Last week I headed up the hill to meet new Portland transplant Kate (along with her husband George and two cats) to learn more about the Saco born designer behind Filia. Though Kate has no formal design or sewing background, you’d never know it. Her story is like many other dressmakers and seamstresses in Portland - her Mom taught her at a young age and from there she taught herself. Her dresses are the perfect mix of figure flattering and colorful. All of her designs are created using crisp cotton poplin, lightweight linens or a mix of both. Come spring, I’ll be picking up a plethora to add to my wardrobe. In the meantime, I’ll just wear them with tights.
Don’t forget to support Kate and other local businesses this Saturday and SHOP SMALL Portland!
1/ Cotton Poplin skirts you can purchase here 2/ Yoga Bags (email kateomakes@gmail.com if you’d like to purchase any - great holiday gifts!)
1/ Pandora loves to hide in the clothes pile 2/ Fabric collection. 3/ Kate’s Kenmore sewing machine.
I spotted this MECA student with Ashley a couple weeks ago, who graciously stopped for a photo while schlepping a box back into school. Not only did I love his style (hello pattern mixing and peach cords!) but he told us that he was a jewelry designer. So look out for him on First Friday where he’ll most likely be selling his goods.
And I’ll see you on the streets tonight…!
Have you noticed how amazing the street vendors have gotten on First Friday? I loved this Portland tee, worn by the creator himself. You’ll find him on the crowded PMA corner selling the designs that he also screen prints. All his shirts are made on recycled t-shirts, so no one is the same.
Oh and wearing suspenders is never a bad idea.
Who doesn’t love handmade dresses from aspiring designers? Seated next to our retro red gal was this young designer. A junior at MECA, this New Hampshire native was selling her summery frocks at First Friday. We loved the simple silhouettes and button details at the front. Make sure you find her next month and if you can’t wait that long, shoot us an email and we’ll give you her info.
When I caught my first glimpse of designer Ashley Tyler through the windows of her home in the West End, I noticed we were wearing matching vintage Woolrich shirts and Sorel boots. Sometimes you just know you’re going to like (nay, love) someone’s style.
Ashley is new to Portland, though she’s been a frequent Maine visitor for the past four years. She left her prominent New York fashion career behind her (she worked as Senior Design Director for Ralph Lauren, interned with Jean-Paul Gaultier in Paris and had her own boutique - no big deal) to head North full-time.
Ashley’s new spring and summer designs were laid out for us to oooh and aaah over. Highlights included a bikini with printed prose, stretch modal Ninja Shirts, a draped and sexy Cobra Dress and organic cotton t-shirts. She’s also created handmade leather medicine bags from skins she’s been collecting for over 15 years.
The Native American aesthetic behind most of her designs stem from her family’s Cherokee background. Her beautiful silk “Aviva” scarves came from a sketch inspired by her cat as well as a piece of Native American art belonging to her Grandparents.
Ashley’s home, which she shares with her artist boyfriend, gets the creative juices flowing. Up their winding staircase are two adjoining bedroom/studios. Her boyfriend works on his sculptures in one room while Ashley works on her bags and stores her collections of medicine bags, plaid shirts and vintage whites.
Their basement houses a silk screen that Ashley uses to create her t-shirts. We notice one screen with the image of a phoenix - the symbol of Portland. “I’ve loved phoenixes before I moved to Portland, I even have a tattoo of one that I got years ago,” says Ashley. “It’s a sign I’m supposed to be here.”
The next time you’re craving a pupusa and find yourself on Washington Avenue, walk a few doors down from Tu Casa and stop in to Jen Burrall Designs (76 Washington Ave). After studying metalsmithing in Montana and apprenticing for jewelry designers back in her home state of Maine, she opened her first shop in 2007.
Even if you haven’t stopped in her store yet, you may have seen her baubles in one of the 35 galleries across the United States that carries her line - including Foundry Lane right here in Portland. Her nest designs - where wire is wrapped and wrapped and wrapped around gorgeous gem stones - are a real signature of her style - and a favorite among most that walk in her store.
Jen uses all ethically sources gemstones and recycled metals. Her retail store doubles as her workspace. Once you’ve been able to check our her nest post earrings or amazonite necklaces in person, you might get to hear the sweet sounds of welding going on behind the scenes.
You can shop for her jewelry online or visit her on the hill. Oh, and Valentine’s day is just around the corner. I’d gladly accept this. Or this. Okay, or this too.
I don’t know if you guys are aware, but me, Nate and Angela Adams go way back. Angela was born on North Haven island, the prettiest place in Maine, and we lived there too. Nate was a sternman out there for several seasons and it’s the first place I lived when I made the leap from NYC to Maine. It holds a special place in our hearts. It’s no wonder her designs speak to us, since many of her patterns and names are influenced by the island.
We caught up with Lily, who has worked in Angela’s shop for over two years. Lily and Angela share that island connection too (she grew up on Peaks) and we got a tour around the shop and checked out some new items. Angela’s new collaborations with huge brands like Anthropologie and J.Crew have made her a household name - quite a big leap from the Maine based designer we’ve always loved. But like every good Mainer, she’s stuck to her roots. The main offices and design studio are still above the shop on Congress Street.
There’s so much eye candy in the store - from seagull kitchen towels to her couture rugs hanging above husband Sherwood’s tables - that it’s a total sea of inspiration to be surrounded by her designs. We ogled her ocean rug, debated buying coasters and looked at her new totes that I’ve seen on every fashionable Portland gal about town.
There’s no designer that’s been able to capture the rugged, natural beauty of Maine the way Angela has. We thank her for that.
Some folk like to wear their heart on their sleeve. This guy likes to wear “Perv Power” on his chest.
Originally from Keene, New Hampshire, this t-shirt designer was selling his 100% recycled shirts during July’s First Friday. He makes them in his basement on Warren Avenue.
My favorite shirt said “Drunk for the Miss”. Check out designs from his line, Inept Collective, right here.
