Etsy Seller Interview with Clare of ClareBare

How ClareBare got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

I began selling on Etsy in the early days! I graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2006 and originally began selling prints I made in my printmaking classes. During that time, I also began experimenting with printing on fabric and developed my lingerie brand Clare Bare as a way to create small garments within the size limitations of my silk screens.

Sustainability has always been at the forefront of my mind in my design process, so I have adapted (and continue to adapt) my production methods over the years. I always drew inspiration from vintage textiles, so I began working with the actual fabrics themselves rather than creating new fabrics and prints inspired by them. Most of my styles are made from limited-edition upcycled fabrics sourced from second-hand stores, and any new materials I use are made with sustainable production processes. Most of the pieces are sewn by myself, and I hire assistants to help with other pre- and post-production processes such as cutting, trimming, assembling straps, etc.

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

My favorite and most iconic styles, I’d say, are the Cardamine Bralette and Cardamine Garter Short. I’ve made this style in a number of different upcycled vintage fabrics over the years. It was a style I designed in the early days of my brand that I resurrected around 2017, and it’s been my top seller ever since. The open lace-up back of the pants provides a customized fit in the waist, allowing fluctuation between sizes. I’ve had customers send photos of themselves wearing this set both during and after pregnancy, which was so cool to see. The bralette also stretches a lot (give or take 5" or so).

Anything that will grow with the customer and provide an easy fit is a top seller. Another style that fits into this category is the Eternal Daze Bodysuit, with its open back and adjustable straps for a customized fit. We offer this in a variety of fabrics, but the Lenzing Modal Jersey/Recycled Mesh version has the most softness and stretch.

Getting sales on Etsy

How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?

My first sales right off the bat were from friends and family supporting my artwork, but my first sale to a stranger who discovered my work was the most exciting feeling! It took a few months to gain some traction, but sales started trickling in steadily after that. I mostly make sales through my own website, but since I have so much history and a significant following on Etsy, I use it as a secondary sales channel and attract customers organically (or through Etsy Ads during the holiday and Valentine’s Day seasons).

Managing ClareBare

How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?

I manage the shop mostly myself, but I also have assistants help with customer service, resizing photos, adding keywords to listings, etc. Currently, I’ve been playing around with AI tools to optimize SEO.

I do shipping and fulfillment in bulk. I have a 2-4 week turnaround time since I usually have about 40 orders in my queue at any given time. For the sake of efficiency, I sew everything assembly line style so I can speed up the production process.

The future of ClareBare 

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

I would love to work on creating more one-off styles like I used to at the beginning of my brand. I have many precious vintage fabrics that I have small quantities of, and I would love to create some more special high-end pieces out of these.

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

Search out popular keywords and incorporate them into your titles and descriptions. See what’s selling well within your market, and think about what you can offer that differentiates you from what’s already out there. It’s become harder to get discovered on Etsy since markets are oversaturated with many similar items nowadays; this makes it all the more important to be authentic in order to stand out! Success does not happen overnight, so give yourself time to grow into it.