We were lucky to catch up with Abigaïl (biggie) Theano-pudwill recently and have shared our conversation below.
biggie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Style has always been a way to showcase who I am, where I come from and where I hope to be. Most importantly, it’s fun! I love helping people and businesses see themselves through style. I equip clients with ways to be bold with new pieces and techniques to revive the old. We tell their story together through colour, texture and fresh pairings.
My introduction to sustainable fashion wasn’t a choice, it was a necessity. Growing up my clothes were primarily secondhand or fast fashion dupes of the name brands I couldn’t afford. I learned to be creative and thrifty with my stylistic expression. I became interested in fashion’s environmental impact and the mistreatment of garment workers after the 2013 Rana Plaza garment factory collapse. Nike, Joe Fresh and other fast fashion brands were under fire and it lit a fire under me. I was born in Haiti, a developing nation with a large background in textile manufacturing. Knowing that those behind the brands were just like me made me want to pursue a sustainable and ethical way of life.
It matters to me how an item is made, where the pieces come from and who has a hand in its creation. I began Auxvoir Style Collective because I knew the work could be done responsibly while tailoring each style story. Using a sustainable mindset, I want to elevate shoots and help people feel excited about getting dressed.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Abigaïl aka biggie (pronounced bee-ghee) I’m the founder of Auxvoir Style Collective now based in Montreal. I provide sustainable styling and creative direction to help folks curate a sustainable style that serves them well! I began Auxvoir Style Collective, after an opportunity to style and shop for an organisation’s students and shoot direct for a small business. I want to help others develop a personal style, streamline the photoshoot process and do it all sustainably. I modelled for many local brands, so photoshoot styling and direction was a natural development. I love that through Auxvoir, I can tell stories through my favourite medium and make sustainable style more approachable.
Auxvoir services range from personal shopping and wardrobe consultations to event styling and photoshoot direction available both online and in-person. I curate representative style stories for clients using what they own and secondhand or vintage pieces supplemented by local and ethically made items. My client is almost anyone who gets dressed in the morning! They are people who care about their impact on the environment, want to develop their personal style and learn how to maximise their wardrobe so they get dressed with ease. My clients also include sustainably-minded small businesses and artists who want to elevate their brand’s visuals, don’t have the time or expertise to plan, style and direct shoots and want to ensure they get the shots they need. I am most proud of sustainably styling and directing a shoot for a provincial government’s merchandise launch within two weeks.
It’s called a style collective because everyone’s style story is collectively curated by their experiences and the community around them. I also collaborate with local shops and creatives to provide my clients with a network of sustainable options.
I moved around a lot growing up so I had to make a lot of first impression outfits. At a young age, I wanted to be accepted and look cool. Most of all, I wanted my clothes to be representative – to tell a story of who I am, where I come from and a beacon to those who resonate with that visual story.
That stood true even when I attended schools with uniforms. I found ways to express myself through accessories, hairstyles, shoes and whatever I could get my hands on. It developed into an artform throughout the years. I would come up with characters and vibes to emulate. I not only loved getting dressed in the morning, it became a grounding ritual. It was important to me to find the right outfit for the moment, the audience, the activity and anything the day had in store.
Years ago I read an article titled “Sometimes the earth is cruel” by Leonard Pitts. It spoke of the atrocities in Haiti and of the natural disasters that occurred. It spoke of the courage of Haitian people to continue to strive for some semblance of a good life despite setbacks. That’s my drive. It’s in my blood. Even when it looks like things are stacked against you, you always have the option to choose courage, hope and joy.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to work with businesses and artists to tell their story through style. I want to shape their branding so that the outfits and visuals are dynamic, representative and consistent. I’d love to curate a suite of custom looks with an arch to showcase their work and their growth while highlighting independent brands. I aim to develop styles that have recognizable elements and elevates the narrative of who they are and what they do.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Being my own billboard has been the most effective networking tool. Styling myself like a client and showing up authentically in spaces has connected me with potential clients, collaborators and simply new opportunities to uplift others through my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.auxvoir.com
- Instagram: @auxvoirstyle
Image Credits
Khammy Phanthavong
Sarah Lamontagne
Femi Oso
Mikayla Leanne Photos