Harleen Creation

Being a fashion designer at Harleen Creation is mostly about long hours and a lot of tea. We don't have a massive storefront with flashing lights or huge mannequins in the window. It’s more of a workshop feel here. My desk is usually covered in bits of thread, pins, and sketches that didn't quite work out the first time. We spend most of our mornings just trying to get the light right in the room so we can see the colors of the fabric properly. It’s not like those TV shows where everything is glamorous and easy. Most of the time, it's just hard work and making sure the measurements are actually right. We don’t talk about how we are the best or have some grand mission. We just talk about whether a seam is straight or if the cloth is going to hold up after a few washes. Harleen Creation is a small name, but we’ve got people who have been coming to us for years. They know where to find us and they know we’re just regular people doing a job. The space is a bit cramped because we keep every scrap of material just in case we need it for later. Sometimes the sewing machines are all going at once and you can't even hear yourself think. But then it goes quiet in the afternoon and we can actually get some real designing done. It’s a lived-in space. There are tea stains on the floor and the neighbors know us.