The buzz around Blackstrad has been amazing, and we’re loving all the questions coming our way. You’ve been asking what we’re up to, who’s behind the magic, and most importantly—when you can snag something for yourself. So, let’s dive into your top FAQs.

What’s your brand Blackstrad all about?

Let’s be real—frumpy, mismatched outfits cobbled together from office attire and random fast-fashion pieces shouldn’t be the standard for concert attire. And let’s put an end to two other extremes—shopping in the Mother-of-the-Bride section at David’s Bridal and the wearing of athleisure on stage. (Full disclosure: I’m 100% guilty of all these fashion sins.)

At the core of our brand is a modern aesthetic that balances formality with ease of movement. Each piece is designed with wearability in mind and is intended to be loved and re-worn, performance after performance, season after season. We’re also committed to responsible manufacturing, using sustainable, biodegradable, recycled, or renewable materials whenever possible.

In a nutshell, we want you to look amazing, feel unstoppable, and perform at your very best. Blackstrad merges modern, minimalist design with eco-conscious production to deliver concert attire that’s both responsible and confidence-boosting.

Are you sewing the clothes yourself?

Let’s just say my sewing skills peaked when I was 12. I’m leaving the needlework to the pros who know how to turn a sketch into a showstopper.

What exactly are you doing then?

Pretty much everything else. It all starts with the initial sketches. Some designs have been living in my head for years, waiting to come to life. Some I sketched these ideas from memory, without any references. Others were inspired by real-life shopping experiences and mood boards I’ve curated on Pinterest. If you’ve ever gone shopping for women’s formal black clothing that meets the typical concert dress code, you know there are plenty of options that just don’t quite hit the mark. For some designs, I combined different style elements into a single garment, aiming to create something truly unique yet functional.

I’ll be honest—I’m not exactly a master sketch artist. Like many designers, I used croquis under tracing paper to sketch flat designs. From there, I created documents detailing everything from fabric choices to specific measurements—like the exact sleeve length, the ideal skirt length, and how far a V-back can plunge before it starts encroaching on the bra line. I also considered the ‘ease’ needed around the shoulders to ensure all performers have ample freedom of movement. All these details, along with reference photos for things like shoulder box-pleats and fabric draping, are stored in a Google Drive folder.

 

What about fabric sourcing?

Fabric sourcing has been the biggest challenge by far. I attended numerous fabric and textile trade shows in L.A. and Las Vegas to get a feel for the materials and meet vendors. After discovering fabrics I liked, I ordered swatches, narrowed down my favorites, and then ordered sample yardage—usually between 5-20 yards—so we could start making prototypes.

Once I had the design file and sample fabric, I sent them off to a pattern maker. Patterns are those flat pieces of paper or cardboard that you lay on fabric to cut out the individual garment pieces. They also include crucial details like seam allowances, notches for lining up different parts, and instructions on the order of assembly.

 

You’ve been talking my ear off about samples, what exactly is a sample?

Each design took about two months to go from sketch to physical prototype. Some prototypes were nearly perfect on the first try, but others required multiple rounds of sampling. Sometimes the fabric didn’t drape the way I imagined, or it was too thick. Other times, the fit was off, or I realized a design element just wasn’t feasible and needed to be simplified or changed. The interior finishes and seams were also crucial to me, so we made adjustments during this process as well.

Each round of sampling took another month. Whenever possible I truly tested the garments by performing in them onstage, putting them through a wash cycle, and seeing how they held up to drying, ironing, and steaming. Once the pattern was perfected, it needed to be graded into all the different sizes—a whole other blog post in itself!

So, what happens next?

Once we achieved a ‘perfect’ pre-production sample, we sent it along with the pattern to a manufacturer—a sewing factory. Their job is to replicate the sample exactly and produce a size set sample (one garment in each size) to ensure accuracy across all sizes.

Then, production can begin. I had massive orders of fabric from Korea and Greece delivered to a cutting factory in Los Angeles. It takes them about a week to cut the fabric. Meanwhile, I’m designing and ordering brand labels, fabric care tags, size tags, and ensuring that all the trim, fabrics, zippers, and packing bags are ready at the manufacturing facility. After cutting, the fabric will be bundled and sent to the sewing facility—also in Los Angeles—where a team of stitchers will spend around 6 weeks sewing all the garments.

Once the garments are finished, they are folded, placed into bags, and sent through a quality control process where a percentage of the garments are closely inspected to ensure the factory met all our specifications. This process takes another week. Finally, the products will get shipped to me, where I’ll hold the inventory, log it into the online system, and start fulfilling customer orders!

So yeah, that was a long answer, but there’s a lot that goes into bringing these designs to life!

 

When can I see the collection and buy something? 

Our goal is to have part of the collection up on the site for pre-orders in September, with delivery of product starting around the Thanksgiving Holiday in late November 2024. To get the latest updates, join the waitlist!

Are you designing men’s concert attire as well?

Absolutely! We’re planning to launch menswear in 2025.

Share Your Style

The next time you’re getting ready for a concert, snap a pic and send it our way! We love seeing what you’re wearing, whether it’s our brand or someone else’s. More than anything, we want to see you feeling confident and shining on stage. So, share your favorite concert black looks by tagging us @BlackstradConcertAttire for a chance to be featured and inspire others. Now, go out there and knock ‘em dead!