How it all began.
Hi Everyone.
It has been almost forty years of sewing dresses and skirts for skaters of all ages and levels. What a "ride" it has been. It all started with my daughter who first touched the ice at age six. She was taken to the ice rink by her Dad who was helping our son with his skating for ice hockey. Since he wanted to keep all things equal, she went along, too.
Bad move! Quickly it was group lessons, then private lessons, then more ice time, and then COMPETITION. Naturally, she had to have the proper attire in which to do this and skating dresses were almost impossible to find. So I had to get creative. I had always known how to sew, being raised in the garment industry. My family owned and operated a sportswear manufacturing company and I had no choice but to help out whenever and with whatever was necessary. Now what was necessary was skating clothing.
It has been almost forty years of sewing dresses and skirts for skaters of all ages and levels. What a "ride" it has been. It all started with my daughter who first touched the ice at age six. She was taken to the ice rink by her Dad who was helping our son with his skating for ice hockey. Since he wanted to keep all things equal, she went along, too.
Bad move! Quickly it was group lessons, then private lessons, then more ice time, and then COMPETITION. Naturally, she had to have the proper attire in which to do this and skating dresses were almost impossible to find. So I had to get creative. I had always known how to sew, being raised in the garment industry. My family owned and operated a sportswear manufacturing company and I had no choice but to help out whenever and with whatever was necessary. Now what was necessary was skating clothing.
What came next.
So, I found a remnant of lycra spandex, a revolution in the garment world, at a local store. It actually was green, brown, and yellow and had naked men (from the waist up) on it. Using a little bathing suit as a starting point, I cut out a pattern and added sleeves and a circle skirt.
My daughter wore it to the ice rink and I was in business. Other mothers were in the same position as was I. Enthusiastic little skaters and no dresses available for them to wear. The shop in the rink started to buy any dresses that I could sew. The name became "Icings Originals" because the dress on a lovely skater was like the icing on a cupcake.
My daughter wore it to the ice rink and I was in business. Other mothers were in the same position as was I. Enthusiastic little skaters and no dresses available for them to wear. The shop in the rink started to buy any dresses that I could sew. The name became "Icings Originals" because the dress on a lovely skater was like the icing on a cupcake.
A labor of love.
It was never my intent to make Icings a full-time career, just a side line to help off-set the rising costs of a daughter in ice skating and a son in hockey. But it grew without my trying. Soon I was vending all over the Philadelphia and New Jersey area, doing local competitions and private skating club events. People were coming to my home for competition dresses.
But I was a full-time high school English teacher by vocation. And I loved that, too. It was not a career that I wished to give up. So, for many years I simply did both. And when my daughter completed her skating career (although after college, she started coaching and has done so for 20+ years), and my son was off to play hockey in college, I thought that I would close Icings. However, I was nearing retirement and thought that this little business would be perfect for that time in my life; hence, I kept it going.
And it keeps on going!
But I was a full-time high school English teacher by vocation. And I loved that, too. It was not a career that I wished to give up. So, for many years I simply did both. And when my daughter completed her skating career (although after college, she started coaching and has done so for 20+ years), and my son was off to play hockey in college, I thought that I would close Icings. However, I was nearing retirement and thought that this little business would be perfect for that time in my life; hence, I kept it going.
And it keeps on going!
Finally - ON LINE!
Well, its time to relax!? My children are grown and I have my grandchildren to dote all over. So, I continue to sew. The economy says that I really should continue, and my grandchildren must be indulged.
My machines are still working. I keep buying fabric. (Fabric, you know, is very seductive.) And I don't think that I will ever tire of the creative process. Forty-three years of Icings - maybe another forty-three. Who knows.
Anyway, I will try to keep up a dialogue through this website, try to improve upon it as my extremely modest technical skills, and try to satisfy some of your needs with skating attire. Hope to hear from you.
Always,
Joanne/Icings Originals
My machines are still working. I keep buying fabric. (Fabric, you know, is very seductive.) And I don't think that I will ever tire of the creative process. Forty-three years of Icings - maybe another forty-three. Who knows.
Anyway, I will try to keep up a dialogue through this website, try to improve upon it as my extremely modest technical skills, and try to satisfy some of your needs with skating attire. Hope to hear from you.
Always,
Joanne/Icings Originals
Purchase and Payment.
- If you would like to purchase one/any of the listed items, please use the form at the bottom of this page or the "HOME" page. You can also contact Joanne at jojoice2@comcast.
- Payment will be made through Paypal. You will be invoiced through Paypal using your e-mail address. A credit card may be used through Paypal.
- Total is the listed price of the item + the listed shipping fee.
- Items are usually shipped within three business days of receiving payment.
- All sales are final. No returns, so please read the measurements carefully.
