Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Otto.
Hi Alisa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been every size imaginable as an adult and, no matter the size, I always struggled to find clothing that would help me get outside; more often than not, I would find myself borrowing my husband’s too-big technical tops so I wouldn’t be covered in sweat the entire time. When I was just pregnant enough with my son to develop a stomach bloat, I could not find a shirt long enough to cover my stomach before going on a hiking road trip with a friend. I was uncomfortable the entire time we hiked, I would tug at my t-shirt and my too-short jacket and could not focus on my hike, which actually ended up in some stumbles that caused me to slip a disc in my back. On the 6-hour drive back home, I thought back to all the other times I was uncomfortable on hikes and decided I would use my apparel design background to do something about it. I officially formed Ottomatic Threads in 2019 and launched in 2020. Now I run a micro-factory where we produce everything in-house and host workshops and camps to teach people how to sew in a sustainable manner.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hah! No, not a smooth road at all. Launching a company in the midst of a pandemic, no matter how prepared you felt, was a challenge. There are far too many struggles to list, but I would say the supply chain shortages have been the most impactful. Since we are a sustainability-focused company, we couldn’t just find another supplier for our fabric; we try to use the most ethically sourced fabric possible and purchase from smaller suppliers. There were a few times when the textile factories had to shut down due to workers getting sick so our fabric would be delayed or unavailable; we just had to get creative with what we had and wait it out.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ottomatic Threads. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Ottomatic Threads is 100% women-owned and led micro-factory based in North Texas. We pride ourselves on creating outdoor apparel utilizing sustainable manufacturing practices that reduce waste and support our local community. Size inclusivity is super important to our mission and we offer all designs in sizes XS-6X. We offer sewing camps and classes in our micro-factory to teach people about sewing, and sustainability, and to foster a community of craft enthusiasts.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
We are a fairly transparent brand and openly discuss challenges and things going on, so I can’t think of anything at the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ottomaticthreads.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ottomaticthreads
Image Credits
Sean Gilder Photography
