A Fashionable Decade: Garnish Turns 10
When Portland businesses hit significant milestones, it shows us that supporting local shops, designers, and ideas can be sustainable and successful. Local boutique, Garnish is hitting their own big milestone with their 10th anniversary and will be celebrating with a huge party on Friday, October 24th from 6-9pm. The #garnishgal team will be showing off their current collection with a fashion show, along with boozy cocktails and door prizes (including a $500 shopping spree).
The Details:
What: Garnish 10th Anniversary Party
When: Friday, October 24th, 6-9pm
Where: 404 NW 12th Ave. Portland, OR 97209
Designer Erica Lurie started Garnish as a locally-made clothing line in 2004, selling in a handful of Portland shops. She eventually expanded to having two shops of her own in town, and now focuses on a single Pearl District location. After being in the business for ten years, I wanted to find out what Erica has learned about owning an independent creative business.
What is your most memorable Garnish moment from the past 10 years?
Perhaps it's because we're in the midst of planning our 10 year anniversary party right now, but our Spring Launch party in 2013 was amazing and at the present moment I'd say it is my greatest memory of the past 10 years. We had a line out the door for our fashion show and the outpouring of support from customers, friends, and former employees was so wonderful. Those are the people who have made it possible for Garnish to reach this milestone and I so appreciate them all.
Is there any advice you would give someone looking to open their own boutique, start their own line—or both!
I would tell them to be prepared for both the hardest and most fulfilling thing you've done in your life (ok, having kids gives this notion a run for its money). The challenges make the rewards even sweeter.
Where do you find inspiration when you’re designing a new collection?
I often find inspiration from my fabric. However, as I look to Spring 2015 (which will have a bit of a Brazilian undercurrent) I am excited to explore other ways of beginning my creative journey. It's easy to fall into the same design process, but I'm finding that to really push myself I need to turn that upside down and look at it from a completely different angle.
What makes Portland such a special place to live and work?
Oh Portland! It just oozes with creativity, from our food, to our design, to our political values. I love the "anything goes" mentality here—it's both very inclusionary and supports individual expression. And along with our progressive views comes a commitment to supporting the local economy—and the Garnish brand is as local as it gets!
