(Photo above: Allison Murphy and mother Cindy Robert | Photo Courtesy of Utilitu)
From fashion forward one-of-a-kind to everyday blue jeans, Utilitu advocates for extending the lifetime of one’s wardrobe and goods in general. Now located in the Makers District, Utilitu has remodeled over 1,000 garments since 2008. Not only does the company providing a financially savvy choice for customers, they have cultivated a business model rooted in sustainability and family.
Utilitu’s founder and back bone, Allison Murphy, describes operating a family business as, “It means looking at the assets of each individual and tasking them accordingly. I am definitely a do-it-yourselfer to the core and to a fault; it has taken me years to warm up to the idea of delegating work, but it’s a really beautiful thing to trust someone enough to share work with them. Sharing the joys of learning lessons with other people is a priceless experience that everyone walks away from wiser.”
Murphy’s motley Maker District crew consists of “Cindy Robert, denim repair specialist and Professional Grandma; Rory Restani, sweetheart, computer guru, and power tool lackey; Sequoyah Elkins, teen intern and button maker; Sailor & Arora, makers of dirty dishes and inspiration.”
When asked how she would describe the day to day with family and business Murphy smiles widely and says, “rewarding, standard setting, exhausting, bar raising.”
It’s fitting that Robert, Murphy’s mother, is part of the team, as she witnessed Utilitu’s first stitches when Murphy was just a child. “I’ve been sewing since I was eight years old,” says Murphy, “and have always come back to it after going off on wild streaks trying new things. Sewing has always been this thing that I’ve done, but never really thought I could do anything sustaining with it. When I was pregnant with my first child, I decided to put all my chips on the table and see if sewing as a business model could work. It has worked.
“My biggest challenge, overall, since the beginning, is time management. Turnaround times on work are usually late, and I have a hard time balancing work/life needs. I have a feeling this will always be a struggle for me as I am first and foremost an artist when it comes to my work. I believe there is an art to hemming a dress just right. I really put a lot of energy into my work, so I’m not as productive as I should be, but I think I put forth a quality product and experience unlike anything else in town.”
Curating the highest standards in sewing and re-use ethics in her company, in the community as the co-director of Rubbish-Renewed Eco Fashion Show, and in her family, she says, “Ultimately, I think I’m in the business of story making. When we choose to repair, reuse or repurpose something, we’re giving that item and ourselves a story which can never be bought.”
When asked what future germinations the community can look forward to from Utilitu, Murphy says, “I have just moved my business (again!) into a bigger space that has parking and is street level. I’m happy to finally be handicapped accessible. There is a wee little art gallery in the new space called The Light + Lines Gallery, the art will change with the full moon. The first show is February 20 and is an interactive community art piece. There will be a carefully curated retail area featuring handmade goods from real people: art from Teafly, prints and goods from The Wild Francesca, handmade bags from a woman named Rosa in Guatemala, teas from Tumbleweed Teas and much more. Please come by and check it out!”
Unafraid of committing to the difficulties that often accompany dedicated values, Utilitu has been providing customers with a sewing and design service unmatched for eight years.
For a consultation visit Utilitu’s new location at 1234 NE First St., Bend, OR 97701 or call 541-350-8511. Open Wednesday through Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 10am-4pm.
Utilitu
www.facebook.com/utilitusew/
CEO: Allison Murphy
No. Employees: 4
Year Established: 2008
Product/Service: Sewing and design
Hot News: Move to new location and launch of gallery space
Outlook for Growth: Great
