ONE WEEK until Omaha Fashion Week kicks off another season of fashion and glamour, and we’re thrilled to share more about our amazing lineup of designers!
Simpler times are revived in the new women’s ready-to-wear collection from Abigail Faith, by Abigail Faith Goeser. Entirely sourced from sustainable materials, playful colors and graceful silhouettes create soft, unique appearances that feel as though you’re coming home. Keep reading to learn more about Abigail Faith and her upcoming collection!
How did you get into fashion? Share a little about your background.
Fashion has always been a constant in my life. I always wrote “fashion designer” as my dream job when I was little, and I wouldn’t go through a day without changing my outfit three times. While fashion has always there for me, I never really thought that it was a realistic career goal, or something I would actually end up pursuing. Up until a month before I left for college, I had yet to declare a major. After a lunch date with my sister, along with some soul searching, I decided to go for it and declare apparel design at Iowa State University. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Something that has always drawn me to fashion is the history and craft behind it. Sewing used to be housework and almost everyone knew how to do it. I love the idea of returning to our roots and doing things the way they used to be done. Maybe that’s why I’m so invested in every step of the fashion process and consider myself to be a jack of all trades; whether its weaving, natural dyeing, digital printing, sewing, etc….I’m always eager to dive right in and get my hands dirty in the creative process of design.
How was your brand concept born? Describe your brand and the feeling you want it to convey.
“Intentional design and a dash of whimsy,” is how I have always described my work. I love to design clothing that is wearable, functional and well made while also adding some sort of whimsical and meaningful twist. That dash of whimsy has been many different things for me including unique, conversational fabrics, nods to vintage silhouettes, or the process used to make the garments like natural dyeing or digital printing.
What are you personal goals, or goals for your brand?
As an apparel design student, I have goals of becoming a creative designer for a company that shares my values of culture, craft and sustainability. I hope to spend the first few years of my career working in a corporate setting and then transition into owning my own clothing and textile label. Sustainability in the apparel industry is a cause I care deeply about which is why my end goal is to own a sheep farm and paint the perfect picture of what sustainable fashion and textile production can look like.
Describe your favorite project(s) that you have worked on.
One of my favorite projects I have done was based around sustainability and natural dyeing in the apparel industry. I partnered with a local grocery store to use their leftover produce that had gone bad and the scraps from their to kitchen, and turn them into beautiful natural dyes. This was really a passion project for me and I loved researching and experimenting with what the connection could be between sustainability in the apparel industry and the food industry. The process was very rewarding and definitely made me feel connected with mother nature. Another favorite project of mine was learning how to weave wicker baskets for my collection MODE, which showed in the previous season of Omaha Fashion Week. Wicker accessories have been such a big trend over the past few seasons and learning how to make and design my own was extremely rewarding. The process turned out to be quite simple while the visual effect was very powerful.
Describe the collection you are creating!
LORE is a women's ready-to-wear collection rooted in heritage and tradition. The line pulls inspiration from my family history while also using fabrics that have a history and heritage of their own. I will only be using recycled fabrics sourced from thrift stores and will be using the scraps leftover from cutting to create new, unique, hand woven fabrics. The use of these recycled fabrics make this line completely sustainable. The silhouettes will highlight a mix of feminine/romantic with function/utility while remaining playful. Some specific garments I will be making include a denim, utility jacket, and a pair of flare jeans with woven details. I will also be making a few digitally printed graphic t-shirts and a wrap dress with a digitally printed panel.
Where did you find inspiration for your new collection?
LORE, meaning, “a body of traditions” is inspired by the people, places and parts of my heritage that spark an emotional response within me. The things that have developed my creative eye. As designers, our life experiences and history are really what set us apart from one another. A lot of the core ideas within LORE came from looking through old photo albums and listening to family members tell stories about growing up, starting businesses and falling in love in small town Iowa. Textile waste and overproduction in the apparel industry was another source of inspiration and motivation for LORE. My collection is made for recycled fabrics, sourced from thrift stores, old pieces of clothing in my closet and even curtains off my wall. You could say that that the fabrics have a story and heritage of their own.
Describe the specific customer you’re designing for.
My target customer is an ethically minded consumer. They are conscious of where their clothing and other purchases come from and are aware that everything they purchase has an effect on the people who made it as well as the environment. They are mindful and intentional in the way they spend their time and live a curated life that sparks joy, Marie Kondo style. Their main priorities when it comes to clothing are individuality, practicality and sustainability. They buy fashion that speaks to them and makes them feel like themselves, knowing that they will cherish the garment forever. Never buying fashion with the intent to wear it once.
How do you balance creativity/innovation with consistency in your work?
The mantra behind my work is, “intentional design and a dash of whimsy.” Intention is my number one focus when I start to create. Finding my “why” at the beginning of a project helps me to stay consistent. This typically includes developing a solid concept and then diving into trend, silhouette and color research. The most exciting part is adding the “dash of whimsy” once I have my intentional, solid base. This is where I truly let my creativity flow, experimenting, letting my walls and expectations down and just having fun with the process.
What sort of design aspects can we expect from you this season?
The design elements in LORE are unique because they have personal meanings to me and my family. You will see old family photos, business logos and other nostalgic ‘winks’ on each ensemble. The fabrics are sustainably sourced and the sewing scraps have been repurposed into intricate woven details. The soft yellows, blues and greens with pops of red and pink throughout the collection create a playful and optimistic color story. Every little detail has been thought out and has a story.
You can see Abigail Faith on the runway during our GILDED Featured Designer Showcase on March 2nd! To learn more about Abigail and her work, visit her website and follow along on Instagram as she puts the finishing touches on her collection! Tickets are selling out fast, so snag yours today!