Temple University student will be featured on Zulily with her handmade crochet business
She just learned how to crochet a year ago and will now be featured on a major website
It’s no surprise another Fox School of Business student is proving why Temple University is home of the best students in the nation.
Marianna Torres, a marketing major at the Fox School of Business, will be featured on Zulily for her handmade crochets in collaboration with Amma Johnson who she interns for.
We interviewed Marianna about her crochet business and why she started it by herself.
How did you get started?
“I learned how to crochet about a year ago and since then I began to experiment/ look up patterns and really challenged myself to make new things. My first customer was a friend who wanted a crochet crop top, I posted it to Facebook, and that’s when others began to ask me if I could make them items too. That’s how it all began.”
Who taught you how to make them?
“I actually learned how to crochet in a class I took at Temple! I took Intro to Fibers with Kari Scott and she taught us how to crochet, knit, embroider, print-making, etc.
“Crochet gave me a lot of trouble at first, I remember becoming extremely frustrated, but I was persistent. I kept practicing and for our midterm I ended up making a crochet crop top, which was the first thing I ever made. Embroidery and crochet were the ones that really stuck with me—so shoutout to Kari because she’s the best.”
As a College Fashionista, did you always want to do something involving fashion and style?
“Ever since I was little, I would watch the Style Network (which is no longer a channel) and What Not To Wear with my mom. I’ve always enjoyed all things fashion and beauty. I remember receiving an award in the fourth grade from my teacher for having the cutest outfits, so fashion is something that I have always loved and will continue to love.
“I appreciate the art that is fashion and am blessed that I can contribute through crochet. I have aspirations to own a boutique one day and hope to continue designing.”
Just an example of how well Marianna can crochet
What could you tell us about your collaboration with Zulily? Are you excited to see your crotchets on this website?
“I am extremely excited to be on Zulily! It is actually in collaboration with Amma Johnson who I’m interning for. She owns and designs handbags, clothing, jewelry—you name it!
“She has an Amma Jo online boutique and a showroom in Harrisburg, PA. I showed her some of my work, she loved it and approached me on the Zulily project! It is very surreal that I will be on a major website, never would I have believed that within only a year of learning how to crochet that this would happen. It is a 3 day event so we will be featured on Zulily from January 17th-19th. On the 17th we will be on the main page, so it’ll be easy to find us.”
What tips would you give other Temple students of creating their own business?
“My advice for others is to make connections with people who want to collaborate and see you succeed. Be open to collaboration and empower others who are trying to start a business too.
“What is so great about being in college is that we all have an end goal―a dream, and if we support one another then down the road we can say, ‘I helped that person and am proud that I had the opportunity to work with them.’ ”
Crochet tassled scarf by Marianna Torres
Marianna is also working on her spring collection and is looking forward to share it with everyone in the upcoming months. Stay tuned for her work!