Hi everyone! It's so exciting to be writing my first ever blog post as I embark on a new journey. I have always been passionate about historical costumes and replica objects, and I have finally decided to turn that passion into an online marketplace for like-minded people. With the support of my wonderful friends and family, I am diving into this business venture full time, and I couldn't be more excited. In this post, I will share with you my journey so far and my plans for the future.
Sewing has been my lifelong passion, and my fascination with historical costuming began at a young age as a result of my love for Pleasant Company's American Girl dolls and books. Wandering through the pages of history books, I was struck by the beauty of bygone-era gowns and dresses - a feeling that stayed with me. As I grew older, I continued to make costumes for myself, sharing my knowledge and passion with others. Recently, it dawned on me that I could transform this zeal into a full-time business rather than a part-time hobby.
My main focus for the online marketplace will be historical costuming, but I am an avid supporter of the buhurt and armored combat, and living history communities, and as such will likely have numerous offerings to help further missions for those communities. I want to create a space where history fans like myself can come together and find everything they need to create the perfect period-accurate costume or gear for their next exhibit, reenactment, or battle. With so many amazing historical costumes out there, it can be overwhelming to find the right one for you – that's where Modern Viking comes in.
I am also planning on expanding the marketplace to include a wide variety of products catering to the living history community, including products such as tools, feastware, jewelry, swords and armor, as well as other historical items that customers might be interested in. I hope to share more than just my own creations of course, and as such am happy to consider partnering with other artisans who share in my goal of providing quality, durability and value for my customers. I want to create a one-stop-shop for anyone interested in historical costumes and objects, and I am excited to see where this journey takes me. If you are someone who is interested in furthering this mission, please feel free to contact me at any time.
In terms of challenges, starting a business is never easy, but I am confident in my ability to make this marketplace a success. Of course, the global pandemic has also added a new level of difficulty, but I am committed to making it work. After all, who of us still properly fits in our pre-plague costumes anyways? I know I sure don't! So if nothing else, maybe this can become a place where some folks can start living their historical dreams again along with me. I know I am constantly learning and growing as I navigate this new world, and I know there will be bumps in the road, but I'm ready for the challenge.
Starting an online marketplace for historical costumes is a dream come true for me, and I am thrilled to be sharing this journey with all of you. I am grateful for the support of my friends and family, and I am excited to see what the future holds. If you're a history nerd like me, I hope you'll join me on this journey and let me help you find everything you need to create the perfect historical costume or gear. Stay tuned for more posts as I continue to grow my marketplace and make history come to life!
~KD Williams