OOAK (Laurie's definition)- something that will sell out and not be restocked. One Of A Kind describes something that's individually created and is not repeatable.
For my online business, I only label things OOAK when they truly are the only items that I've created with the particular fabric combination and/or pattern layout as shown in the listing photographs. Once the one-of-a-kind item sells out there is no plan to ever recreate it.
- "OOAK" doesn't certify that it is unique in all the world-- I've had customers request a copy of an apron they've seen in my sold-item history. On rare occasions --when I am able to find the out-of-print fabrics to buy online-- I am willing to recreate the formerly OOAK item through custom order.
FUN FACT: Way back in 2005 when I created my original website, I somehow got into the habit of buying pretty, coordinating fabrics a yard or two at a time for future undecided projects for my website. (I started out making only purses.) But I shopped much faster than I sewed. I still have so many of these pretty fabrics that have now been out of print for a long time! Many of the aprons listed in my READY TO SHIP section are made using those hoarded lovingly collected fabrics. (The photo below, taken in 2014, shows some of my fabric collection-- many of which are still waiting for "just the right project...")
BOTTOM LINE: OOAK means I made one. I took photos. I listed it. I don't have enough fabric to make another one. There is no plan to make more. Available on Etsy & my website (they're linked) until it sells.
What If It Says “Only One Left”?
The short answer is that most of the time, "only one left" means I can only make one more apron with the fabric I have on hand. Each listing states whether the item is made-to-order or ready-to-ship. Ready-to-ship items are in stock and the quantities available are always correct. For made-to-order items, the quantity available depends on the size ordered. The larger plus sizes take twice as much fabric as the smaller versions, so when I offer all of the size options for a particular apron, I do try to be conservative in my estimations so that I don't list more aprons than what can be made with the materials at hand.
FUN FACT: When you're shopping my apron collections, the "standard" size is the original one I designed to offer on my website (pre-Etsy era.)
When I started making aprons back in 2008, I designed each of my apron styles as a stand-alone offering. (Vendor Apron, 50s Style Smock Apron, Chef's Apron, Pinafore Apron, etc.) Each style was designed to utilize fabric yardage to have the least amount of wasted fabric. When I bought fabric, I knew exactly how many aprons could be made with the quantity I bought. It was simple.
Once I opened my shop on Etsy in 2011, I began to get a lot of requests from potential customers wanting aprons smaller AND larger than I initially had designed. Over time, I expanded my pattern collections to include plus sizes. But that change meant that I could no longer easily estimate how many aprons could be made with the fabric I had on hand since each size required a different amount of fabric. So there's a lot that goes into figuring out what's available, and "only one left" doesn't always mean that there really is only one thing left. I typically evaluate the remaining fabric after each order to measure what's left and adjust the quantity available before relisting the item.
If you ever have a question or need multiples of any of the items you see on my website I'm always available to help! Feel free to contact me with any questions.