Replic: the blog

In this interview Angela Engel reminisces on the fabric pandemic purchases that encouraged her to launch Riverside Fabrics. The software engineer turned store owner also discusses the recent logistical challenges she faced with tariffs and shipping strikes, emphasizes the need to surround oneself with good staff and shares her contagious excitement to start sourcing new fabrics for her spring collection.

What prompted you to start a business?

I worked as a software engineer prior to the pandemic. I was on maternity leave with my youngest when the pandemic hit. I had been sewing for an eternity, and I was stuck at home. I extended my maternity leave to 18 months. My son was about 11.5 months in that March of the pandemic.

I was home for six months and couldn’t leave. I wanted to make some clothes for him and my other son and just use the time. I really liked this fabric that was made in the Netherlands. Especially not being able to shop in person and being stuck at home, I wanted access to it. It just wasn’t available. There was no way to order it. If I shipped it from the Netherlands, it was like a hundred dollars. It was just bonkers.

I thought, well, maybe if I order a whole roll of it, I can sell the rest on Etsy and hopefully break even. So I did that with a few other fabrics, and it was going really well. I was really busy. I just kept adding more.By the time my maternity leave was up, I was doing it so much that it didn’t make sense to go back to work. I could have gone back, but I didn’t want to. I saw there was another option.

After about six months, I got a store space to expand it. Previously it was in our garage, just shipping online. I got a store space just about five years ago when the pandemic was winding down, and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Where is the name coming from?

So it’s just location-based. I live in the Riverside district. The store is actually just about two blocks north of what you’d consider the Riverside district of Toronto, but I wasn’t going to change the name when I found the storefront. We’re so close to the Riverside district.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of running a business?

My favourite is definitely picking out fabric and sourcing fabric. It’s fabric shopping on the highest scale. I love getting sample boxes, reviewing samples, and searching out deadstock. It’s kind of a treasure hunt. That’s by far my favorite part of the job!

Least favorite is probably dealing with logistics, like landlords. I am renegotiating my lease right now. That kind of stuff sucks. Shipping logistics have been challenging, especially with strikes and the recent tariffs. Figuring out how to handle it has been pretty challenging. Prior to the de minimis being eliminated, about 20% of our business was shipping to the U.S.. Now it’s more like 5%. It’s tough.

Do you have any favorite sewing patterns or designers?

True Bias is definitely up there. I’ve made the Nico top and top/dress probably more times than I can count. That’s definitely up there.

I get patterns from so many different designers. Viki Sews is another one that I really like. They have really fashion-forward patterns. Seamwork patterns: I sew quite a few of those. And Friday Pattern Co! Those are probably some of the main ones.

Any stores you admire?

Mood Fabrics in the U.S., just because it’s such an empire. Especially their blog and their patterns collection. It’s really impressive. It seems like they’re an institution there. They’re pricey, but they source so much variety. I’ve been to their store in New York when I’ve traveled there. It’s quite large. I definitely aspire to grow even close to that big.

Any advice for people considering opening a store?

Honestly, find good staff. My employees are lifesaving. Having good staff that you can trust is so important. Otherwise, you wind up working 80 hours a week trying to do everything.

It took me a little while to learn to delegate and trust other people, but I would say finding people you can delegate to and trust is so key.

What are you most looking forward to?

Short term, I would say sourcing some new linens for spring. They’re always fun, and I’ve been looking at a lot of different suppliers.

Long term, honestly, I hope to grow enough to hire someone else. I think that would make such a big difference in operational redundancy, when someone’s sick for example. One of my employees is on her honeymoon now, so it’s been a busy week. That’s what I’m looking forward to.