Exploring Life & Business with Cynthia of Dot Dot

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia.

Hi Cynthia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi! I’m Cynthia Hernandez-Olofsson, founder of Dot Dot Studio, a creative sewing studio in Altadena offering unique sewing classes designed just for children.

Dot Dot began at my kitchen table with a spool of thread, a needle, and a curious five-year-old. As a fashion designer, sewing has always been second nature to me. When I became a parent for the second time, I wanted to pass this craft on to my son, something I felt was slowly becoming a forgotten skill.

I began teaching him stitch by stitch and was amazed by how quickly he learned. At just five years old, I could see the focus, confidence, and pride that came from creating something with his own hands. Soon, friends began asking if I could teach their children too. I said yes, and from that simple beginning, Dot Dot was born.

In many ways, Dot Dot also brought me back to my own childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer. After becoming a young mother, I attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) full-time while working and raising my daughter. I graduated and went on to spend almost 25 years working in the fashion industry as a designer.

Years later, with a young son, I began thinking differently about what I wanted my life and career to look like. I started Dot Dot slowly while I was still working in fashion, first with one sewing class, then a few more on the weekends. Little by little, it grew.

What started at my kitchen table has now become a studio filled with children learning to sew!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest adjustments has been going from working as a fashion designer, where I had a very defined role, to running a small business where I wear almost every hat.

I’m the teacher, designer, project developer, marketer, photographer, class planner and the person cleaning up thread from the floor at the end of the day! Learning how to balance the creative side of the business with everything it takes to actually run one has probably been one of my biggest challenges.

I’ve also had to learn that small business comes in waves. Some months are incredibly busy and others are quieter. Learning to embrace those slower moments and use them to plan, create, and prepare for what’s next has been a big lesson for me.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets you apart from others?

What sets Dot Dot apart is the combination of my background in fashion and the way I’ve created the studio specifically for children. Everything from the projects I design to the way I teach is meant to make sewing feel fun, approachable, and special. I love watching a child walk in unsure of what they can do and leave with this incredible sense of pride.

The materials we use are also very important to me. I prioritize natural materials and use a mix of new and reclaimed fabrics and trims whenever possible. I want children to appreciate different textiles while also being mindful about what they use.

Parents often ask me about adult classes, which I would love to offer in the future, but right now I love that Dot Dot is a special creative space just for kids.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is watching the kids discover that they are capable of doing something they may have thought was too difficult for them. There is something really special about watching a child finish a project, hold it up, and realize, “I made this!” That is the best.

I love hearing them say they wish they could come to sewing class every day! Even better is hearing how they take what they’ve learned in the studio and make it their own at home by creating special gifts, making clothing and bags, repairing their favorite plushies, and even mending their parents’ clothes. I’ve also had parents tell me that all their child wants for Christmas is a sewing machine. That’s when I know they’re learning a skill they’ll carry with them beyond the studio.

I tell them, “I didn’t start sewing until I was 13, and look at what you’re already doing!” I also remind them that there really are no mistakes. We’re learning, experimenting, and figuring things out as we go.

Seeing kids discover their own creativity through sewing is priceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dotdotla.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dot_dot_la/