Ten rapid fire questions with mid-century vintage reproduction designer Franzi Schlupski from Prettie Lanes

It's safe to say that the vintage reproduction and vintage inspired garment industry has grown in absolute leaps and bounds since I first began this blog in the early days of 2009. Back then, in-the-know vintage lifestyle folks could probably name most of the small handful of companies on the market and frequently owned pieces from most of them.

Jump ahead seven years and this arena is now a continually growing industry unto itself, with new brands emerging often around the world, with  some, as is the natural course of things, that sadly aren't able to make a go of it in the long run.

While variety is the spice of life and it's fantastic that we have so many shopping options these days, as the market has grown, so too has the range of brands that while vintage inspired, are not exactly (truly) period appropriate in their designs.

It's awesome to have a mix of different versions and interpretations of vintage styles, but sometimes one wants a straight up vintage reproduction garment that is virtually indistinguishable from the real deal. Enter Prettie Lanes, a Swiss based one woman company that is dedicated to precisely that.




Opened less than a year ago, Prettie Lanes is helmed by Franziski Schlupski, a talented seamstress and vintage adoring lady currently based in Switzerland (but originally from Germany) who custom makes each and every order that her online shop receives.

Franzi, as she often goes by, contacted me recently regarding becoming a blog sponsor, and we've been chatting like old friends ever since.

Though I haven't (yet) had the pleasure of wearing or seeing any of her gorgeous creations in person, I was so struck by the authentic sophisticated mid-century look, attention to detail, and craftsmanship that goes into each of Franzi's vintage reproduction pieces that I knew right I away I wanted to share about her brand with all of you.

A good many of my readers, like myself, enjoy (at least for some of their outfits) the more authentic looking side of the repro world and Franzi's offerings have nailed that to an absolute tee (even employing vintage sewing techniques into the designs of her garments).

Read on to learn more about this fascinating lady, her stunning vintage style garments, what inspires her and why she named her company as she did.



1. Can you please tell us what inspired you to launch your company, (full name) Franziski Schlupski Prettie Lanes, and call it as you did?

I started sewing when I was 11 years old and haven't stopped since then. Over the years more and more people were asking about my clothing and I realized the interest of others into my own designs and at one point - I moved to Switzerland in the meanwhile (I am German) - I just thought- 'when if not now?!'. This is where my 1.5 year-long journey of preparing the launch of my label started.

It took me quite a long way to design and construct the website, source for materials, create the designs and the patterns ... But on 15th April 2015, when I officially opened the online shop - I admit that I was proud to see what I alone had created over all that time :). My 'baby' had finally been born! *Laughing*. Why 'Prettie Lanes'? Take a walk down memory lane and always look pretty! ;P Authenticity and appealing designs are key components of my brand.

{The Boucle Dress in Cream – as seen in Prettie Lane’s graphic above - shown with the Boucle Jacket in Cream}

2. How do you pick the designs that you ultimately create?

To be honest- I simply create what I personally would like to wear <3 No rules. Just a huge love for the mid-century era that leads me in my design process. :)


  {The Floral Wrap Dress}


3. Each of your products is made-to-order. Can you share more of the details about that process?

All of my designs are available in my online shop and can be ordered in sizes S-XL or made-to-measure, if so desired. As soon as an order is placed, the garments are handmade by me within 5-12 business days.

Payments are welcome via PayPal or pre-payment. However, that said, I doing my best to create an inventory of some garments that I'll be taking with me when I visit various (vintage related) festivals this year *yaaaay!*.



{Piquè Cotton Dress in Creme}


4. What in your background (e.g., a love of vintage) inspired to launch your company?

See my reply to question #1. :)



{Classic Cigarette Pants in Cherry}

5. Do you plan to ever offer pre-made garments and if so, will a range of different sizes for the same style (garment) be available?

Let's just say - stay tuned! :P But for sure, there would be several sizes available, like one can choose from already with my made-to-order garments.



{Piquè Cotton Dress in Powder Blue}

6. Your pieces are incredibly authentic looking. What steps do you take to ensure this is the case?

Thank you so much! I would say my three general steps are 1. the authentic designs (i.e. classic skirt lengths, contemporary colors, waist accentuating designs) , 2. the contemporary materials (i.e. metal zipper, rayon tape, self-covered buttons, mainly cotton, rayon, wool fabrics) and 3. the sewing techniques (i.e. hand sewn hem, blind stitching, hand-crocheted belt loops, and in general a lot of hand sewing).

Plus as a finishing touch, I also offer true vintage accessories, like brooches or gloves, on my site so that customers can find a perfect (accessory) match at the same time that they order a garment from me.



{Classic Cigarette Pants in Navy}


7. On average, in US dollars, what is the average price point of one of your creations?

As Swiss Francs and US Dollar are pretty equal these days, you could almost convert prices at a 1:1 rate. The usual price for a dress is $272.00, but prices start at $199.00.

Skirts, trousers and jackets are priced between $157.00-183.00. All are, of course, limited edition designs help ensure that you are unlikely to encounter someone else wearing the same outfit. :)



{Wool Jacket in Dark Red shown with the Wool Skirt in Dark Red}

8. What are your favourite decades personally? Do they differ from the ones that you're currently offering clothing in the styles of?

I adore all things mid-century! ♥ In my shop, I make sure to always offer pieces that I love and can confidently stand behind.



{Wool Jacket in Navy shown with the Wool Skirt in Navy}


9. What are a few fun facts about yourself, the super talented lady behind Prettie Lanes, that you'd like to share with the vintage community?

First of all- thank you so much for these lovely words *blushing*! I am a 'granny's-closet-rifler', 'vintage-treasure-hunter' and a 'lover-of-any-signs-of-ageing-on-vintage-stuff-because-it-shows-its-history'. I never 'learned' sewing.

I found the love of my life more than 10 years ago. I am a dog lover. By accident, I've stitched so often with a needle into my fingers that I fear I someday I might not even realize when that happens anymore *giggling*.



{Classic Cigarette Pants in Dusty Blue}

10. And last, but not least, what can folks look forward to from your brand throughout 2016 and beyond?

Hopefully, I can make it to some festivals, but either way stay tuned for my new designs that coming soon, as well as some improvements in shipping costs I am currently working on for my customers, and I am happy to keep you posted via Facebook and Instagram.


Thank you, Jessica for this lovely interview. ♥


{Knit Dress in Black/Gold}

{All images used throughout this post care of Prettie Lanes.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Even without having worn any of Franzi's offerings, I can tell that there is something truly special about them. They look as though they just stepped out of the pages the leading fashion magazines of the 1950s. They're the sorts of things starlets and stylish everyday women alike would have gone weak in the knees fore back in the day and which, no doubt, an abundance of us in the vintage world will do so for right here and now in 2016 (and beyond).

It takes a lot of work, effort, time, dedication and gumption to launch your own repro brand, especially one where each and every order is custom made on the spot, and I have an immense amount of respect for Franzi and everything that she is doing.

Her designs are incredibly timeless, strikingly beautiful and well worth the investment. I can sense that they're the kinds of pieces that one would treasure for many, many years to come and that could also help to fill certain gaps in one's wardrobe, especially if you find authentic 1940s and 1950s suits, dresses, skirts and pants hard to find in your size.

Franzi is a joy to chat with, friendly as the day is long, and always eager to hear from potential customers, so if you want to get in contact before you order from her, that's a-okay.

Pretties Lanes might be the new kid on the vintage reproduction block, but with the kind of superb tailoring, breathtaking designs and great customer service that they offer, I don't doubt it will be long before they too have firmly established themselves as a household name in the vintage reproduction world.