The Sample Room turns 1!

Today marks one year since The Sample Room officially came to life.

When I think back on everything that’s happened in the past twelve months, I’m honestly in awe. Starting a brand from scratch is one thing — starting one rooted in sustainability, circular design, and slow fashion is something else entirely (ITS NOT EASY). There have been so many moments of joy, excitement, and connection… but also a lot of tears, hard decisions, and uncertainty.

This summer, especially, was tough. I questioned what I was doing more than once, I would wake up in the morning with anxiety because I wasnt sure if I was going to make The Sample Room truly work. But every time I doubted, this community found a way to pull me back. Watching people actually sew — turn fabric into something they’ll wear, mend, love, and cherish — has been the most rewarding part of all of this. The Sewing Challenge brought so many new faces into The Sample Room, and seeing everyone fight fast fashion through creativity has made every late night, every setback, and every tear worth it.

One of the biggest shifts for The Sample Room this year has been moving toward upcycling. It feels so right.

When I started, I focused on designing timeless, zero-plastic garments — pieces that were biodegradable, functional, and made to last. But I’ve realized that sustainability doesn’t just mean making “better” things; it means using what already exists. There’s so much beauty, texture, and history in the materials already out there. Giving old fabrics and garments new life feels so much more aligned with what I want this brand to be. Each upcycled piece feels personal — like I’m adding another chapter to a story that already began somewhere else. It’s slower, yes. But it’s intentional, and that’s the whole point.

If this first year has taught me anything, it’s that growth doesn’t always look like more — sometimes it looks like deeper.

In the year ahead, I want to keep doing what connects me most to this community: pop-ups, retreats, and hands-on experiences. Being out in the world, meeting people face to face, talking about fabric and fit and slow fashion — that’s the heartbeat of The Sample Room. Next week marks our very first sewing retreat, and I have a feeling it’s going to be something special. A few days of sewing, laughter, and creativity shared among women who just get it. I’m already dreaming up the next one, hoping around April!

If I’m being honest, I’d love for The Sample Room to be my full-time focus one day. For now, I juggle other projects to keep things going — and that’s okay. Every pattern I release, every bundle I ship, every event I host feels like one step closer to that dream. I’m still learning every single day — how to market, how to build a Shopify site, how to write emails that feel real and not robotic. It’s all part of the process, and strangely enough, I love it. It’s creative in its own way.

Running this business has challenged me more than anything else I’ve done, but it’s also made me feel more fulfilled than any corporate job ever could. I feel like I’m actually making a difference — not just in fashion, but in the way people connect with what they wear.

To everyone who has been here — whether you’ve bought a pattern, joined a challenge, or simply followed along — thank you.

You’ve helped build this community from the ground up. You’ve shared your creations, your stories, and your energy. And because of that, The Sample Room has become something far bigger than I could have built alone.

Here’s to year two — 

With so much gratitude!

Meg

Founder, The Sample Room