Our Prototyper – DSC’s Sewing & Upholstery
Hi everyone! Two very special people to us at Sky View Tents came to check out the store this weekend, Donna and Tracy. Donna and Tracy are the owners of DSC’s Sewing & Upholstery in Colorado Springs, and we worked together extensively over the course of about a year to develop the Sky View XL tent for stargazing.
DSC is not only a sewing and upholstery store, but they also specialize in prototyping. They have a massive CNC fabric cutting machine that allows them to take your .DXF files and cut materials to the exact specified sizes, and being expert sewers, they can make any type of seam you need.
Donna & Tracy agreed to sign an NDA before discussing our concept of making the best tents for stargazing. This gave me great comfort because as you may be aware, when you have what you think is a great idea that hasn’t been made before... you can get very scared to share it. I felt safe sharing my ideas with them.
After discussing the project Donna and Tracy agreed to take it on, and this began the first of many iterations made with a lot of testing between. We started with a plastic A-frame tent, then went to a plastic dome tent, then a plastic dome tent where the plastic part is detachable and replaceable. Ultimately, I couldn’t find a plastic that was durable enough and none of the tents were great.
Then, YAY!!, we discovered our crystal clear mesh -- sourced from American-based Phifer in Alabama -- that was perfect to use as a roof on a tent for stargazing. We revisited the A-frame design, which made it easier to innovate our patent-pending internally accessed rainfly. A couple iterations of the A-frame later and we had our beloved Sky View XL, the ultimate stargazing tent for car camping, glamping, rafting, or just going out with the family.
Donna and Tracy were helpful and accommodating throughout the entire process. Not only did they make it possible for this incredible product to exist, but they connected me with the right folks to purchase sewing machines and other equipment from, where to get my materials CNC cut locally, they gave me advice on what thread and needles to use, they taught me how to make the required seams, and even gave me some advice on how our shop should be laid out with the machines.
DSC Sewing played a huge part in making Sky View Tents a reality. Donna and Tracy are valued work associates, and now, friends.
Thank you, Donna & Tracy. You’re allowing me to live my dream now. And allowing me to offer a crystal clear view of the dark skies through the only purpose-designed and built tent for stargazing.
EVERYONE – if you’re in Colorado and you need help with your prototype, DSC is the way to go.
Colorado Springs Heavy Duty Contract Sewing Manufacturing | DSC's Sewing
