STITCH: A Look at Maine’s Fashion & Craft Scene
Six designers and 15 exhibitors display work at the annual fundraising event
STITCH, the Maine Crafts Association’s (MCA) annual fashion show fundraiser, was a lively celebration
of Maine’s fashion, design, and craft scene. Held at Maine Studio Works in Portland’s East Bayside neighborhood, the 2024 fashion-forward event was sponsored by MH+D, Hay Runner, Woodhull, Old Port Specialty Tile Company, A Gathering of Stitches, Bixby Chocolate, Austin Street Brewery, Cellar Door Winery, Bespoke Branded Fit, Jill McGowan, and Headlight Audio Visual. Six local designers saw their work on the runway: Deborah Freedman of the Fourth World, Rose Normann of Dippermouth Company, Busola Olagunju of Luxeby Dorcass, Sara Charles of Simka Sol, Sharon Chandler and Rachel Gloria Adams in a Marigold and Tachee collaboration, and Kelsey Parker of Garbedge Designs. A style market before and after the runway show featured apparel, jewelry, shoes, hats, and other accessories from Maine-based designers including Akakpo and Company, Alice Yardley, Sundew Sewing, and more. Proceeds from STITCH support MCA’s annual events and educational programming.
Robert Sheckler, owner of Redmond Philbert Handwork; Shannon Richards, founder of Hay Runner; and Lizz Brown, MCA program manager
Crystal Murray, editor-in-chief and publisher of Advocate Media USA, and Becca Abramson, MH+D associate editor
Maria Kokenos models the Loretta dress by seamstress and textile designer Rose Normann of Dippermouth Company.
Simka Sol’s Oona tent dress features wide bell sleeves, hand-printed details, and shoulder pads.
Heather Stilin, founder of Herself Clothing; Paul Correnty; and designer Sharon Chandler
Local plants, flowers, and homemade extracts are used by Deborah Freedman of the Fourth
World to hand-dye her textiles.
The Fiona Top and wide-leg Fancy Pants in Tapestry by Sara Charles of Simka Sol
Sadie Bliss, former executive director of MCA, walks the runway in a sparkling two-piece Luxeby Dorcass design.
Amelia Oralu shines bright in a long-sleeved Luxeby Dorcass dress.
Stephanie Sersich, Bonnie Bishoff,
J.M. Syron, and Nicole Testa
Sharon Chandler and Rachel Gloria Adams’s Marigold x Tachee colorful capsule collection on the runway
Hand-printed and plant-dyed pieces from Dippermouth Company
A model debuts the Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing collection by Kelsey Parker of Garbedge Designs.
Becca Abramson, MH+D associate editor; Crystal Murray, editor-in-chief and publisher of Advocate Media USA; Danielle Devine, MH+D editor; and Karen Bowe, MH+D director of business and partnership development
“STITCH celebrates the slow fashion scene in Maine by showcasing an incredibly talented and diverse group of designers each year. Our new partnership with Maine Studio Works enabled us to expand upon our vision for the event by extending our hours and offering more space for artists to take the floor and showcase their work. We’re grateful for our community of makers, supporters, and sponsors for making this celebratory evening a success.”
—Whitney Gill, executive director, Maine Crafts Association