We didn’t begin Potato Saks with the intention of creating some large children’s clothing company.  In fact, we didn’t even set out to create Potato Saks.  We simply wanted to make some fun and unique clothes for our own children.  Pretty soon, however, our designs were catching people’s eye -- they liked our clothes and wanted to know where they could buy them.  The next thing we knew…Potato Saks was born.

That was five years ago and we’ve come a long way since then.  Looking back, it all seems like a blur and as we write this it seems a lot easier than it was.  It wasn’t easy! We worked hard...pulled all-night design and sewing sessions more times than we can count, spent hundreds of hours on the phone with various suppliers and traveled to trade shows across the country.  Many hours were spent with our reps and buyers, to whom we owe many thanks, in our Atlanta showroom (Cyrilla and Company) trying to get our clothes in stores.  Without a doubt…it was all worth it and we could not have done it without them or each other!

Today we have a business we love -- one that allows us to be entrepreneurs, designers and most importantly, moms.  It has definitely changed from the business we started in our own living rooms!  Our designs may have changed over the years, but our commitment to making fun clothing, that allows children to be children, has never wavered.  Our own children have grown up a bit now, but we’re still inspired by the creativity, wonder and playfulness of childhood.  That is what sparked the idea of Potato Saks and it’s what continues to drive us in each collection we create.

My mother has always been a very talented seamstress. She always made clothing, costumes and prom dresses for my sister and me. I, on the other hand, had never really sewn much. When I left my role as an instructor and project manager in the software business, following the birth of my first child, I found that I had very little extra money to spend on my daughter’s clothes. In keeping with the fond memories of my own childhood - I decided to try my hand in sewing. I started with a very simple dress pattern and added to that by coming up with fun, crazy appliqués.

I made a few dresses and they soon caught the attention of another mother at my daughter’s preschool...Crystal.

Having been a registered nurse I had never considered making children’s clothing until I saw a little girl, wearing the cutest dress, while visiting my daughter’s preschool. I introduced myself to her mom, Dara, and asked where she got it. When she told me that she made it, I was intrigued and decided to give it a try myself. She shared the pattern and within a week I’d made several versions of my own.

Soon, Dara and I teamed up to sell our dresses at a church craft show. The orders came flying in and one show lead to another and another. It’s pretty much been a roller coaster ever since.