From Prestigious University to Sewing Mastery: A Journey of Passion and Success

From Humble Beginnings to Sewing Mastery

Polina Karney, a native of Belarus, left her studies at a prestigious European university to pursue her passion for sewing. Today, she runs a successful clothing brand with orders coming in from all over the world. Let’s delve into her journey, discussing the imposter syndrome, motivation, style icons, and the realization of a childhood dream.

Early Struggles and the Spark of Passion

Polina’s sewing story began long before she moved to Krakow, where she eventually established her own clothing brand. Her first encounter with sewing was as a young girl, learning the basics from her mother. However, her initial attempts were far from successful.

“I was terribly clumsy. I remember the first top I made in a home economics class; I could put it on but couldn’t take it off, so I had to unpick it. There were many such situations. Once, I sewed a beautiful fitted cotton velvet dress and wore it to a jazz concert. The dress split at the back, so I had to hide by the wall for the rest of the evening,” Polina recalls.

Initially, she tried sewing using ready-made patterns from Burda magazine. She also developed an interest in historical corsets, finding patterns in old books. The learning process was long and filled with mistakes. Her first 15 corsets ended up in the trash.

Finding Love and a Lifelong Passion

Polina began sewing seriously during her student years at Jagiellonian University, where she studied art history. Every evening in her dorm room, she would sit at a sewing machine borrowed from friends, spending part of her scholarship on fabrics.

She remembers liking a young man at the university who was into Gothic style. To attract his attention, she decided to sew a corset. The handmade corset did win his heart, and they dated for a while.

“He was the first person who really supported me on this path, believed that it had a future, and advised me to try sewing corsets to order,” Polina shares.

Her first customers were her classmates. Word of mouth did its magic, and her client base grew rapidly, thanks to social media promotion. Orders started coming in not only from Poland but also from other countries, including the USA, Germany, the UK, France, and even Australia. Today, Polina receives orders from more than 40 countries worldwide.

Leaving University for a Dream

At one point, Polina had to choose: spend a month preparing for university exams to get a bachelor’s degree and forget about sewing for a while, or leave the university and dedicate that month to developing her sewing skills, which she truly loved and which were already bringing in income. She clearly realized that she wanted to devote her life to sewing.

Her loved ones did not support her decision to leave the university. Her grandmother was the most worried and still worries about her granddaughter. Her parents came to terms with it when they saw that she was happy and had a steady income.

“Almost seven years have passed since then, and I have never regretted my decision. Even during my university studies, I realized that I was not in the right place. I was bored in classes because all my thoughts were already occupied with sewing,” Polina says.

Specialization and Challenging Clients

Today, Polina specializes in sewing coats but hasn’t forgotten about corsets. She recalls that when she started learning to make coats, the demand for corsets was high, and she thought it would always be that way. However, a few years later, she realized that wasn’t the case.

“A coat is a very important element of the wardrobe that people see on you most of the time during the cold season. Corsets are more for enthusiasts, so the demand for them is lower,” Polina explains.

On average, it takes Polina 10 to 20 hours to sew one coat, depending on the complexity of the model. According to her, if she doesn’t get distracted and works diligently, she can sew a coat in one day.

Most of Polina’s customers are between 25 and 45 years old. For some, ordering a custom-made coat is a status symbol. Others are not satisfied with mass-market products due to the fabric composition or the fit of the garment. For example, a person with a non-standard figure looks for high quality and a solution to their specific problem in custom tailoring. Some appreciate handmade work and the uniqueness of the item.

Polina has formed strong friendships with some of her customers. She believes that even the most challenging clients can be satisfied, and their joy confirms that the work was not in vain.

“I like being a specialist in a narrow field. It allows me to perfect my technique in creating a specific garment and bring its quality to the highest level,” Polina says.

At the same time, she finds it useful to sometimes step out of her comfort zone and take on non-standard tasks. For Polina, this means sewing pants, overalls. As an experiment, the young master would also like to try implementing some historical project. Once, she sewed a crinoline dress, although she has never professionally engaged in historical reconstruction.

Building a Personal Brand

Polina notes that creating and developing a personal brand involves a lot of diverse work, with sewing being just a part of it.

First and foremost, it’s essential to promote your brand on social media. Initially, this took up a lot of Polina’s time. Every day, she had to create content and come up with something interesting to attract customers. She even had to learn how to pose. Sometimes, friends would take photos, and later, professional photographers started offering collaboration. Polina shoots and edits videos of her work process herself.

In the future, Polina considers opening her own atelier. However, for now, she is comfortable working alone, without a team, except for an accountant.

“When you hire a team, you become responsible for them, and I’m only ready to be responsible for the client for now,” Polina explains her position.

Secrets of Success, Imposter Syndrome, and Burnout

The main secret of success, according to Polina, is a combination of persistence and genuine love for what you do. However, she admits that even then, it’s not always possible to avoid crisis situations where you feel worthless and incapable.

For many years, Polina struggled with imposter syndrome. She felt that being self-taught meant she lacked knowledge, skills, or did things incorrectly. Polina doesn’t hide that she still sometimes doubts her expertise, although these instances are becoming less frequent.

“Without discipline, you won’t go far,” Polina believes. She tries to maintain a balance between work and rest, not to overwork, and to find time for walks and meetings with friends. She also finds inspiration in the work of other masters, both in sewing and other fields.

As for style icons, Polina admires the elegance and sophistication of Audrey Hepburn and the boldness and creativity of Alexander McQueen. She believes that everyone should have their own style icon, someone who inspires and motivates.

Polina’s story is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and the courage to follow one’s dreams. Her journey from a clumsy beginner to a successful sewing specialist serves as an inspiration to many.

For more information on Polina’s work, visit her Instagram page.