Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabiya Sankar.
Hi Fabiya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My sister and I were always obsessed with getting things monogramed and even talked about getting a small embroidery machine to customize our clothes and start a sister business. But we never followed through with it. We were young in college and it was just a ‘what if’ idea.
Fast forward years later to 2018, I started thinking about the idea again and talked to my husband about getting an embroidery machine. We researched embroidery machines and took a chance and bought one. Within a couple of weeks, the machine showed up and we took a deep breath and went from there.
The work began of learning the machine, programming, figure out pricing, and what I think the hardest part was and still is, marketing! Being an introvert, that is a challenge for me to put myself out there. I persevered and still am overcoming that fear of going out, talking to people and other businesses.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always struggles when starting something new. I had to learn every aspect of the machine. How to service it, how to make sure things stitched straight and crooked. I knew a little bit about threading and fabrics because my grandmother a seamstress.
Covid hit in 2020 and at the time I was working in the hospital. So I was not able to put as much work into the business. However, we took Covid as an opportunity to make custom masks with logos and funny quotes. We made shirts for nurses and other medical workers. We started to get some recognition and more follows on social media.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I do currently work fulltime for a healthcare staffing company. Most of my professional career has been in healthcare administration. From working front desk at doctors offices, office manager, admin assistant, and account manager.
All while working full time, I push the business as much as I can. I work with other small businesses and companies to provide apparel for their employees. While I do love doing personalization for individuals, my main goal for the business to work with other businesses.
Recently, a manager for Frontier contacted me to have shirts and sweatshirts done for their crew. A friend of mine started and EMS business and I did shirt for her team.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory, that’s a tough one. If I had to choose just one, it would be watching my grandmother sew and playing with all her fabrics. She used to work in a bridal boutique in Manhattan and she would take me to work with her some days. I would get to see the models in the wedding gowns.
Pricing:
- There is a one time $20 design/digitizing fee
- Pricing is based on the stitch count of a design. $1 per thousand stitch
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fab_ish_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabishfinds/
- Other: fabishinquire@gmail.com
