ABOUT US

THE STORY | ABOUT THE OWNER

It all started in sixth grade when I found out I had scoliosis and unfortunately it was not a mild case.  My spine was curving as I grew and in order to halt its progress I was required to wear a hard plastic back brace twenty hours a day until puberty was over. As a young vulnerable teenager, I was ashamed and chose to keep my brace a secret. This meant wearing baggy t-shirts everyday as my disguise. During this period, I started dreaming about all the cute tops I wanted to wear but could not. I felt so confined and restricted in terms of my movement of course and my style. When my growth plates finally closed there was no more brace and let’s just say I went crazy with wearing all the clothes I ever wanted. Two years later I found myself applying to the best fashion business school in the world... the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. I found my calling and to my surprise, I got in! Of course I went and studied Textile Development. Through my education at FIT and several internships and jobs in the fashion industry in NYC I knew I was ready to go after my dream. I always knew I would be a business owner. I did not expect it to happen this fast, but I had a lightning bulb moment.

The Wilmington Brace created by Dean MacEwen at Alferd I. DuPont Children's Hospital. This is in-fact one of my braces that was molded to my body through a hard cast. I cycled through a few since I was wearing it through my peak growths-pert. 

The photo above is what my sister and I laid on when we were put in a body cast around our torso. The doctors then used this to mould our brace. I remember this room like it was yesterday.

THE MISSION | SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS

Sustainability in the Fashion Industry is a vast and unavoidable topic, rightly so!  Studying Textile Development and Marketing at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC has provided the opportunity learn about and add a concentration in Sustainability. 

In creating Tops By Taylor, I plan to include sustainability principles and concepts in my business model.  Here are a few examples of how I have incorporated sustainability.

My first learning came when I began ordering multiple shipments from various vendors.  Soon into this process I realized that in order to minimize the shipments associated with my purchases I needed to place orders with multiple items.

The next sustainable opportunity presented itself when I began researching packaging for Tops by Taylor.  I have identified packaging which is 100% compostable made from corn-based biopolymers.  The compostable mailer degrades in 180 days and is certified for both home and commercial compost.

I am buying small quantities of inventory. This ensures we are not over buying and then contributing to pre-consumer waste. We will restock items through the success we see with each product.

This is only the beginning for my small business, and I cannot wait to continue learning and incorporating sustainability principles. Stay tuned.  

EST. 2020.