Hello everyone! I am Alice, the founder of BouSidesign.
Q: What is BouSi?
A:BouSi, meaning Fabric & Time in Cantonese! My journey began with collecting unique fabrics while traveling and crafting them into heartfelt gifts for loved ones. Each piece tells a story, preserving precious memories through fabric crafts that bring joy and connection to our lives.
Q: Why Handmade?
A: After dedicating years to my role as a Fashion Designer in the fast fashion industry, I made the challenging decision to resign. The guilt of contributing to unsustainable practices weighed heavily on me. I am now eager to explore more ethical and sustainable avenues in my career
In 2018, I made the heartfelt decision to leave my job to care for my Mum. Sewing has always been my passion, and I cherish collecting cute fabrics during my travels, especially in Japan. Transforming these delightful materials into lovely bags and crafts brings me joy, and I've loved sharing my creations with friends. It's fulfilling to blend family and passion in this way.
Q:What’s special about BouSi?
A: Living in a compact 800ft flat in Hong Kong presents unique challenges, particularly regarding space. I find myself limited to purchasing only 1-2 meters of fabric at a time. This constraint, however, has led me to meticulously curate a collection of high-quality Japanese textiles, each chosen for its exceptional craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal, reflecting my commitment to quality despite spatial limitations.
Q: Why do you make only pen cases & small bags?
A: As a passionate stationery enthusiast, my focus on pen cases and bags has allowed me to combine my love for collecting beautiful letter paper, stickers, and pens. While I do appreciate fountain pens, my journey began when a friend requested a cute fountain pen pouch, leading me to explore this niche further. Additionally, in response to client requests for vegan alternatives, I am expanding my offerings. Since the inception of BouSi, I have also created bag organizers, which serve as the perfect canvas to showcase delightful illustrations on fabric, enhancing both functionality and style. Your support means everything to me.
Q: Why do you make doll outfits?
A: Being a fangirl and a nerd, I got into making doll outfits around 2020 when I fell in love with Thai-pop and got my first idol plushie doll. Before that, I dabbled in making doll clothes for my plushies but never really took it seriously. Once I became a fangirl, I got serious about creating doll outfits. I love carrying my dolls (Idol doll/Labubu/Chiikawa/Too many to mention) around and dressing them up—it's just so much fun, and I absolutely love it!
Q: Why did you use so many Japanese or animal prints?
A: I am a super fan of Japan (from manga to traditional culture). I decided to take fashion design because of a manga called Paradise Kiss (it’s a story of a group of fashion design students) So you will find a lot of Japan-related patterns here.
And I am also a huge animal lover, so you will see a lot of Cats, Rabbit or even shoebill prints in my products. If you are looking for solid colour design, I am afraid that you are looking in the wrong place.
Q: Can people have tailor made orders here?
A: Yes, I can make tailor made orders. Some clients asked for a specific style of fabric for their pen case or drawstring bag. If I have the right options for them, I will provide them with design options or suggestions.
Q: Why don’t you open an Etsy shop?
A: I had it before and had been a 5 stars seller. Actually I started from Etsy but my shop was suddenly shut down.
In my Etsy shop, I also put my handmade doll outfit for sale, maybe the AI thought it had a copyright issue. I tried an appeal but I couldn’t get it back. So here I am, having my own shop. It won’t stop me.
Thank you for reading and I hope you have a better understanding about BouSi design.
If you have any questions, welcome to email or dm me on Instagram.
Our Goal
Running a business is tough, Running a handmade brand is even harder. As a one girl band handmade shop, I am working hard to have a sustainable business which offers lovely and affordable fabric crafts.
BouSi had a nice growth at Etsy but unfortunately, it was shut down without any warning. We had been very good sellers with lots of 5 stars reviews. I believe that this is a big push for me to go further and start this shop.
Now we are opening at Payhip and plan to expand.
Thank you for reading and let’s grow together!