rainbows and hearts. Girls like more than just that!

[Anjori with her daughter]

Deepika: For Dia, my daughter, we still shop in the boys section. When she was your daughter's age, she was really into space and astronauts and we never found anything in the girls section. Why does clothing have to be gendered mom! I hear you!

What is the one question you get asked a lot?

Anjori: How is your business going? Its a well meaning question. But it was hard to answer before becuase it has been a slow process for me. Things have changed in my business model too. But I am happy to answer it now after I have rebranded. My version of success was different than others. I am okay that it is slow.

What is the one question you WISH people would ask more.

Anjori: How much does it really cost?

Fast fashion has changed how people think of clothes. And, if its cheap its because someone is not getting paid a living wage. When I say that I would charge $150-$200 for a dress, people would respond "Really? Thats too much". But that's not even a living wage. You can go to Walmart and get a $5 shirt but somewhere, someone hasn't gotten paid. And, we gone away from the concept that clothes are not dispensable because they are around for a long time.

Deepika: And then there is the cost to our planet and our environment. Fashion industry is the #2 pollutant of the planet! As sewist I feel that we appreicate our clothes a lot more than those who buy them off the rack. That is a very good conversation we should all be having on a daily basis. How much does it really cost?

What do you like most about creating and sewing?

Anjori:

"Sewing for me is therapeutic"

So I can come in here and I can just focus on one thing rather than a million other things which are going on in my brain. I like the challenges that I give myself. Trying to figure out how to make a pattern different from what its supposed to be, to what I want it to be. And I like to upcycle as well so that's another challenge that I like. And I like how you just take this flat piece of fabric and come up with something that you can wear. Its still magical for me.

Deepika: Let’s talk about race and how it has affected your life and your business. Have you noticed any biases towards you in the sewing/fashion industry.

Anjori: I mean being Indian, race has always been a part of my life. My parents always told us that you have to work harder and smarter than everybody else in order to be just equal to them. So, it was kind of ingrained in us that we are different. I never let it become a hindrance though. I learned to embrace that I was different. And that was okay. In terms of the sewing community, it is so accepting for most people; a completely different community from other internet communities I have seen. Everyone is very nice. However, while I don't have proof, I have felt that there was some bias against me when I tested patterns for certain companies, I'd noticed that I wouldn't get promoted as much as others.

My solution was to not work with those companies. I have become more diserning about who I work with. That's just how I have been taught to move in life.

Deepika: Identity is a loaded word. To some it comes easy and others it doesnt. It is still one of my favorite questions to ask our guest because I always look forward to their answer and it helps me connect with them even more! How do you identify yourself?

Anjori: Being Indian is a big part of it. Being an engineer is also a big part of it. But I think at the core of it though I am a Maker. I have always loved craft nights. Jewelery making, making soaps etc.

Deepika: I wish we lived closer. We would make stuff together all the time. Do you have any other interests besides sewing?

Anjori: I love dancing. I studied 5 years of Kathak which is a classical Indian Dance. And, I had a blast doing it. I even got my bachelors degree in it! I love to read, to go outside. I like to paint and draw. Again... all the things making. The one thing I don't enjoy as much is cooking.

[Anjori is on the either end dancing. Pictures are from two different performances]

Deepika: If you were given a microphone, 5 minutes and an audience what would you say to them.

Anjori: I think I would talk about earth, overconsumption, fast fashion and just materialism in general. We consume a lot and while recycling and upcycling are great but in order to reduce waste we just need to consume less. That's something that I am very conscious about. Am I buying the thing which I will be using? Even in the sewing community, its so easy to buy all the pretty fabric. I am guilty of it too, especially when I first started sewing. I'd think "I am never going to see this fabric again so I have to buy it too!" But how long has it sat in my shelf vs. am I actually enjoying it? I think I would ask people to be more conscious of what they are buying and how they are going to be using what they are buying. I put a fabric ban on myself every year, and even though by the end of the year I have definitely bought a few things which were essential, it is less than what I would without the ban. I am not perfect. For example this year my ban break will be a nude fabric to make a leotard for my daughter.

Deepika: I think its great. I have a follow up question to that. So, I am not sewing a lot of clothes these day for that reason, because I already have a lot of clothes which I am not using and I don't need that much. But you get bored of the same clothes. If that boredom sets in and styles change what should we responsibly do?

Anjori: There are ways to swap clothes with others. Thrift stores are not always the best though. From my research I have learned that a lot of the stuff which gets donated to the thrift stores ends up in landfills either here or other countries. But Swaps would be good I think. And then also, I think since we make our own clothes, we can take them apart and make them into something else. I had a dress which I wasn't wearing. I made it into a top and I love it. 

Deepika: Anjori, I love the clothing swap idea! I may actually suggest we do that at the next PR Weekend. So thank you! So, I know that we can keep on talking. But I really want to get to the rapid fire round. The deal is that I will give you five questions and you're not allowed to think too hard. Are you ready?

D: Name your one comfort food.
A: Idli

D: What is your comfort sewing?
A: Dresses

D: Which is your favorite movie?
A: Diwale Dulhania Le Jayenge 

[Photo Credit IMDB : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112870/]

D: Favorite Book
A: Miss Mabel's School for Girls by Katie Cross

D: Favorite Sewing project of all time
A: My yellow anarkali

[Anjori made the above outfit from a sari gifted to her by her mom]

Deepika: I love that you incorporate your Indian heritage into the clothes you make for yourself and your daughter. I hope our listeners and readers take the time to get to know Anjori a little bit more through her sewing journey from the iron-on patches to the amazing wedding outfit she made for her sister. I am so inspired by her! Please follow her on Instagram and YouTube and I hope you will be inspired too! Anjori thanks for your time and for sharing your journey with us. I look forward to seeing what you make next.

Anjori: Thank you for having me. 

Bee Threadly gives back - I believe education is one of the key ways girls will be able to break the barriers and succeed on their own merits. Bee Threadly is supporting Malala Fund to help girls continue receiving education, by donating 20% of profits to the cause.

Bee Threadly https://www.beethreadly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beethreadlies/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bee.threadly/

Bee Threadly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bee.threadly

Anjori on PatternReview https://sewing.patternreview.com/members/beethreadly

About Maker Stories: I am so honored that these talented makers and movers & shakers trust me to share their story on PatternReview.com. From listening to them and sharing their journey, it is evident that there is a lot of work to be done in the sewing industry. This is just the first step. Representation is the key to growth and I promise to work hard and be consistent in this work. Thank you for reading and supporting my vision.