We recently had the chance to connect with Nery Lucarini and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Nery, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People misunderstand that handmade does not mean it is cheaper. I often get inquiries about outfits or gowns and then the price that a store wants and what they feel it should cost. Most of my time is spent explaining how the “handmade”, works. If it is a custom piece, it will not be cheaper especially if we are talking about an evening gown, costume or men’s dress shirt. The other misunderstanding is people cannot believe that other individuals want to learn how to sew or crochet. So we offer these classes and are booked every month.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nery Lucarini (Nettie) and I have been sewing since I was 6 years old. My dad retired as a master tailor and my mother is a retired couture designer. Growing up I did not know that not having your parents make your clothes was not normal. Our brand was inspired by my parents. They showed me how to work with different kinds of fabrics, and to not waste anything. My dad was always upcycling and mom had a flare for the fabulous so I mixed the two esthetics together and developed my own style. I am very proud of what Sew Great has become. We are a company that empowers others by teaching them how to sew and offer other classes from basic sewing, crochet, watercolor, hand embroidery and so much more. We will be celebrating 2 years at our current location in September and could not be more grateful to the East End Community for their support.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
I was very fortunate to learn what a work day looks like from both a corporate and independent business owner perspective. Born to immigrant parents, we learned what it meant to hussle early. Dad worked for large companies like Sakowitz, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue so he worked a 9-5 job at least 6 days a week until he retired. For the most part it was sorta normal job with the exception of the celebrity clientele that would come through. Mom ran her business out of the house and needless to say it was not 9-5. We had an interesting revolving door of people who would come to the house for fittings, consultations and pictures. It was kinda chaotic, but in a good way. Mom’s world was much busier and she would sew sometimes for 8-10 hours straight. I learned from both that you can have a normal job working for someone else or a busier one working for yourself. Mom was very inspiring as she could pick and choose the people she wanted to work with and when my parents business was in peak season there was a six month waiting list to have a gown made. Mom and dad are the inspiration for my business. They taught me to be independent and go with your instincts, because only you can make yourself a happy place.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When you have nothing left to lose, is when you learn how brave you really are,
My parents took business risks all the time, but you don’t appreciate it as a child because you had no understanding of what they were doing. As an adult, I get it. You have to pick and choose what works best. Do you fork over 5k for a new machine that will save you time and produce more product and go without extras for a few months or do you wait till it goes on sale. These are lessons that you can only learn through lived experience or by watching someone else. So for me, suffering was key, for me to appreciate that you can only go up when you hit bottom. As a business owner, you feel that bottom a lot sometimes.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the industry tell is that cheaper is better. We run into this a lot when people are learning to sew and want to buy a sewing machine and get a cheap $80.00 little machine and want to sew a quilt or make cosplay costumes. Some machines have a lot of features and can even embroider, but there are others that are simpler if you just need to make simple repairs. The fact of the matter is you need to do some research, ask questions and find a machine that fits your budget. It is like anything else in this world. You need the right tools for the right job. You can’t start a car without a key, or start one that has been sitting for 10 years. We often get people that say “Oh i have a machine and it hasn’t been used in 10 years, I am sure it works”. Wrong! Sewing machines have oil and just like a car, it needs regular maintenance.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I think being a gen x person and hispanic, we often gave more than our best and never got the praise we deserved. So we became our own cheerleaders. As an independent business owner it often feels like we go toe to toe with the world and ourselves. We remind ourselves why we do this and why we have our own company. I think in between taking care of a family, a home and staff and showing our appreciation for them, that it will be reciprocated somehow. It often is not, but we carry on because it is our job and we know in our hearts we are amazing. If we did not believe that, we couldn’t keep it going or hold it together. So when we do get the praise, we treasure it even more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sewgreatbynery.com
- Instagram: @sew.great99
- Facebook: @sew.great99
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@sewgreatbynery99
Image Credits
Credit: Sew Great
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