Fully Fashioned Stocking Drama

14 Aug 2012 12:49
Categories: WKD Latest Product News Comments: 12 comments
Tags: Fully fashioned stockings

Running a business it's rare to get through the day without some kind of drama. Last Friday we had a slightly bigger drama than usual when we found out the factory that makes our fully fashioned stockings had gone into administration with immediate effect, and that all the stockings we had on order would not be delivered.

Making fully fashioned stockings is not glamorous. The machines are 30 feet long, weigh tonnes and are highly tempermental. Get it right and you'll make 30 pairs of fully fashioned stockings an hour. That's right, just 30 pairs! The factory went in to administration because it thought it couldn't sell stockings at the price it needed to. Until a week ago there were two factories making fully fashioned stockings in the UK and a couple of years ago they were both taken over by two parties who both started a price war to build market share. Our factory was running nearly 24 hours a day over 3 shifts, didn't offer credit to stockists (or didn't to us at least!), and still couldn't turn a profit.

Here at What Katie Did we look at the long term and concentrate on building a strong business for years to come. We might be slightly more expensive than other retro brands, but this is because we don't put price pressure on the factories we work with to ensure that we receive well made lingerie, on time and will do for years to come. If you cut corners something has to give.

Where does that leave us? We are hopeful that the factory will come through. The last American factory closed last year and to lose 2 out of 4 remaining fully fashioned factories in such a short space of time does not bode well.   Although we do have plans we're keeping are cards close to our chests at the moment. As we had no notice of the factory closing we will be out of stock for a few weeks, but hopefully stock will be arriving in late September.

Comments

Oh my goodness, this hurts my soul to read. Here in the States Magnolia Hosiery was the factory to go to for fully fashioned stockings. They stopped making them a couple of years ago and are only selling stock on hand. I would hate to see FFS go the way of so many other fabulous things our disposable society considers \"unnecessary.\"

RocketJ, 22 Aug 2012

Although I have only a few pairs, they are only stockings I wear with the exception of one pair of WKD retro stockings I reserve for occasions where there's an increased risk of damage to stockings. It has been a boon to have fully fashioned stockings available especially since my stash of original 40s and 50s stockings discovered at various estate sales during my university days had finally been exhausted. Please do keep us posted.

jcdubs, 15 Aug 2012

Oh my God, no!!! The FFs I've bought from you have been som of the best ones I've ever owned. Not like the dearer alternatives (cough), who usually ladder just as you look at them. Please, please, someone save this factory!

Mabels, 15 Aug 2012

Disaster !! I hope the administrators are creative and come up with a rescue plan.
I'll pass the hat round to start a purchasing fund.

Hair 38, 15 Aug 2012

Hope that will be a short drama !

But contact us, we can connect you to a fully fashioned stocking producer from France.

Nylon-Mode@gmail.com

Nylon-Mode.com, 15 Aug 2012

Oh no... :-(

theprovocateur, 15 Aug 2012

I do hope you can save this. Best wishes xxx

Suzannah x, 15 Aug 2012

I do hope you can save this. Best wishes xxx

Suzannah x, 15 Aug 2012

I do hope you can save this. Best wishes xxx

Suzannah x, 15 Aug 2012

Oh no! I just grabbed a couple of pairs before they're gone...hope they're actually still in stock, as the website reflects. I really want to wear FFs with my wedding dress!

m_steelgrave, 15 Aug 2012

Can we club together and buy it?!

pettythief, 15 Aug 2012

this is not good. can someone please save this factory!!!!

chris lee, 15 Aug 2012

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