Why It’s Not a 35€ Hat — The Real Cost and Craft of Handmade, Ethical Fashion

When people see the price of a hat or vest on EyeLoveLu, some might wonder: "Why does it cost more than something at Zara or H&M?" The answer lies in everything fast fashion leaves out: time, intention, sustainability, quality, and soul.

Every EyeLoveLu piece is a result of a deeply personal, hands-on process that reflects not just my craft, but my values.

The Process: More Than Just Sewing

Each product starts with a search. I spend days sourcing secondhand materials from local charity shops like Le Hangar d’AIMA and Emmaüs Pau, digging through piles to find hidden gems—vintage cotton sheets, old denim, discarded garments with beautiful patterns.I also spend hours organizing and sorting through donated items from generous locals who support my work. I don’t bulk-order rolls of fabric. I hunt for materials with history, texture, and soul.

Then comes the prep: washing, drying, ironing, and assessing the fabric’s condition. I carefully choose which areas to use and which to set aside. After that, I move into the creative stage: designing the product, cutting custom patterns, and deciding how to turn the fabric into something entirely new.

From there, the true making begins: hand embroidery, sewing, reversible construction, finishing the edges, and adding my own handmade labels. Each hat or vest takes 5–10 hours of hands-on work to build from scratch.

But it doesn’t end there.

Once a piece is finished, I spend another round of time on photographing the product, editing the images, and designing the layout so I can present each creation beautifully and honestly online. Altogether, from sourcing to stitching to showcasing, a single product takes 10–15 hours to complete.

Why It Costs What It Costs

This is not a 35€ Zara hat because EyeLoveLu is not a fast fashion brand. There is no team of underpaid factory workers, no mass production, no plastic packaging, no cutting corners. There is one pair of hands doing it all, guided by intention and integrity.

When you buy from EyeLoveLu, you’re paying for:

  • Ethical craftsmanship
  • Time-intensive design & construction
  • Sustainable sourcing
  • One-of-a-kind artistry
  • Local and small-batch production in France

Every piece is made to last, made to matter, and made to reflect the kind of fashion we need more of in the world.

I know my pricing won’t compete with chain stores—but I’m not trying to. I'm offering something different: a wearable story stitched from secondhand fabric and a lot of soul. A product that respects the planet, values human hands, and refuses to rush.

So no, it’s not a 35€ hat. It’s something much more meaningful than that.

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