Store/Brand Overview

TrishAlan Designs was established in 2002 by husband and wife team Trish Goodfield & Alan Jackson. Looking for a new craft that may encourage people(other than embroiderers) to use their eco-dyed threads Trish stumbled upon Kumihimo. Falling in love with the process and resultant structures/patterns led TrishAlan Designs to create a range of affordable kumihimo threads, kits, books & DVDs for Australian Braiders.

Organisation

TrishAlan Designs

Team

Trish Goodfield & Alan Jackson

Store/Brand Brief

Kumihimo appeals to many people; from Samurai Warriors to schoolchildren, textile artists to hobbyist. Kumihimo can be practiced mindlessly or mindfully, with a project in mind or as a school holiday activity. There is something for everyone.

TrishAlan Designs has ensured that you don't need expensive and inaccessible equipment or threads to create a stunning braid. All you need is a hand held disc, thread and a little patience.

Dedicated to bringing kumihimo to as many people as possible Trish delivers classes to people of all ages in all types of venues; rotundas, prisons, council parks, craft shows, etc. In 1 hour you can create 2 braid structures and leave with the confidence to successfully complete any braid you choose.

When you are ready to move on from the disc TrishAlan Designs offers Mini-Marudais, Takadai, Books & DVDs. Trish and Alan have travelled internationally and within Australia sharing their passion for Kumihimo.

Store/Brand Innovation / Need

When Trish started braiding the equipment was only available overseas.Initial outlay coupled with shipping made the cost prohibitive. Alan quickly designed and made a full sized marudai and the hand held disc.

The disc gained the interests of parents whose children who doing scoobie. Parents complained that the children couldn't start the scoobies. Alan saw an opportunity and quickly created some kumi kits for children. The threads were in the starting positions, all the children needed to do was open the packet.

That is where it all started. What started out as another way to use our eco-dyed threads quickly became a mainstay of our business. Adult classes, led to school holiday activities which led to school groups. The school groups led to us making a School Kits complete with a math's lesson and cultural information.

Trish prefers to teach beginner classes, she loves seeing the light bulb go off and the thrill of teaching the participant something they believed was complicated. Being able to supply Australian Kumihimo participants with the tools and equipment they need to keep braiding will ensure they become Kumihimo Enthusiasts.

Retail Challenge

The initial timing was pure luck. There were 2 trends emerging at the time Trish and Alan started doing Kumihimo. The first was the children's scoobie, the second was the flourishing home based jewellery making hobby.

Jewellery makers could see the possibility of combining Kumihimo with beads. This gave TrishAlan Designs a direct entry into Jewellery Making Classes and the Mini-Marudai market.

Once we had Participants enthusing about Kumihimo the challenge was to keep them interested and introduce them to a more traditional textile based Kumihimo. This lead to the creation of the Plate and the Takadai into our range.

Introduction of each new piece meant going back to the drawing board with marketing. Is there a new, yet untapped market?. Asking and answering these questions have led to more teaching opportunities; prisons, international textile conferences.