One Sioux Falls parent decided to take things into her own hands, and with some help, a new clothing company was born.
In a Sioux Falls home office, you'll often find Megan Pederson at her sewing machine. Pederson hasn't always been a fan of stitching, but took it up three years ago with the encouragement of her mom, Kim Hayes.
"I begged them when they were in high school to learn how to sew. They were like 'why should we learn how to sew, you do it beautifully. You can sew everything we need,'" Hayes said.
A year ago, the mother-daughter duo started thinking the timing might be right to begin a crafty endeavor.
"We knew that when we found what it is that we would do together, it would just make sense. Things would kind of fall into place and that's really what started happening," Pederson said.
The next thing they knew, the two were sewing ruffled skirts for Megan's two daughters, three-year-old Bridget and one-year-old Lucy.
"It kind of started with me thinking I could do some things with garment construction and quilting and Megan's ready to dig in, so we just really kind of jumped in and did it for our own girls. And people started asking questions and 'oohing and aahing' and we thought, 'well, maybe be can do this,'" Hayes said.
"People asked us to do them for them, so we kind of thought, 'well, this could be it. This could be what our deal is,'" Pederson said.
So the decision was made to start a clothing line for young girls. But what would the brand be called? Then it struck them. The designs would be named after the young girls; the Bridget and Lucy line was born.
"We just were thrilled when the name just kind of came to us one day because it was so right. Because as Bridget grows and needs bigger clothing, the size of the line will grow," Hayes said.
Officially in business since November, the line is already a success. But you won't find it on store shelves. Instead, these clothes are available only at special events and home parties, kind of like Tupperware parties, only for girl's clothes. The reviews are in and parents appreciate the toughness.
"You can get inexpensive kids clothes now and that's wonderful. But you go through them so fast, they just don't last and you kind of buy them with that expectation. But these are different, they last," said Pederson.
As for the mother-daughter bond that became a business? That's strong too.
"Luckily, my mom and I are so close there's no tension. We know which one's good at what and she designs and I pick out fabric. So it's really been incredible," said Pederson.
Pederson and Hayes say the future of the line is unknown. Maybe someday Bridget and Lucy themselves will take it over. But for now, the three generations are just happy to have time together with a business that's picking up steam.
"We want it to be sustainable and fun and make people smile. Especially Bridget and Lucy, they just really like to prance around in these clothes. It's been great," Hayes said.
The Bridget and Lucy line just held its spring fashion show. Ninety minutes before the event was scheduled to end, the clothes were sold out. Another show is scheduled for October. Until then, the clothes are available at homes and at special events.
