Replic: the blog

This interview was originally published in French. Read the original interview.

Cathy, the owner of Mercerie Mimosa, reflects on her unconventional journey from radio journalism to building a warm and colorful space where sewing, knitting, crochet, and embroidery enthusiasts and amateurs alike come together. The businesswoman expands on the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, the joy she finds in helping her customers, and her knitting-themed happy hours and movie nights.

What prompted you to start a business?

It’s a childhood dream. I grew up surrounded by women I saw sewing and knitting.Sewing, knitting, and embroidery became a part of my life very early on. After ten years in journalism, I wanted to create a space that had meaning for me, a welcoming place where colors, materials, and projects mingle, a place to gather, meet, and encourage one another, a place where life is good and smiles abound. I was lucky enough to work in a haberdashery before opening my own. This allowed me to discover that I enjoyed interacting with customers and gave me a great glimpse into what life as an independent shopkeeper would be like, with its ups and downs! So, in the summer of 2021, I traded my radio journalist’s microphone to set up the haberdashery in a lovely space in the historic center of Dijon, much to my delight! Mimosa Haberdashery isn’t just a shop; it’s a place where I teach classes (sewing, knitting, crochet, and embroidery), a space where we host knitting get-togethers and happy hours, and sometimes we even take the concept to the cinema for “knitting and movie nights,” always sprinkling it all with smiles, warmth, and kindness!

Where does the name come from?

I didn’t particularly want a pun about needlework, I liked the idea of ​​associating a flower name with the word “haberdashery” and since mimosa is one of my favorite flowers, a little sun in the heart of winter, the name was a no-brainer!

What do you like most and least about running your own business?

There’s this incredible freedom, this feeling of pride in a job well done that you owe entirely to yourself, this privilege of designing a tailor-made business, the many wonderful encounters it brings, the flexibility in certain aspects of our schedule… I still don’t feel like I’m going to work. I love advising, following up on projects, sharing this love of handmade goods, placing orders, and thinking about the products I want to sell in my haberdashery. But there are the 60-hour weeks, the financial insecurity, the ingratitude of some customers that can dampen my spirits and motivation. But if I had to do it all over again, I would without hesitation. It’s clearly my dream job!

Who are your favorite sewing pattern designers?

I especially love the work of Ikatee (special mention for the ultra-cute Grand’Ourse jacket) and Marmaï (all their patterns are fantastic, but I particularly adore the Atlas sweatshirt) for children’s sewing projects, but not only that, I also really love I Am Patterns (the Sunshine jeans, the Delphine jacket, the Chantal bodysuit…) and among my favorite patterns is also the Poulette dress from Cousette, which I’ve already made three times!

Any other stores you admire?

Brooklyn General Store in New York is definitely my dream shop!

Do you have any advice for someone considering opening their own fabric shop?

It’s exhausting but exciting, especially if you love people! It’s a job you do out of passion, for which you need to be resilient and have a real love of human interaction. You definitely don’t spend your days sewing and knitting, but primarily selling and advising customers—that’s something to keep in mind! So surround yourself with products you love and know, and for the rest, trust yourself and the magic will happen.

Do you have any upcoming projects that inspire you?

I’d like to continue developing the sewing classes at the haberdashery and find the time to completely revamp the online shop to further develop our online presence. I also want to organize more sewing and knitting events to give people the opportunity to get together and meet each other.