Today’s NEXT BIG THING feature is the the pink polka dot playsuit from Connecticut’s Kelly Eident of I’m Your Present! Kelly’s birthday is TODAY June 28th, so let’s wish her a happy birthday, and if she asks what we got her we’ll just jump and scream, “We’re your present!” But try not to spill your strawberry champagne, okay? We just had the carpets cleaned.

I think it’s amazing how quickly you can make stuff. Can you talk about that? What’s the most you’ve ever sewed in a day?
I have gotten a lot quicker just from doing it everyday! When I first started, I definitely couldn’t make more than one dress a day… and I would do things like turn the whole garment inside out just to sew on a cuff or sew a sleeve in backwards and have to redo it. But now I work a lot more efficiently so I can produce a lot more… But it’s hard to say a specific amount in one day. I have days where I start like 20 pieces and then finish them at random. The craziest days are when I have to finish the zillion things I started, like before a craft fair or right before I leave for a trip.

Describe the I’M YOUR PRESENT girl…
She loves picking out outfits, putting on makeup, gushing about crushes with her best friend… she loves pink, frills, hearts, ruffles and bows! She is totally girly but at the same time is a little sexy and tough. She’s quirky, fun, confident, playful. She turns heads… okay, maybe every other head. She’s a femme fatale and she’s got a few tricks up her pink lace trimmed sleeve. She’s a wolverine in sheep’s clothing!

What inspires you?
Materials like crazy ruffly trims, fabrics, pearls, charms. Kitschy things, crazy prom dresses, elaborate cakes, fancy dogs, presents, vintage clothing, Japanese street fashion, dance wear, Francesca Lia Block books, runway fashion, my friends… myself. I mostly have an idea of what I want to be wearing at the moment and try and make it.

Do you have any particular business goals this year?
I do set a ton of goals for myself but it is so hard to imagine a year! Usually its like, I want to get X done this week and then I work crazy hard and do it… or most of it. I’ve been really focused on Etsy, but I am dying to do get my stuff in some other shops/boutiques. I also really want to do some fun photo shoots this year, something I can be proud of rather than automatic timer shoots of myself at 1am trying to get through a pile of clothing!

How did the name come about?
I’m not really sure. I think I was just tossing around ideas for an Etsy shop name and I somewhat randomly picked this, before I even had a vision of what my shop or brand would become. But I love the name and am so happy I picked it. I think it describes my brand’s aesthetic and attitude perfectly. Everything is shiny, pretty, girly and wrapped up with a bow. You can show up to a party empty-handed in a cute playsuit and when someone asks what you got them exclaim, “I’m Your Present!” while jumping out of a gigantic cake and spilling strawberry champagne everywhere.