Daily Inspiration: Meet Abigail Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abigail Brown.

Hi Abigail, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was a very creative child, always living in my own head, making up stories, and dressing up. My grandmother is the most stylish woman I know, and she really influenced my love of fashion and beautiful fabrics, specifically floral prints. She would always give me fabric scraps from clothes she had altered or furniture she had reupholstered. I had this toy called Woodkins, where you could design outfits on a flat wooden model by tucking fabric swatches between the layers of the frame and the doll. I think that’s really where my love for design took off.

Around the time I was in high school, I knew for certain that I wanted to pursue fashion, but I didn’t know what part of the industry I wanted to be in. I immersed myself in research. I read magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar cover to cover, devoured books about the fashion industry and influential designers, and watched films and documentaries with incredible costume design and storytelling. Again, my grandmother’s influence on my tastes drew me to Audrey Hepburn films, and my love for Hubert de Givenchy began. I was fascinated by the way clothing could help shape a character, tell a story, or capture a moment in time. Those early influences played a huge role in developing both my creativity and my understanding of fashion as more than just clothing. I participated in the summer program at the Savannah College of Art and Design and knew for certain I wanted to pursue fashion design there.

My design aesthetic in college originally focused on classic Hollywood silhouettes, inspired by the glamour of movie stars from the 1950s, sumptuous silks, and bold colors. As I continued to grow as a designer, I began tapping more into psychological themes and personal stories, which made my collections more ethereal and less structured in silhouette. My collections took on deeper meanings, and I began experimenting more, not holding back for fear of imperfection. I grew to love the process of storytelling through garments and prints.

I graduated from SCAD Atlanta in 2022 and have continued working for brands in Atlanta. I’ve been fortunate enough to work in different parts of the fashion industry and learn from some incredible people. I continue to pursue personal projects that allow me to keep exploring my passions and evolve as a designer.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are struggles in everything, but when you are passionate about what you are pursuing, it makes it easier to see the silver lining. When you’re in art school, your world is so small, and the possibilities are endless. Which is great because you are free to explore, create, and push your artistic skills to new depths. However, when you begin working in the industry, you realize that the consumer’s needs and the financial constraints of a company come before your artistic vision. The focus shifts to a more practical approach. And when you’re a creative person, it changes the scale to which you can create. So, it’s a challenge, still an artistic challenge, but one that requires you to modify your focus.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m definitely a storyteller. I love dreaming up complex narratives and researching different concepts to see how I can create a meaningful and rich collection. Everything should have a purpose and a “why,” and that always goes back to research. I’ve always had that designer brain. I love a creative problem to solve, and I can find inspiration everywhere.

I worked in technical design for a few years, and when I started, I didn’t even know that was an option in the industry. So I was essentially a garment engineer, and it gave me a chance to exercise a different creative part of my brain. I pinned garments on models during fittings, made pattern corrections, and reviewed the way garments were sewn and constructed. It was a really great experience to learn about the construction of garments, and I was fortunate enough to work under one of my best friends, who is incredibly knowledgeable. Her instruction made me more excited and interested in technical design. I can spot someone wearing something that doesn’t fit correctly and know what pattern adjustment needs to be made. I’m even more critical of clothing brands now, and I think as consumers it’s our job to expect more from brands.

I now work for a small loungewear company and primarily design, but also do some technical, production, and raw materials components. That’s the great thing about working for a small company: you get to do a little bit of everything, and you learn so much. It’s a graphics-focused business, and I get to design for men and women, which is very exciting.

I am known for my work ethic and commitment to getting things done. I get a lot of energy from accomplishing things, and when I’m passionate about something, I’m always going to give 110%. I’m also very observant, and my brain is always going, so I’m good at anticipating the needs of others.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
A skilled designer is one who can adjust. You cannot rely purely on talent and vision, especially when working for a company. People have different viewpoints and come from different areas of expertise. Companies change their values, goals, ideal consumers, and finances. Consumers are influenced at a faster rate than ever before, and our world changes rapidly as well, and all of that affects what and how you design. It’s better to listen and adapt and know when to push for something you really believe in than to only see things from your point of view. The industry changes at a very fast pace, and you don’t want to get left behind because you are fixated on something that doesn’t benefit the consumer anymore.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.classicallyfashioned.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigail.e.brown/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailebrown/