Phelesia Oketch crafted a beautifully opaque, may green curtain for Markus, perfectly blending elegance and practicality. What's your wish?
A request by Markus from Nützen, Germany
I would like to order a curtain – width 180cm, height 165cm, colour to the inside plain green – about RAL 6017 (May green), to the outside it doesn’t matter. The curtain should be quite opaque, maybe you can combine a green fabric towards the room with a second dark fabric towards the window.
Incidentally, it doesn’t have to be that exact shade, but should give you an idea for the color. The curtain is hung on an existing curtain board, so the finish at the top should be with a standard curtain tape, see photo. I will then insert the matching plastic hangers myself.
The Journey of Creating Tailored curtain in may green, opaque
Negotiation & Planning
Tailored curtain in may green, opaque - design ideas and artisan proposals
I went to to check for the curtain material and those are the ones that I got, It wasn't easy finding the exact shade that you want but the first one among the photos is close to may green though it's more expensive than the others. I'll use it to quote the price but if you choose a different shade then I'll reduce the price.
Please go through the materials and let me know.
Hi Phelesia,
I agree, the color on the first photo (IMG_20211004_161737.jpg) looks best. Please proceed with this material. However, the cost of 0,34€ for material does not seem to be correct. Could you please check that again, so that we can proceed?
cu
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hi Markus, I've corrected the prices. Please check and let me know. Note that the prices do not include urban change lab charges.
Thank you.
Not applicable.
Crafting Process
How to make a Tailored curtain in may green, opaque – work in progress
Hi Markus, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make for you the curtain. I'm planning to buy the materials on Monday then work on it on Tuesday. I'll send you photos and videos on Wednesday.
Perfect. Please proceed as planned.
cu
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hi Markus, I sent you a message earlier, I've just realised that it didn't go through maybe my internet was down. I'm sorry for that. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to realise this idea. I forgot to clarify on something, Do you want the curtain with gathers (which will take more material but looks better and more beautiful and the cost will go up by almost thrice) or should I just stick to the measurements that you gave me? (Which will be plain without gathers and the cost will remain the same).
Kindly let me know, Thank you.
Hi Phelesia,
of course the fabric should be gathered, so that the curtain has folds when hanging. I've attached a picture to make it clear. The final curtain should then have the dimensions of 180cmx165cm (width x height), so of course you need more material than that.
cu
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hi Markus, that's true, I need more material, would you mind if I change the price? because we have to come up with the best.
Hi Phelesia,
please change the cost accordingly.
cu
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hi Markus, Thank you for giving me the go ahead to make the curtain, I'll update you about the production soon.
Great. Thanks. (Automatic translation)
Hi Markus, I got the material and I'm planning to start cutting and stitching tomorrow. I'll send you more photos and videos.
Ok. Looking forward to seeing it. (Automatic translation)
Hi Markus, we are almost done 😃. I'll send you the final one tomorrow.
Nice! Thank you! (Automatic translation)
How are you Markus? Your curtain is ready, please check the photos and tell me if you are satisfied with the curtain, Thanks.
Hi Phelesia,
I am fine, I hope you are too. The curtain looks visually very good, but unfortunately I'm not quite convinced of the measurements yet: the measurements don't seem to be right - I wanted to have a curtain that has a WIDTH of 180cm and a HEIGHT of 165cm. In the picture it looks more the other way round!
Also, I actually wanted ONE curtain and not TWO. However, I would possibly also agree with TWO curtains, which would then have to have the dimensions 90cm WIDTH and 165cm HEIGHT.
Can you confirm that the dimensions are correct? (Automatic translation)
Hi Markus, The height of the curtain is 165.5cm. a slight error of 0.5cm occurred, This normally happens because materials tend to stretch a little bit while stiching even if it's not a stretchy material like this one.
The width of one side of the curtain is 186cm, this is because the curtain should form gathers so if you pull the strings it folds and becomes smaller.
We made 2 of them so that opening and closing may be easier and it also makes the window more beautiful than using one.
Hi Phelesia,
ok, I understand. 0,5cm is of no concern, of course. I assume then that you produced two curtains of ~90 x 165cm when gathered. That's ok, thank you for sending the video with measuring the size. It's hard to estimate the size from the images. Sorry for that. Please send the curtains, then.
cu
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hello Markus
My name is Noel Waiganjo, local operations manager, Urban Change Lab. I’m currently doing the quality assessment and I’ve noticed a small spot on them. The curtains look beautiful but I’d like to know what you think about the spot. Can we still ship the curtains?
Regards
Noel
Hi Noel,
thank you for examining the curtain carefully! To be able to decide if I can accept it, could you please send me an overview image, so that I can see where the blob is actually located?
Thanks (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hello Markus,
I’ve uploaded more photos of the curtain both with gathers and without so that you see how the blob looks like.
Regards
Noel
Hi Noel,
thank you for the additional photos. Unfortunately the blob is in a location that would be clearly visible afterwards. Therefore please give the curtain back to Phelesia. My proposal is, to open the seam again and take out 2cm of fabric at this position. I will accept a curtain that has 2cm less width.
cu
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hi Markus, I've repaired the curtain, I hope you will love it, I'm really sorry for what happened, sometimes things does not go smoothly the way we planned but we must finish what we started. Thank you for your patience and your good attitude. Please don't hesitate to put another request here on Urban change lab, I'll be happy to work on it and send you a gift along with it 😃.
Hi Phelesia,
there are no additional photos, so I assume that you repaired the curtain in the way I proposed. In this case I'm totally happy with it.
Thanks
Markus (Automatische Übersetzung)
(Automatic translation) 05 Nov 2021 2:53 pm: Markus
(Automatic translation) 05 Nov 2021 2:53 pm: Markus
Hello Phelesia,
since there are no additional photos, I assume that you fixed the curtain in the way I suggested. In that case, I'm totally happy with it.
Thanks
Markus (Automatic translation)
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON005764E-30167
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
108.62
|
| Cost of labour |
36.21
|
| Cost of packaging |
0.8
|
| Cost of delivery to local operations manager |
1.61
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
147.24
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
14.72
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
14.72
|
| Shipping costs from Kenya to Germany* |
50
|
| VAT (Germany)* |
39.27
|
| Total |
269.75
|
*Shipping costs and VAT vary depending on your location.
Each price shown is based on a unique, custom request. Final prices may vary depending on materials, effort, and delivery location.
