This is part of uOpen’s ‘Meet The Maker’ interview series - your exclusive opportunity to get to know the real people and personalities behind the subscription boxes you know and love, and the ones you will soon come to! Discover the fascinating stories behind how your favourite subscriptions originally came to be, the marvellous people involved in lovingly creating and curating each box, plus a few ‘behind the scenes’ snaps.

The Stitchery / The S box | Meet The Maker

Meet Saira Foden, the owner of ten year old Lewes-based haberdashery and fabric store, the-stitchery, and the creator of the-S box - a monthly craft subscription box packed full of themed creative goodies to inspire you to get making. Describing themselves as your very own ‘personal craft shoppers’, each month the passionate team at the-S box handpick a generous selection of items to get you crafting, sewing, knitting, doing and making - no idle hands here!
What sparked your decision to start up your box and how did you get started?
Just one of those casual remarks from a friend in the middle of a conversation, which planted some tiny seeds of inspiration which organically grew into the-S box.
It was easy to try out box ideas and combinations because the-stitchery has so much diverse and gorgeous fabric and haberdashery stock.
Describe your box in three words?
"Creative"
"Inspirational"
(and sorry about this one, but we do actually say this all the time in the shop)...
"Fab-hab"
Where did your box name come from?
Lots of our shop customers have fun trying to guess what the S stands for...often thinking it's because of my name - Saira.
We wrote about it in a blog "so what does the-S stand for then? the-stitchery? subscription? stuff? super, scrumptious, select, sensational, smashing, snazzy, special, stylish?"
'the-S box' is derived directly from the-stitchery. It's the shop name. And the - is really important - it's a stitch!
Are you a creator or curator?
Hmm, more of a collator; a range-builder, using my buying skills coupled with life-long sewing and crafting experience to bring inspirational and creative combinations together.
What was your most popular box?
Christmas is always important to crafters.
How many people are involved with producing your subscription box?
Although the-S box is specifically 'my baby', the fantastic retail team (six) at the-stitchery are really key to helping it physically come together.
I also have help on social media (from someone much cleverer and younger than me), as well as a great supplier base who are always keen to get involved in product sourcing and development.
Which subscription boxes do you subscribe to?
None! As of yet. Though I am seriously considering something involving chocolate to alcohol.
Name a celebrity subscriber you’d love to have as a customer?
It would be amazing to see someone like Kirstie Allsop loving the-S box as much as we do. She's so enthusiastic about a creative 'handmade' lifestyle. It would be great to see what she created from each box.
If you could put anything in your box, with money or scarcity no object, what would it be?
If I could bottle (or box! ) the creative energy and passionate enthusiasm of the amazing stitchery team and pass it on - that would be FAB!
What do you love about uOpen?
The opportunity to reach more customers - it would mean that more people are doing and making.
Just one of those casual remarks from a friend in the middle of a conversation, which planted some tiny seeds of inspiration which organically grew into the-S box.
It was easy to try out box ideas and combinations because the-stitchery has so much diverse and gorgeous fabric and haberdashery stock.
Describe your box in three words?
"Creative"
"Inspirational"
(and sorry about this one, but we do actually say this all the time in the shop)...
"Fab-hab"
Where did your box name come from?
Lots of our shop customers have fun trying to guess what the S stands for...often thinking it's because of my name - Saira.
We wrote about it in a blog "so what does the-S stand for then? the-stitchery? subscription? stuff? super, scrumptious, select, sensational, smashing, snazzy, special, stylish?"
'the-S box' is derived directly from the-stitchery. It's the shop name. And the - is really important - it's a stitch!
Are you a creator or curator?
Hmm, more of a collator; a range-builder, using my buying skills coupled with life-long sewing and crafting experience to bring inspirational and creative combinations together.
What was your most popular box?
Christmas is always important to crafters.
How many people are involved with producing your subscription box?
Although the-S box is specifically 'my baby', the fantastic retail team (six) at the-stitchery are really key to helping it physically come together.
I also have help on social media (from someone much cleverer and younger than me), as well as a great supplier base who are always keen to get involved in product sourcing and development.
Which subscription boxes do you subscribe to?
None! As of yet. Though I am seriously considering something involving chocolate to alcohol.
Name a celebrity subscriber you’d love to have as a customer?
It would be amazing to see someone like Kirstie Allsop loving the-S box as much as we do. She's so enthusiastic about a creative 'handmade' lifestyle. It would be great to see what she created from each box.
If you could put anything in your box, with money or scarcity no object, what would it be?
If I could bottle (or box! ) the creative energy and passionate enthusiasm of the amazing stitchery team and pass it on - that would be FAB!
What do you love about uOpen?
The opportunity to reach more customers - it would mean that more people are doing and making.

The-S Box
Take your crafting skills to new heights with The-S box. Get your hands into new artsy projects with themed fabrics, cool patterns and a mix of haberdashery. Grab yours today!
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