A Baptism of Fire — a phrase I stole from my beautiful manager from my days at Bianca Spender, and one I find myself circling back to every time someone asks what it’s like to start your own business.
Let me explain. I’m not religious — at least, not in the traditional sense. My prayers sound more like quiet pep talks before launch days, spoken over the steady hum of a sewing machine that’s always working overtime, lingering just on the edge of chaos. Still, the phrase sticks — baptism of fire — because that’s exactly how it feels.
Starting your own business is equal parts thrilling and consuming. It’s hot and heavy, like a new relationship you can’t stop thinking about. You learn quickly what works, what flops, and what burns you. You adapt, because you have to. There’s no room to sit back when you’re wrapped up in something that lives and breathes based on your decisions.
Bar the challenges, there’s something incredibly special about seeing a piece you’ve designed become a part of someone’s life — woven into their memories and milestones. Whether it’s worn on a first day at a new job, celebrated at a birthday, or chosen for a quiet moment of self-expression, knowing our designs accompany these stories makes all the late nights and challenges worthwhile. It’s a reminder that what we create isn’t just fabric and thread — it’s a part of someone’s journey.
I was 21 when I started 7th & York. It was September 2021, and I texted Rosie, now my Production & Design Manager and right-hand woman, to see if she’d come over, look at some samples, and talk through an idea that quietly insisted on becoming something more. Miraculously, she didn’t think I was mad. She came over, she stayed, and — even more miraculously — she never left.
We launched in November 2021. On our first night, we sold out of our Olive Camryn Mini Dress. That moment marked the beginning of what would become 7th & York. Fast, loud, and a little wild.
This is my first 7th & York Dispatch (and hopefully not my last). I’m starting this space as a place to share some behind-the-scenes thoughts, bounce ideas, question designs, and pull you a little deeper into our world — one post at a time.
So, Welcome to 7th & York. In our world, a baptism of fire is a rite of passage. Sewing machines are sacred. Fabric suppliers are gods. And you, our customers, are our bread and wine.
I hope this corner of the internet gives you a new way to connect with what we’re building, and what’s still to come. You’re not just along for the ride, you’re a part of it.
Love,
Amelia and the 7th & York Team X