By JESSICA MATHEWS FORSYTH
Summertime is here, fashion is changing, and, yet again, many BYU students are having trouble finding clothes compatible with honor code standards.
Instead of complaining, one Mapleton resident decided to do something about the changing fashions and created her own line of modest undershirts, Apricot Apparel.
?I saw a great need for a particular style shirt that was hard to find,? said Shauna Peterson, founder of Apricot Apparel.
Peterson will be holding the first Apricot Apparel open house at her home in Mapleton July 7 to introduce the new line of camisoles and capped-sleeve undershirts.
For several years, Peterson has had problems finding shirts long enough to wear modestly with hip-hugger jeans as she has tried to shop for herself and her teenage daughters. The few modest products she could find didn?t have exactly what she was looking for.
?I saw need for improvement,? she said.
Not only did she see a need for improving the modesty and cut of undershirts, but she also saw a demand to satisfy a growing style that interested many people.
?It?s becoming a huge trend to layer your clothing,? Peterson said.
During the Christmas holidays she spoke with her niece, whose husband works in the fashion industry. She told them she was interested in starting her own clothing line of modest undershirts, and they encouraged her in that direction.
She then got together with a partner, Jeannette Childs, to get started.
Her biggest goal has been to present a product that can be accessible to anyone who wants it, especially college students with tight budgets, she said.
?I?m coming at this as a consumer,? Peterson said. ?I?m working hard to keep the price .?
She said the camisoles will sell for about $11.95 and the capped sleeved shirts for about $13.95. If purchased online they will be a few dollars more, but shipping will be included in the price.
Peterson said she has worked hard to make her product affordable and unique from the few modest shirts that are already on the market.
She went to BYU campus, malls and several clothing stores asking people what they wanted in undershirts.
?I just kept talking to people,? Peterson said. ?That?s what inspired me.?
She said she took every opportunity to ask her children and their friends what fabrics, colors and designed they liked and disliked.
?I think it?s cool that she can do this,? said her daughter, Joelle Peterson, 15. ?She?d always tell my friends and me, ?Come over here. Feel this .??
Peterson said she has spent a significant amount of time improving her design and has come up with shirts made of a lighter fabric that won?t shrink and have more coverage around the neck and waist. She also put an additional two inches of coverage on the sleeves of the capped-sleeve shirts.
Peterson has also produced a large variety of colors.
?One thing that will make us unique is that I will continue to have a turnover in my colors ? depending on what?s hot and what?s not,? she said.
There will be several staple colors that will be offered year-round, but she will also add a variety of colors depending on seasons and popularity.
Coming up with ideas was just the beginning of a long, intricate process, Peterson said.
?I thought it wouldn?t be that complicated,? she said.
She has made several trips to Los Angeles in the past few months to talk to companies and look at different fabrics.
?The hardest part was finding a company that would custom design and sew what I wanted,? Peterson said.
The longest process, though, was finding a fabric that was durable, lightweight but not sheer, she said.
After the open house, Peterson said several house parties will be held to sell the shirts and get the word out about the new product. The shirts will also be available online.
The Apricot Apparel open house will be Thursday, July 7 from 6-9 PM at 2135 S. Parkview Dr. in Mapleton. For more information about Apricot Apparel, visit apricotapparel.com or call 491-0357.