Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 4 F O C U S S TA R T U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P Clothing and accessory designer Loquat is a fashion and apparel brand created by Bermuda native Jordan Carey, who conceived the idea as a thesis while at Maine College of Art & Design. He started at the Portland col- lege with the intention of becoming a painter but ended up in fashion and textile design — a pursuit his mother encouraged him to follow from the start. After graduation, he started mak- ing leather bags from upcycled mate- rials to raise funds for future projects. When he had a couple of dollars in his pocket, there was space to start getting more conceptual. After graduation, he worked as an assistant designer for the fashion house Jill McGowan in Portland. He later launched the Loquat brand with Madison Poitrast-Upton, a Portland fashion and textile artist who earned a bachelor of fine arts at the Maine College of Art & Design in 2020. (Loquat is a variety of plum tree common in warmer climates.) "From designing custom fabric to fundraising through our various products, I very quickly felt that the Portland com- munity welcomed Loquat," says Carey. In May, Loquat opened in Mechanics' Hall, at 521 Congress St., in Portland's Arts District. "It was just time," says Carey. "Loquat had outgrown the apartment and after our initial pop-up, we had proof of con- cept. I was hungry for more and I felt that the community was too. e artists vending in our 2.5-month pop-up had made over $25,000 for their businesses." Artists and artisans can still show their work through Loquat, but there's now more space. Beyond that, Carey wants to open the space for events and book signings, as well as classes and workshops. "Loquat had something to say and it wasn't just going to be our voice; it was the voice of everyone we were working with, representing and fight- ing for," says Carey. A l e x i s We l l s , M a i n e b i z S t a f f Wr i t e r / S o c i a l M e d i a S t ra t e g i s t , c a n be r e a ch e d a t aw e l l s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z NEWLY RENOVATED ROCHESTER ROCHESTER A Division of Hammond Lumber Company HAMMONDLUMBER.COM | 1-800-HAMMOND 22 LOCATIONS ACROSS MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW SHOWROOM DISPLAY AREA • FULL ARRAY OF PRODUCT DISPLAYS: WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKING, RAILING, SIDING, KITCHEN, AND BATH EXPERT DESIGN SERVICES • FREE CUSTOM DRAWINGS WITH MATERIAL PURCHASE I was hungry for more and I felt that the community was too. The artists vending in our 2.5-month pop-up had made over $25,000 for their businesses. — Jordan Carey Loquat Loquat offers a range of designs from artists and artisans at 521 Congress St. in Portland's Arts District. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F L O Q UAT

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