Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Cox.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Amanda and I am the creator/ designer of La Voile Rose- “The Pink Veil”.
As a child, sewing was my hobby. I grew up wanting to win Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, but ultimately chose to “just do the sewing part”.
For high school events- banquets, dances, recitals- I made my own gowns and costumes, and often tried to copy designs I saw in movies like Titanic and The Lord of the Rings. I would watch the films repeatedly, sketching the front and back of the outfits I wanted to make, taping fabric scrapes in the margins for design reference. To this day, I have a great love for period design. I went to college for design and learned valuable skills, but chose to work in live entertainment instead of pursuing a career in film.
Over the years, I’ve worked with companies and individuals, students and professionals, doing both design and sewing work. I’ve worked with indy filmmakers, pro athletes, musical artists, major cruise lines and theme parks, local theatrical groups and high schools, and thousands of bridal party members. I’ve worked in fabric stores, alteration shops, production workrooms, retail stores and more, all the while keeping my passion for sewing front and center.
My professional journey started in 2007 in live entertainment costuming, but over the years my job description has included retail merchandising, ballroom competition costuming, bridal alterations, bespoke bridal design, and most recently, leadership roles at Walt Disney World Creative Costuming. I’ve worked full time for someone else and have had my “side hustle” in sewing for my entire adult life. Trust me, I will be sewing till I die!
In May 2018, I found out I was pregnant and knew my fast-paced working life would need to change. My husband suggested I open an Etsy shop so I could keep doing what I love without needing to constantly leave the baby. It was a perfect set up for a new mom. I could work when I wanted, for as long as I wanted, and could “take my son to work” every day. 😉
While I still was working full time for Disney, may things changed in 2020, not the least of which was the loss of my salaried management position. I was giving an hourly role at a lesser pay rate, and took that as my sign to pursue my Etsy shop with more vigor. I left Disney in Jun 2021 and have been solely focused on building and growing my own business.
My industry experience in sewing, product production, creative design, and customer service have allowed me to confidently attack this thing called “self employment”. I have several daily goals for my shop, but quality, service and speed (turn time) are at the forefront. I strive to be a bridal vendor who is flexible, approachable, consistent and positive. I love my family, my work, and my brides, and hope you will join me on this journey!
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?
Smooth? Yes, but slow going. There are day-to-day struggles, which typically result from me not having employees to whom I can delegate work. Many important small aspects of business get pushed aside because fulfilling orders is priority, and I’m the only one who makes the product. I anticipate outgrowing my current home workspace, and plan to get a bigger place and hire assistants. One step at a time, I will grow my business.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I got my first job in retail at 16, and for the next 15 years, worked multiple jobs at once to make ends meet. My sewing work became one of those jobs, and it was mostly making costumes and altering ladies’ clothing. Having never had a formal sewing education, I figured it out as I went. There was no YouTube Masterclass available, and I didn’t know anyone who did what I did.
Fortunately, I have always had a job with an entertainment company as a seamstress, and have received most of my education, skill and technique through real-life experiences. One of those experiences was working for a small alteration shop in a snooty, “old money” part of town. I worked on bridal Dior and resort Lilly Pulitzer, among other haute couture brands. Long story short, the owner was “the devil who wears Prada”, and I was foolish with my fat paycheck. I lost the job and went back to working in the (fabulous but poor) world of entertainment costuming. My next boss was the most kind, most generous person in the world! He worked with me and for me, taught me and supported me, and was a wonderful example of being a boss of the people. Times changed and he was not able to pay me what I needed, so I decided to leave and after a few more years of scratching, landed a job at Disney World Creative Costuming.
I took the job because I needed a job, but did not have plans to stay, nor did I want to work as a seamstress my entire life. I found myself loving the people, the family atmosphere, and the creative process, so I chose to stay and pursue a real career. I became a sewing team coordinator and then a workroom manager. While I was still doing sewing work on the side, I was in a financial place where I started to consider leaving the side gig behind.
Enter March 2020. I was on vacation when I got the call not to come in on Monday. That turned into a week, which turned into a month. The company demoted every possible position to their previous hourly position, and that included me. While I was waiting to be called back to work, my side gig (selling veils on Etsy) thrived and showed no signs of slowing down! My Etsy income quickly exceeded my Manager’s paycheck, and together with my husband, we made a plan to leave Disney. I returned to Disney after a few months furloughed, and worked long hours every day for the next 11 months to make the transition from full-time Disney to full-time Etsy. (When I remember that I also had a stay-at-home baby/toddler and my husband worked nights, I really have no idea how we made it work! LOL)
When I consider the last 16 years, I can see how each job, boss, and workload aided my current course. I learned how to always treat people with respect and kindness, how to profitably manage money, and how to efficiently prioritize incoming work. I learned how to build detailed excel spreadsheets, how to expertly sew welt pockets, and above all, I learned that people must come before profit.
I’ve been the poor girl all my life, and I know how it feels to have less opportunity/ less options because I couldn’t pay for more. I don’t want other girls, especially brides, to feel like they have to settle for cheap for their big day. More than that, I don’t want money issues to come between a newly married couple. I decided a long time ago that I would price my work/ my products to be both affordable and profitable. All bespoke orders are made to fit the budget of the bride, and I manage the money to cover all costs and gain a profit.
I never before dreamed of running a business, but now I don’t want to do anything else!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
In a nutshell, I was a determined, hard working introvert. I tried music, sports, and various extra-curricula, but nothing stuck to me quite like sewing.
Contact Info:
- Email: sew_audrey@aol.com
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/lavoilerose
- Instagram: @lavoilerose
Image Credits
Sunsoar Photography
The Balcony Orlando
