Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbie Kenyon.
Hi Abbie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to clothing, costumes, and fashion. I love texture and dimension, love the history of various regional garments, love how an individual can express something about their self with how they dress, or how an actor can convey an essence with costume. When I was 15 I wanted to make a purse I saw in a magazine, so I set up my mother’s Singer sewing machine on my bedroom floor and started playing with different textiles from her fabric stash. I loved coming up with a unique shape and figuring out how to make it.
I pursued a degree in fashion design in college and began working in alterations at Nordstrom as soon as I graduated. Alterations are rarely touted as a particularly glamorous or exciting job for one pursuing a high-octane fashion career, I learned in college that the basis of good design and good clothes is knowing both how to discern and how to sew a proper fit. So I was excited to sew for real clients and learn all I could about problem solving the perfect fit!
After Nordstrom, I went to work for an independent alterations shop owner, working on very fine garments, suits, and bridal gowns. Working for her honed my skills and problem-solving abilities, and from there I landed a job as a stitcher in the Guthrie Theater costume shop! The Guthrie has been an incredible education in couture dressmaking techniques, traditional suit tailoring, and how to make magic happen through costumes.
I love the process of design, from envisioning a shape to rendering it 3-dimensionally, choosing colors and fabrics, and the surprise details I decide to incorporate along the way. I equally enjoy both the process of making clothes and making someone’s day with a beautiful garment. I now run my own freelance alterations business, specializing in bridal gowns while I develop my first clothing collection and work on a small book compiling a dozen of my original knitting patterns.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has flowed for me when I’ve trusted the process. The biggest struggle has been my own self-doubt about choosing an artistic career path. I have had this idea that certainty about the future is a reward for those who follow the straight-and-narrow and take a corporate 9-5 job with benefits and retirement, and that the uncertainty I’ve had about some of those details is a punishment for “breaking rank,” so to speak. But I’ve realized that no one is certain about the future of the world, and a sense of stability must come from within.
When I embrace my chosen path I don’t feel a struggle.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My full-time business specializes in alterations for bridal gowns and formalwear. I love the hospitality aspect of serving a bride and her party as much as the sewing magic I deliver.
In general, as an artist, I create custom original designs and have become known for upcycling garments, sometimes in unexpected ways, and highlighting the transformation through Instagram reels. The feedback I most often hear is that my designs are fun, playful, and incredibly wearable.
I’m proud of the many ways I’ve sought to run a low-waste operation, finding creative ways to repurpose fabric scraps and remnants, whether I make a patchwork vest out of wool squares or shred and re-knit the worn out shirts in my closet. Rather than buy new fabric for every project, I lean into using what materials I have on hand and finding ways to make them shine. The remnant scraps in my closet have become some of my favorite materials to work with and have yielded some beautiful, avant-garde designs.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Anyone looking for personal tailoring, a style pick-me-up, or just a sounding board about what’s working in their wardrobe, let’s grab a coffee and solve how to make your clothes work for you!
Pricing:
- Bridal Tailoring: $500-1500
- Personal Style Consultations: $250
- Personal Alterations: prices vary
- Full Closet Overhauls: packages available
- Vintage Restyle/Upcycling: projects begin at $300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.abbiekenyon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbi_ken
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akaltsanddesign/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-kenyon
