I ran a fashion business Miss Brache for about 12 years. I personally made over 3000 dresses by hand. I adored my clients and liked designing. While sewing, I would almost regularly listen to Podcast about science. I LOVED science. Running a fashion business is stressful, and I was basically always working. My clients, while lovely, many were unreasonably demanding. I started my business at the dawn of social media and Amazon. The constant churn for creating content for free and pleasing my clients filled me with anxiety. Running a profitable small bespoke clothing line became impossible when fast, cheap fashion giants were everywhere. 

In 2013 I became pregnant with my first daughter Sagan. The idea that my life as a fashion designer was unsustainable came to me on the floor, on all fours in between labor contractions. Somehow this position was most comfortable. I was sewing a dress for a wedding party for my very sweet client Angel in between contractions. I was trying to finish as much as I could before the birth. At 8 minutes apart, my intern Jessie Darnell barked at me, “Lady, go home and have a baby!”. She had been trying to convince me to call my husband for like 2 hours. I was desperate to finish that order before birth. I could not work like this and be a good mother. I was unhappy and anxious about my work for a while. My business had become unsustainable. 

I started the process of closing and starting college two years later, it was one of the best choices I have made. As a scientist, I am infinitely happier. I had many highs as a fashion designer, and I celebrate some of them here. That wedding party I was working on during childbirth ended up getting featured in Nashville Weddings Magazine, so at least the story was worth it. 

Photos from past clients all made from pattern to hem custom to each customers measurements.