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 very small quantities of my tops. For every style you see on my website there are only 1 or 2 of each size in stock. This ensures we are not over buying and then contributing to pre-consumer waste.

Next we have returns. Any returns that are made will NOT be thrown out. All returns will be sold discounted at our yearly Black Friday sample sale. My product descriptions will be  very detailed. This concept is meant to prevent returns.

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

EST. 2020.