Life & Work with Sammie Fran Pagan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sammie Fran Pagan.

Sammie Fran, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have been in LA for ten years now. Through that time, I got connected to a church community, Mosaic. While working for mosaic, making relevant merchandise for church was part of my job. They have a really beautiful core value “relevance to culture is not optional”. I thought it was so cool my job entailed reaching as many people as possible through the artistic avenue of fashion, design, and art. Slowly but surely, people kept asking me where I went to get garments embroidered, what blanks brand I trusted most, how I create custom clothing. I remember having a conversation with a vendor one morning asking “I keep getting hit up to help with projects, do people do this? Is this a job?” he immediately replied “Sammie, this absolutely a job”.

So through securing specific licenses and a LOT of studying and homework on the industry, Tdious was born. Tdious is third party advocate for new brands, merchandise initiatives, and design where you can create custom high-end apparel to any degree for a fraction of the cost. I was able to take the relationships I developed through the years and create special pricing brackets so I get to save my clients time and money while making their clothing and designs come to life. Tdious’s name is simple, it’s literally tedious without the “e”, you know, for the street cred. We take care of all the finite details that go into creating exceptional clothing. Throughout the past year and a half (even through this pandemic) Tdious has had the honor of helping over 50 brands, coffee shops, influencers, and businesses create high end, relevant apparel. It’s incredible what relationships can do, and I think tdious is one of many examples of that.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
As a new business, it’s has been rewarding and challenging. Tdious surprisingly started to really take shape throughout the pandemic. I think it was because people finally had the time to dedicate to their passions and what they wanted to put out into the world. I cannot tell you how many deadlines were pushed back from warehouse closures and vendors not being able to stay afloat. There was a time in 2020 were when one warehouse would reopen, another would close. That is the hardest thing about the job, having to respect my vendors new COVID policies along with honoring my clients as well. Of course, I made mistakes. However putting your head down, fixing the issue, and creating a solution is literally my job. So I had to get good and navigating super tough conversations. My husband has been really helpful in helping me with this, he is such a fantastic support system.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, Tdious is helping a lot so companies and brands create custom clothing. From a design or idea we create a pattern for the client and see the project out to the finishings of the garment. I think I am known for creating merch. However I am most proud of the custom pieces I have created with people. It’s really special to see someone wear and love something you spent so much time adjusting, reworking, and dreaming of. Tdious is extremely relational. All the graphic designers, employees hired, and even some vendors are through knowing a person and seeing what they are capable of. I remember my old assistant was an incredible artist, so now I contract her to create custom art for brands. I love that tdious is able to maintain relationships and champion projects so closely, along with allowing the brand to see all they have accomplished.

Also, I created my own brand from tdious a few months ago. It’s just a space where I get to practice designing creating custom garments. It’s kinda funny how it came about; We have this running joke with my friends where I will always be like “we should make merch” One weekend a few girls were going surfing and we just got really serious about making matching sweatsuits. Which is how “GIRLS ONLY SURF CLUB” come to life, a brand centered around girls just having fun, championing each other, and getting outside. I would do random drops on Instagram and would sell out within the hour. So I am just now starting to put more time and effort into the brand, I think it could be really fun.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
If I were to say no, I would basically be telling you I haven’t been present in world for the past year. There are so many, but I think a list might be acceptable and fun for this question:
1. Keep your team safe.
2. Check on your vendors, not only professionally but personally.
3. Come to terms that you are going to make mistakes in navigating the “new normal” because it’s well, new.
4. Check on yourself.
5. People and relationships are essential.
6. Everyone is different, learn how to see differences as a gift bc that person’s difference can be what you are lacking.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @tdious_usa, @girlsonlysurfclub
• Other: girlsonlysurfclub.com

Image Credits:
Amy Davidson (My Photo) Alizabeth bean (hat photo) Coffee coffee (yellow sweatsuit) Tiedup (grey shorts, white shirt) bumpstart coffee (surfboard van photo)