Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abby Schirmacher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Abby, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Pursuing a career in journalism, specifically related to fashion writing, hasn’t been easy. After obtaining my degree in journalism, I discovered quickly that the industry is difficult to navigate and many opportunities are either freelance or with little to no compensation. I pivoted my career after starting a job in marketing but felt there was something missing as I wasn’t involved in the fashion and writing community in Denver like I had been in previous roles. I took a risk by starting a digital magazine called The Curio Cabinet alongside my Co-Founder Jordan McClendon Garcia and with the help of our Music Editor Victoria Glidden, we continue to grow. We all were working full-time but felt having a passion project would allow us to continue to pursue our passions on our own terms. We self-funded our launch process and built our own website and have been growing a following over the last year and half, hoping to showcase the fashion, beauty, music and culture in Denver through writing and content creation.

Abby, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As the previous Fashion Editor at 303 Magazine, I started my career as a fashion journalist and fell in love with storytelling through writing. I quickly developed relationships in the fashion industry in Denver. After pursuing my current full-time role, I felt like there was a storytelling component in the creative industry here still missing. Myself, Jordan and our team predict that there will be immense growth in the Denver creative industry, specifically in fashion, in the coming years and we hope to be at the forefront in sharing stories about designers, business owners and creatives and their work that deserves to be featured.

We write both short form and long form articles that we publish digitally. With a dedicated team that includes a photographer and content creators, our articles are accompanied by our own images and reels to promote businesses and individuals who we cover on social media.

We are proud of our growth and engagement within the creative community in Denver. Our audience is currently small but mighty and we are proud to partner with creatives who’s mission to uplift one another and their audiences aligns with our mission to provide genuine and real content to those in our community and beyond.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Starting a business and building a following takes patience and effort. I had to unlearn the notion that a passion project is always going to be something that I enjoy doing. At times it is difficult to pursue something outside of my full-time job and I find myself exhausted after long days spent on a computer or trying to balance my life outside of both work and The Curio Cabinet. However, I also had to learn that is okay to be pursuing my passions and it won’t always be easy but it is worthwhile. With a strong and reliable team, I can do both.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Supporting creatives starts at the local level. We can uplift those in our community by sharing their stories, supporting them by spreading the word about their offerings, and by buying their products or attending their events. Those who are creatives may not be able to endure putting their passions aside and may find it difficult to work in analytical roles or environments. We should encourage those who are creative to pursue their passions, regardless of the difficulty that may come along the way. Using our minds and talents in the way that we feel the most seen, heard and supported is often more beneficial than attempting to think in ways we aren’t built to. Media coverage is crucial in helping audiences relate to and understand creatives in order to support them and encourage them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://curiocabinetmag.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuriocabinetmag/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-curio-cabinet/

Image Credits

Photo 1: Credit Victoria Glidden of designer Atelier Ola Sol at Art Hearts Fashion during New York Fashion Week September 2024
Photo 2: Co-Founder of The Curio Cabinet Jordan McClendon Garcia and Abby Schirmacher
Photo 3: The Curio Cabinet Music Editor & Photographer Victoria Glidden, Contributor Casandra Perez and Jordan McClendon
Photo 4: Credit Victoria Glidden of designer Carlos Pineda at Art Hearts Fashion during New York Fashion Week September 2024