Tell us about yourself: I live in beautiful Southern California with my wonderful husband of 5 years this April. We both grew up in San Clemente, a small Spanish style beach town in South Orange County, and just last November took a huge leap and moved to the big city. Los Angeles has provided so many opportunities for us both personally and for our business. We’ve been able to grow and mature much faster than in Orange County, thanks to the amazing friends and business contacts that we’ve made since moving here. With the growth my husband has pretty much become the real workhorse of Jack of All Trades, with much needed help from our 1953 Singer 201-2 Sewing machine (an absolute miracle worker). He creates all of the leather baldrics, belts, vests, and flasks, while I make the flowers and hair accessories. We take inspirations from Medieval and Renaissance eras, as well as Pirate and Fantasy, and anything else that looks rustic and olde world.
What is your business mission? We create one of a kind items using pure imagination and artistic influences. From the “Olde World” to Fantasy, Renaissance to Weddings, we make illusions and dreams into realities. Using only the best materials, we construct handmade clothing and accessories inspired by the heroes and heroines of yesteryear.
Why did you start your business? We started Jack of All Trades (JAT) in 2010 after receiving numerous inquiries at a Renaissance faire about where to buy the costumes we were wearing. My husband had made a gorgeous distressed leather vest with lacing and suede, and everywhere we went heads would turn. He had also made a leather baldric inspired by Jack Sparrow’s baldric in Pirates of the Caribbean, which had also received many nods from people in the crowd. Slowly he began making and selling these items, and in the summer we decided to take this to a more professional level and to make JAT an official business.
Whats next for Jack Of All Trades? We have many full costumes in the works that we’ll premiere at this year’s Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale. We’re creating the “Confessor” and “Seeker” costumes inspired by the hit TV Series “Legend of the Seeker”. We’re also planning a full line of vests, frock coats, bodices, and accessories that we’ll display at Renaissance faires later in the year. We’ll also be vending at various weekend events in the Spring and Summer, and will be attending the San Diego Comic Con in July.
Is there anything else you would like to share? Our long term goals involve making costumes for the movie industry. With interest in the old world and fantasy seemingly on the rise, more and more movies and TV shows are using such styled costumes. We have mentors who make similar items for movies, so we hope down the road to learn and evolve with the industry, contributing our designs and love for quality costumes to the diverse world of Hollywood.
Visit Jack of All Trades.
