Summer feelings

Summer is here, and for Cumulus, that means starting to work on next year's production!

Since taking over the brand in early 2022, and even before that while working with Françoise, I have felt that some of our models weren't as size inclusive as they could be. This summer, I have deciced to remedy that! 

I am working on the Mistral first, our most recent model. Currently, there are two sizes available, but I don't see much difference between them. I am redrawing patterns, making prototypes and trying new design lines to make it available to more women. I am starting by creating a smaller version, because some women have asked for it, so that it would be less baggy on them. After that, I plan to rework the size 2 to make it slightly wider, especially at the hips, which seems to be the problem with the Mistral for most women of that size range. 

Once the pattern and protoype are as perfect as i can get them, i will make a "real" version, with the same finishings and trimmings as our usual Mistral, to make sure everything is as I want it to be. 

Next year, I am planning a small batch of the Mistral to see if there really is interest in the smaller size, before launching a bigger production. For Cumulus, that means about 10 of each size and color, for a year's worth of sales. We are, after all, still a relatively small brand. 

While keeping up with the routine of Cumulus, I have also decided to open up an Etsy shop. I am always looking for new opportunities to get my brand name out there, for new people to find us, and hopefully fall in love with our products and our values.

I am also looking into being displayed on bigger plateforms, like Zalando and La Redoute, but I worry about the quantity of returns those sites have, it seems wasteful and not great for the environement, especially when it comes to packaging and shipping. I'd rather people try us on in one of our lovely boutiques, with the help and guidance of the staff, to get a feel for our fabrics, colors and fit in a real, tangible way. Maybe these people find there way here on this site for aftercare guidance, or to keep up with our latest news. Maybe you found us by happenstance, and I am always available to help you in your decision. That's why you can ask for a free fabric sample, to help you decide and more importantly, be happy and satisfied with your decision. 

I feel like this shopping experience is lost on those websites, but I also have to go where people are, if I'm hoping to bring Cumulus to new levels, and those big sites seem like the easiest option, both for shoppers and for small (and bigger) brands. It's an great opportunity for me to show what Cumulus is about. 

So in conclusion, a lot of thinking is ahead for me this season! 

I hope you all have a lovely summer, 

Kind regards, 
Aurélie