We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abby Farr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Growing up in Cincinnati, OH, along the Ohio River, I feel like I was set up to grow a big heart for setting slaves free. After all, that waterway served as the gateway to freedom in the mid-1800’s when racial slavery was officially outlawed. I was fascinated learning about the Underground Railroad in history class, and that fascination turned into a passion for justice and freedom. Then, as I entered college, I got the traveling bug, began to travel the world, including all over Eastern Europe. There, I ended up seeing the mistreatment of laborers on a global scale and more extreme poverty than I’d ever seen. Years later, as a grown woman in her mid-30’s, the passion only increased and expanded for fighting modern-day slavery. It was time to use my love of fashion as a platform to help take a stand for the cause. Having volunteered many hours and given to many like-minded organizations and campaigns over the past decade, I had some knowledge base from which to start. All the while, I realized a gap in the women’s clothing market for a truly versatile pants. Accepting the challenge of a friend, I decided to design my first pair. Creating a sample pair to then send to a pattern maker, were just the first couple of steps. My mind couldn’t stop generating ideas, which included an initial interest in having them made by women being rescued from the slave industry. After an incredible trip to Africa, I discovered a multitude of issues ranging from quality control to unpredictable shipping. I then made the command decision to have them made in the U.S.A. and give a portion of the profits back to specific organizations fighting on the front lines to rescue women and girls. Empowering consumers with the option to choose a brand that can give a girl a new lease on life, with the freedoms, love, and safety every human deserves, is of utmost importance to me. However, to launch the business I had to figure out the best way to fund it. After carefully assessing my personal finances and contributing a significant amount of savings, I ended up running a successful Kickstarter campaign in the Fall of 2015. As intense of a process as that was, it created a firm foundation of loyal followers. And it served as a wonderful platform to connect with childhood friends. Creating a brand built on sustainability was also very important to maintain integrity with the cause. Therefore, I source fabrics from companies that value their workers working environment and wages without sacrificing quality. “Consciously crafted comfort” has become a tagline for Tillage. Not only does it communicate to the customer what we stand for, but it is also a reminder to maintain this standard every step forward.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
What sets Tillage apart from other brands is threefold. Where we source our fabric and manufacture our clothing is well-researched and thought through to ensure our customers are getting products that are ethically made by workers getting a fair wage and fabrics crafted in an eco-friendly environment. We solve the problem of having to choose between comfort and style. With our timeless designs, which include pleats and gathers, along with deep pockets, and the option for our classic ankle button flare, our customers get to have both. Plus, they get the satisfaction of knowing that they used their purchasing power to help fight human trafficking. Customers can choose between a cropped or full-length version, and with or without the ankle button, to best match their own personal style. They come in a wide range of styles, and we have crafted double-twist headbands from our scrap fabric for the perfect accessory. We just started carrying a swoop back tank along with our super soft crewneck t-shirts, mugs, and more. We have many new products coming out this year to look forward to. One thing I’m very proud of is the growth we experienced during COVID. As a brand, on the whole, I’m most proud of the partnerships we’ve been able to create with non-profits on the front lines of the anti-human trafficking campaign; the successful engagement we’ve had when we create educational content on the issue; and, most recently, multiple women who have reached out to help grow this small business, one of which is a survivor herself.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One time I’ve had to pivot my business is when I made a major move cross-country, from San Diego to Cincinnati to be closer to family and help my aging parents. It left me putting Tillage on the back burner for a year, which quickly turned into two once COVID hit. A year ago I had to make a major decision to pick up my small business off the shelf and either go after it 110% or toss it. I chose option one. Relocating from Tillage Clothing’s hometown meant starting over with brand recognition, building relationships and even finding organizations that aligned with the brand’s mission to collaborate with. Of course, challenges came along, as they always will, but when my heart and soul is fully invested in something, there’s nothing that can shift that. It’s incredible what comes your way, when you invite it by being all in.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is live pop-up events and markets. Though they are a lot of work, especially when doing them single-handedly, the relationships built, sales made, stories shared, and email addresses collected for the newsletter are invaluable.

Contact Info:

• Website: tillageclothing.com
• Instagram: @tillageclothing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tillageclothing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tillage-clothing-company/?viewAsMember=true
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tillageclothing/_shop/

Image Credits
Brett Sutton Marcel Fuentes Jamie Raddin