"Dresses can take anywhere from a few days to a week or two to complete," Hambly told Bored Panda. "I have previously done dresses that can take up to four months to complete. Once I have a clear design in my head, I usually work on figuring out how to execute it and what materials I should use, and then go about building it from memory. Sometimes, when I know the project will take a while, I will sketch out the design first and put it aside until I have more time to figure out how to make them."
In 2018, the designer moved to Reno, Nevada, where she currently resides and spends her time creating couture gowns, wearable art, and incredible headpieces for photographers and clientele all over the world. This year, however, has been different. "Since Covid had forced us indoors for a big portion of 2020, I wanted to help myself and others pass the time by sewing and getting people interested in sewing. Normally, when a dress is finished, I would photograph them and then rent them out for other photographers to use, [but because of the pandemic] I haven't had the chance to photograph as much as I liked, so I have kept them until I can showcase them properly," Hambly explained the situation.
The price of these dresses varies a lot and mostly depends on the materials and workmanship. "A dress can cost anywhere from $2—I made one from a shower curtain I got at a thrift store—to thousands of dollars for special dresses from fabrics like fiber optics," Hambly said, adding that she tries to make a lot of textiles too, so things like custom embroidery, beadwork, and color can add up fast. "I make them all myself, each one is bespoke, and I don't tend to repeat any designs more than once."
