Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X X S TA R T U P S / E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P A host of small Maine fash- ion brands that started out as ideas developed in stu- dio apartments, pop-ups or work- shop space are now getting a retail foothold in the Old Port and Arts District areas of Portland. e brands grew out of second careers or pandemic pivots. ree clothing and accessory designers have recently opened new storefronts in Portland and have big plans for the future. "We are poised to expand our offer- ings of special one-of-a-kind experi- ences. What we have always modeled lends itself to the new ways in which retail is thought of," says Natasha Durham of Rough & Tumble, which opened a store on Middle Street this past summer. Another designer, Alice Yardley, says her new Old Port retail space "was the perfect first step for a small business." From home sewing machine to Old Port retail space Yardley is the creative force behind the handbag maker Alice Yardley Maine, a handcrafted leather brand, designs and hand-makes leather handbags, focus- ing on vibrant colors, classic shapes and a cheerful vibe. While still teaching art in New York City, the Portland native started creating handbags on a sewing machine in a tiny studio apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. For materials, she used leftover textiles, fabric and leather from upholstery shops in Brooklyn. "I've always loved fashion and accessories and studied art and art his- tory in college, so my work is a reflec- tion of all of my aesthetic preferences," says Yardley. "I'm endlessly inspired by Italian art, culture and daily life. So my transition into leatherworking felt like a natural step. "Teaching will always have a very special place in my heart, but I was ready to begin creating again for myself," she continues. In 2019, she moved back to Portland and wasn't sure what her next career move would be. But she knew she wanted to continue working with leather as a hobby. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit a few years later, she used the quar- antine to hone her craft, create a busi- ness plan and build inventory. Yardley reached out to developer Jake Edwards, who owns the Black Box pop-up sites on Washington Avenue in Portland, and secured a pop-up space. "I continued to grow my brand and designs for about three years in the Maine fashion brands call Portland their new home Alice Yardley, namesake of Alice Yardley Maine, opened a store at 99 Exchange St. in the Old Port to showcase her handbag designs. F O C U S P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY S E P T E M B E R 2 , 2 0 2 4 18 Stepping up from home businesses to Old Port retail spaces B y A l e x i s W e l l s

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