In episode 25, Alexis Giger talks about her career in fashion from design school, to working for fashion brands big and small, to starting her own mending business during the pandemic in order to make loved clothes last.
Alexis Giger is a fashion designer and textile mender based in St. Louis, MO. She graduated in 2013 from Washington University in St. Louis with a BFA in Fashion Design. She gained industry experience while working for Anthropologie, the St. Louis Fashion Fund, and Summersalt. During the 2020 pandemic, she focused her energy into mask making, which evolved into her sustainable fashion and mending business, Little Cliff. She currently runs her small business while working at Soft Surroundings as an Associate Designer.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- What Alexis’ experience was like going to fashion school and then getting jobs in a city that isn’t considered a fashion hub
- The different focus between fashion school and working in the industry
- Eye-opening things Alexis learned from being in fittings with technical designers
- What made Alexis turn her pandemic hobby into a business
- Alexis’ favorite mending techniques
- Where Alexis finds denim pieces to mend
- How Alexis balances a day job as a fashion designer and her mending business Little Cliff
People and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Little Cliff website
- Little Cliff email
- Little Cliff on Instagram
- Alexis on LinkedIn
- Mending Matters: Stitch, Patch, and Repair Your Favorite Denim & More
- The Modern Natural Dyer: A Comprehensive Guide to Dyeing Silk, Wool, Linen and Cotton at Home
Do you want fashion business tips and resources like this sent straight to your inbox? Sign up for the How Fitting newsletter to receive new podcast episodes plus daily content on creating fashion that fits your customer, lifestyle, and values.