We recently connected with Jennifer Miller and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.
Launching your product and services involving luxury goods at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic is pretty darn risky. I designed and created custom pieces on a word of mouth basis only until 2019. By that summer. I was busier than I could have ever imagined and was encouraged by friends and family to put my brand out there. After careful and strategic planning, I decided to launch my website and social media accounts in January / February of 2020 and then by March, COVId shut the world down. As a custom design operation with a focus on upcycling vintage and luxury fabrics, I had invested a great deal in curating hundreds of luxury pieces to have at the ready for potential clients. With the world on pandemic lockdown and the future so uncertain, it would have been easy to throw in the towel, or scarf in my case.
Jennifer, 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?
For the entirety of my life, I’ve been drawn to fashion and have always been a creative individual, even as a child. After several years in Finance, I landed my dream job in Marketing and Development with a global designer and manufacturer of wedding attire and formal wear. This opportunity provided me with a unique, insiders view of fashion’s nuances including but not limited to design, production, marketing, advertising, wholesale and retail operations, service and finance. This was also my first look at how companies , namely “Fast Fashion” outfits, are largely responsible for the negative impact on the environment. The G + G aesthetic serves to lessen the impact on the environment by utilizing as many vintage and upcycled fabrics and materials as possible. GATHERing luxe, prep, vintage and classic materials to give them new life with timeless staples such as denim jackets, tote bags, clutches, and cuffs. This also gives each client the opportunity to have a custom creation that speaks to their individuality.
G + G custom designs are inspired by the very clients who wear them. We strive to create unique pieces from upcycled sources that are a statement to each clients personality and individual story. Every fabric has a story – Why not write your own?
As the mother of 3 young children, it’s important for me to live and lead by example. Designing timeless staples from upcycled fabrics and vintage pieces pays homage to my creativity and respect for the environment. As an ardent supporter of philanthropic, community and volunteer organizations, I offer to donate a portion of proceeds from each custom piece to charitable organizations that matter most to each client.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’m sure many creatives can attest to periods of time where, for any number of reasons, the flame which drives our creativity is dampened. For me a series of personal health issues and being the primary caretaker for a sick family member while homeschooling 3 children in a pandemic turned out to be a recipe for a creativity crisis; I was not afforded time to design and create the way I wanted to. And frankly, very few people were in the position to invest in luxury level custom designs. This combination of factors forced me to pivot my offerings as a brand: I made the choice to offer smaller products such as cuffs created from upcycled luxury ribbon and leather as well as shoe laces and custom tote bags all created with vintage and upcycled pieces. This year at the behest of longtime clients, I also started offering a product unrelated to fashion. Each year at the holidays, I gift homemade Winter Scent Simmer Packets made from hand dried fruits and organic spices. In lieu of burning “big name” scented candles laden with chemicals and toxins, our Simmer Packets are clean, organic and natural and fill customers homes with scents that are as safe as they are enjoyable.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative has to be the creative community. I’ve been so fortunate to meet, partner with and learn from countless individuals who are incredibly kind and supportive of one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gatherandgoode.com
- Instagram: @gatherandgoode
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GatherandGoode
Image Credits
All photo credit to: Jennifer Miller