Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X I X 24 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine I will be the first to admit that, com- pared to New York, Los Angeles and Boston, Maine isn't exactly known for its high fashion. But that doesn't mean that Maine hasn't qui- etly held its own when designing and manufacturing some fashion items that have made people stylish worldwide. From being featured on Times Square to working with the 2024 Paris Olympics and Ralph Lauren, here are seven Maine fashion, accessory and manufacturing companies that have made a name for themselves. Handbag maker Alice Yardley Alice Yardley, the creative force behind the handbag maker Alice Yardley Maine, a handcrafted leather brand based in Maine, opened her storefront in Portland at 99 Exchange St. in March. Yardley's journey from high school teacher to successful designer began in 2019 when she decided to turn her hobby into a business. Her passion for leatherworking and commitment to sustainability drove the decision. She utilized her relationships with local upholstery and leather shops to repur- pose leather pieces into unique bags. Each handbag has a one-of-a-kind design and is handmade by Yardley. In 2020, during the pandemic's midst, she participated in New York Fashion Week's "Ones to Watch" showcase. Leather goods designer Rough & Tumble Rough & Tumble, a Brunswick-based leather goods store that was featured on a Times Square billboard in 2020 and gained the attention of actor Allison Janney, officially moved into 2,126 square feet of storefront space at 178 Middle St. in Portland's Old Port neighborhood. e store will also offer handbag designs that Rough & Tumble is most known for, including model designs known as the 1903, 1904 pack, Boho, Original City Safari and the Hobo Pack. Rough & Tumble is owned by Natasha Durham. She started Rough & Tumble in 2008 in her home after creating a handbag for herself, accord- ing to the company's website. Rough & Tumble sells its bags through Garnet Hill and the Sundance catalog. Its leathers are sourced primarily from France and Italy. e company has a design studio in Brunswick. Clothing and accessory designer the Loquat Shop In May, the Loquat Shop moved from 58 Exchange St. to the first floor of Mechanics' Hall at 519 Congress St., in Portland's Arts District. Loquat was founded by Jordan Carey on the principles of community empowerment, according to its website. It evolved from a bedroom venture with a mission to empower marginalized individuals through fashion and design in clothes and accessories. Carey is a Bermudian designer and artist based in Portland. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree in textile and fashion design from Maine College of Art in 2019. After graduating, he was an assistant designer for Maine-based fashion house Jill McGowan as well as through residencies and freelance work. Carey launched the Loquat brand to share fluid cultural aesthetics and craft sensibilities. Carey is joined in the venture by Madison Poitrast-Upton, a fashion and textiles artist in Portland who earned a bachelor of fine arts in fashion and textile design in 2020 from the Maine College of Art. While there, Poitrast-Upton focused on the comfort and style of female performers, inspired by a love of music, performance and fash- ion. She is dedicated to advancing women and people of color through clothing and design. Tote bag maker Sea Bags Tote bag maker Sea Bags, incorpo- rated in 2006 but with roots going back to 1999, today employs close to 300 people. Its retail footprint includes company-owned stores in 16 states, a flagship location on Commercial Street in Portland and its headquar- ters, sail redemption center, design office and factory-owned store nearby at 25 Custom House Wharf. Don Oakes, the CEO of Sea Bags, joined the company in November 2013. In 2022, he was named a Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year. In January, Sea Bags landed a multiyear licensing agreement with the National Football League to put team logos on a new line of signature bags made from recycled sailcloth. e brand featured four prod- ucts showcasing 11 team logos. e Q UA L I T Y O F L I F E A handful of fashion brands call Maine home Maine is making a name for itself in the fashion world B y A l e x i s W e l l s P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F RO U G H & T U M B L E P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A L O N E C O M M E R C I A L B RO K E R S Alice Yardley, founder of the handbag company Alice Yardley Maine, opened a store at 99 Exchange St. in the Old Port. Rough & Tumble was featured on a Times Square billboard in 2020.

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