Where can I get a cheap mannequin? Help!

kylah16

I have started selling customised designer clothing and I am not doing too bad but I would like to buy a full sized female mannequin as it makes the clothes look much better in pictures. The cheapest I can find are on ebay for around £90 but this seems like such a lot of money, the sites I've found on google are even more!
Am I being naive or can I find them elsewhere for cheaper?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Savvy_Sue

If you can't get a live model anywhere - which I would have thought would make the clothes look even better! - then I know you USED to be able to buy a DIY mannequin which you could make up for use in dressmaking. My mum had one: it was a pretty rough and ready thing made out of cardboard and adjusted to size with split pins. Sure it wasn't the equivalent of £90!

My other suggestion would be to look for shops closing down: Littlewoods were selling their fittings when they shut here which must have included mannequins?

linzibean

You can get bargains on ebay, but you have to be quick! I'm a dressmaker and costume maker, and have a couple of mannequins, which i paid no more than £40 for brand new from ebay!

I also have a lovely adjustable one I use for aking wedding dresses that cost me a whopping £5 at a car boot sale!!! They are definately worth checking out

kylah16

Thanks for the suggestions I think I will try and be patience and grab a bargain on ebay.

freebie_junkie

do a lot of people sell customised clothing on ebay?

chika

Try a company called Display systems in Manchester - they also have a website https://www.displaysystems.net.

I bought a tailors dummy and a half form hanging mannequin for about £50 from there this weekend.

Full mannequins with arms and legs & heads are a bit more expensive but I've decided to treat myself to them when I get a bit more established.

Chika

terrierlady

charity shops sometimes have them for sale

kylah16

freebie_junkie wrote:

do a lot of people sell customised clothing on ebay?

There are about 100 and odd customised skirts on ebay at any one time. Is that alot? I think its quite a niche market.

Toon

I have some full length ones for sale (body, arms, legs etc). How much are you looking to spend?

Warriorsith

Hi

Is there a college or uni near you that has a design/clothing deptartment, they may have a spare one that they no longer require and get it on the cheap too?! :T

Dave

kylah16

Hi, I ended up buying one on ebay in the end for £68 including delivery which is more than I wanted to pay but atleast I have one now. Sometimes I spend so long trying to get the cheapest of something it takes me forever to buy anything!