National Picnic is a locally-made brand at heart...
...while the internet helps us reach fans both near and far. The clothing is cut and sewn in house.
Production is intentionally small in scale for customers who appreciate the time and attention we put into each garment.
A pandemic update:
We are serving ALL customers via the website as we survey the effects of COVID and plan for the future.
In the meantime, safe haven in the designer's original studio ("back where it all began" so to speak) keeps the online shop healthy and open.
Look forward to a creative and active 2021 full of thoughtful decisions. We will be re-examining our sustainability, keeping reliable processes that work, tossing ones that don't, and most exciting of all, Trying New Things!
:)
(back to our usual intro...)
This website might make National Picnic appear like a larger company.
On this website, there are more styles than seemingly possible, because many of the items are not made yet. Something may not exist in your size when you place an online order. That's why it may take 1-2 weeks—to sew your order—before it ships to you.
A unique just-in-time business model allows our indie fashion brand to stay healthy competing within a fashion industry swollen with overproduction and waste. It feels good to know most of what we make is being made for someone in particular. Perhaps you :)
Pictured: Betsy Cook, owner/designer. National Picnic moved from its brick and mortar during the pandemic, to return to serving its customers online only. (Photos by Denise Guerin)
There is no handbook on how survive as a small business clothing maker in the 21st century. Sharing our slow fashion process with long distance customers is a welcome challenge —we want to offer personal service that can't be replicated by massive chain stores. When you call, know we're doing our best to give you a "neighborhood boutique" experience, wherever you may be.
That said, we simply can't make everything to order. Between orders we sew small batches of styles, to make good use of outgoing fabrics, pondering future customer needs as we aim to sew every last yard of fabric.
It's common to think “dressmaker” or “tailor” when you hear about sewing on the premises; instead, imagine a woman-owned factory that makes National Picnic brand clothing.
