ABIGAIL MINER DELIVERS A FRESH APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE FASHION
By: Raevin Larue
It’s hard to believe that Abigail Miner just made her debut at Startup Fashion Week last month; the new designer speaks about her first collection with the maturity and focus of a seasoned couturier as she enters the Toronto Fashion stratosphere with purpose and intention.
Photo Credit: @asianwithcamera
Miner offers a unique perspective and approach to design; she is confident with an unwavering sense of self. Her passion is unwavering regarding the importance of incorporating a slow fashion model into her business and how mass production is not just bad for the environment, but manipulates the self worth of the consumer. But what makes Miner a natural leader in the fashion world is how real she is about starting her own label.
Miner has always had to alter her clothes as a petite woman because anything off the rack rarely fit her well, yet she did not go to school for fashion, instead she became an electrical engineer, which is so fascinating! She believes her career as an engineer brought her to where she is today stating: “Fashion design and building design are a lot alike - beginning with drafting high-level designs, sourcing materials, consulting with manufacturers, going through final design phases and asking for feedback from reviewers are all common steps. Once I decided to use my experiences and combine them with my passion for fashion design, everything changed.”
Wanting a sense of creative freedom she began making her own pieces with deadstock fabrics from local suppliers, following the same engineering design process with intentions to make clothes for herself. When she was continuously approached in public about her creations she knew her work was something people were interested in. Acknowledging her distinctive mindset around design she expresses to me her disappointment in the amount of waste both fields contribute to the planet and how mass production cultivates unethical and toxic work environments.
“As both a fashion designer and an engineer I know first hand these industries are two of the largest contributors to global waste. It is so crucial to think about the process; clever marketing has made it convenient to only show consumers the end result while hiding the entire operation, and these processes can be so harmful along the way if shortcuts are taken. It is easier than the general public knows to turn a blind eye and pay for the cheapest and quickest turnaround to create profitable, beautiful end products. And that is how we ended up in the state we are in now. If designers would all take a step back, move a little slower, care a little more about the process and choices we make, the world would be filled with less waste, workers could have a better quality of life, and safe working conditions with fair wages and could be prioritized.”
Designer Abigail Miner
The Ambrose Collective was created with intention and vision, part of the responsibility that came with starting her own business in fashion and how serious she took her position.
“My job is to use my expertise and communication skills to find gaps in the industry around me and create beautiful designs in new ways for a variety of people to enjoy. It is a talent and a privilege to be able to create a kind of art that people wear everyday. I think we owe it to our community to hear how we can help them feel their best.”
And this is seen and understood clearly in the visual branding for The Alicia Collection, which feels luxurious, elegant and expensive. This collection's color palette includes brown neutrals, barely pink pastels, soft greys with undertones of blue, with a finishing touch of classic ivory and black statement pieces. These shades intermingle perfectly creating a harmonious feeling that reflects her brand mission.
And then there is the versatility of her pieces- depending on the occasion, can give off an air of seriousness, project power and independence or feel romantic and alluring. Whatever the circumstance, each piece balances modern sophistication with flirtatious femininity, all inspired by Miners’ late mother, Alicia.
“My mom was the queen of celebrating milestones, small moments and everything in between. She would support us by getting dressed up on a random Thursday and going out for a family dinner, and of course, every birthday needed to be celebrated! Last year, she sadly lost her battle with cancer after a very long and hard fight, so The Alicia Collection is really a way to honour her memory. The idea is to have multiway, mix-and-match pieces that can be reworked to become a variety of outfits for a range of special occasions. By having pieces that can be reshuffled to become cocktail or formal dresses, we are able to avoid the paradigm of only using each dress for one occasion. This framework attempts to solve two problems - one, reducing the waste associated with “one-time-use,” and two, allowing each piece to be used in multiple ways, freeing up both mental and closet space.”
On The Ambrose Collective Instagram, Miner wanted everyday women modeling her pieces as it is important to her as a designer for shoppers to see themselves represented. She makes it very clear she has no interest in adopting a size inclusive marketing strategy because as far as she’s concerned, starting your own label means assuming the responsibility of catering to all consumers regardless of their height and size. “Clothing is made for you, not the other way around.” That is one of the powerful aspects of the slow fashion model.
Another reason Miner opted for everyday models was to promote sisterhood and the power behind supporting each other's difficult endeavour to just live. Miner is fully aware of the scrutiny and judgment surrounding women's bodies due to fast fashion marketing and cruel media, and is determined to change the narrative one customer at a time.
“Sisterhood and femininity are perfect words to describe our brand. All of our pieces are meant to be lived in, moved in, laughed in, danced in. They are not meant for a runway, they are meant for life, for real people, living real lives. Our hope for The Ambrose Collective is to replace “what do I wear to feel good?” with “how do I want to wear this piece to feel my best?” She continues:
“The most important message I want to send to the members of our community is that we each deserve to feel beautiful and that clothes are meant to form us, not the other way around. The clothing industry is made in mass quantities forcing the “average” size and shape to be a global standard. And that leaves the majority of us consumers with clothes that do not compliment our various shapes, sizes and heights. The purpose and drive behind our brand is to have adjustable pieces that form to you and more importantly, will form to you even if your body fluctuates up and down a few inches. At the end of the day, if ever you feel that there is a lack of clothing for you to feel comfortable in your skin, that is a gap in the industry, not an imperfection on your part.”
Miner is so much more than a designer, she is a sustainable architect. Her practical approach to working in the fashion industry and fearlessness to rebuke cheap and lazy industry practices make her a natural leader and designer to keep eyes on. Alas, Miner prefers to keep her humble hat for now and stay focused on her five year plan.
“In 5 years, I see The Ambrose Collective functioning out of a small brick-and-mortar shop with a built-in sewing studio in Toronto. My goal is to have a team of full-time seamstresses to help complete the made-to-order garments, and a co-op student or two to help with the complete design process and creation of new ideas. I am excited for us to grow as a brand and continue our sustainable practices while supporting the local economy and community.”
Check The Ambrose Collective on Instagram and shop The Alicia Collection here.