Mimi Miller | Fashion Designer
Sometimes it’s just a feeling of a style that I want to wear or see in my closet…
Solopreneur | Fashion Designer
Plus Fragrance Designer of Late
Candid Chat w/Mimi
Mimi Miller | Solopreneur and fashion designer lives and designs in the Washington DC area. Today, she will share helpful tips along with her learned experiences in becoming a fashion designer.
Mimi’s fashion story began when she realized that she loved sewing and designing clothes in high school. That love of sewing eventually leads her to enroll at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia where she graduates with a degree in fashion design. Currently, she works on her brand Mimi Miller | Womenswear and during her downtime projects within the past year, she creates a new fragrance | MMW botanicals. So, let’s now take a few minutes and lean into her story.
Elaine | What would you say is the most challenging about being an independent fashion designer?
Mimi | I think the most challenging thing for me is to not feel like I need to compete with the larger brands or try to keep up. I have to remind myself that it’s important to not compare myself and to just create and design in a way that works for me, my business, and my customers.
Was there someone in your life that was the inspiration for you choosing a career in fashion design? If so, who and how did they inspire you?
Mimi | Not really! My mom has always been super creative so I’m sure I get my desire to create from her.
Elaine | Where and what were you doing when you decided to become a fashion designer?
Mimi | I was a junior in high school when I decided that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I loved designing clothes and sewing.
What is that you strive for when you are working on a new project design?
Mimi | I always strive for a balance of form and function. I want the garments to be wearable on an everyday basis but also really beautiful at the same time.?
Elaine | What would you say is the most challenging when creating a new design?
Mimi | I think the most challenging part is being able to mix my personal style as a designer and also listen to the needs of my customers so that I create something that we both love.
Once you have completed a design project, what is that you hope to have accomplished?
Mimi | That it sells! All jokes aside, I do hope that it is well received by customers.
Elaine | What’s a challenge that you have experienced as a designer involving a design project or event that you would like to share, and did you overcome that challenge?
Mimi | I can’t say there has been a specific challenge, but as a small designer, the challenges seem to pop up all the time. I think the biggest obstacle I face as a smaller designer is finding fabrics that are high quality and available in smaller minimums.
What do your friends think about having a fashion designer as a friend?
Mimi | I have other fashion designer friends and it’s great because we are all supportive of our outfits that “non-fashion” people probably think are a little untraditional. For my other friends not in fashion, I think they enjoy it! They will frequently ask for my opinion on outfits or how to repair clothes, or if I can make them a custom piece!
Elaine | Being a fashion designer and business owner, what are two things you would like to have known prior to becoming a solopreneur?
Mimi | As a fashion designer, I would have liked to have known that creating/designing isn’t at all about what you want, you have to listen and sometimes bend to your customer. As a business owner, I would have like to have known that it’s a roller-coaster of a ride and you have to stick out the lows.
Fashion design means | you’re creating a garment that people are not just living in…
Is this your first business or did you own or work in another before starting your current fashion design business?
Mimi | This is my first business!
Elaine | Did you have another career path that you had an interest in prior to fashion design?
Mimi | I did not, I’m also relatively young so I haven’t really had time to have another serious career path. That being said, I can’t picture myself not being involved in fashion.
Where did you train to become a fashion designer, and would you recommend the school or university to another aspiring fashion designer?
Mimi | I went to Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. As much as I enjoyed the program, if I had to do things over again, I would maybe consider doing an apprenticeship in NYC to learn what I learned in school.
Elaine | Is there a fashion designer, independent or commercial, you admire and that inspires you?
Mimi | I really admire Vivienne Westwood. She has and continues to maintain sole ownership of her business and I think that’s remarkable. I believe it speaks to the confidence she has in herself and her business.
I have to remind myself that it’s important to not compare myself and to just create and design…
What does the term sustainable, environmentally friendly, and ethically conscious fashion mean to you?
Mimi | To me, they collectively mean that you are aware (or should be) and care about the impact you have on the environment and others, not limited to just your business but also you as a person.
Elaine | Are your designs created to be environmentally friendly and if so, how do you strive to implement this into your work?
Mimi | They are! I source sustainable fabrics and am conscious of how much I produce as to not create excess waste.
Being a solopreneur managing a business and creating designs can be more than a full-time job, how during this time of Covid-19 do you keep yourself safe, motivated, and continue to design?
Mimi | I just try to remember that our current situation isn’t forever and hopefully one day soon we will be able to resume with as much normalcy as possible. I’ve also taken the time to explore projects that I wouldn’t have otherwise to keep me motivated and creating in other ways, like our new unisex, botanical fragrance MMW Botanicals.
Elaine | What would you say is the most challenging about being an independent fashion designer?
Mimi | I think the most challenging thing for me is to not feel like I need to compete with the larger brands or try to keep up. I have to remind myself that it’s important to not compare myself and to just create and design in a way that works for me, my business, and my customers.
Where would you say that your inspiration comes from when creating your designs?
Mimi | My inspiration comes from many places. Sometimes it’s just a feeling of a style that I want to wear or see in my closet, a fabric will sometimes inspire me, or it could be a color that I really love.
Elaine | Is there an audience that you believe your designs best compliment?
Mimi | My designs best compliment women, I create tops, skirts, and dresses.
What are two fashion shows or events have you participated in within the last three years? What one thing do you recall that you found most beneficial?
Mimi | I was a guest on NPR’s Kojo Nnamdi Show about DC fashion and I also sat on a panel about sustainable fashion with the DC chapter of Fashion Group International, both in 2019. It’s always beneficial to be in the presence of other designers and business owners and hear their opinions on various fashion-related topics.
Elaine | What does fashion design mean to you and how do you determine success when designing?
Mimi | To me, fashion design means that you are creating a garment that people are not just living in, but making memories in. I would say that I consider a garment successful when customers send me messages saying how beautiful they felt while wearing it or if they received a compliment from a stranger!
Are you currently working on any new designs? If so, what and when do you expect your next collection to be ready, fall or winter?
Mimi | Yes! We are slowly working on a seasonless collection that will be available permanently, hopefully coming in the fall!
Washington Fashion Is Not an Oxymoron
The Kojo Nnamdi Show | Guest | Mimi Miller
MMW | BOTANICALS
MMW | an all-natural fragrance oil designed by Mimi during her downtime amid the COVID 19 pandemic, another project she explored to keep her motivated and creating.
Elaine | How do you measure the success of your designs after a showing or event?
Mimi | I feel like it’s hard to really measure success after a showing/event because the ROI might not be visible for a few months down the road. I view every showing/event as a marketing investment in the business and though I might not see its effects immediately, I will see it eventually.
What have you learned that customers like about your designs?
Mimi | Here is a review from one of our most popular pieces, | the Jill Knit Pullover Dress
Christine Phan,
I purchased this in Heather Grey and literally it’s so comfortable when I wear it at home or running to do errands! When the weather gets cold, I always throw on a pair of leggings to keep my legs warm. The quality is great and simple where you can add a belt or scarf.
Elaine | Finally, in closing our chat, what one piece of advice would you give to an aspiring fashion designer or solopreneur?
Mimi | I would advise that you have to be in it for the long haul, it’s not an easy industry to be in and very few “make it” overnight. You really have to love what you do to keep yourself going. Being a solopreneur is a roller coaster ride so remember the “highs” to get through the “lows”.
Today, you can find Mimi promoting, designing, and sharing her brand Mimi Miller | Womenswear in the Washington DC area as well as promoting her newfound creation MMW Botanicals fragrance. The next time you are in the DC area shopping, look for her designs in the local boutiques.
Interview by | Elaine Pizzini
StitchnPost | Content Creator
Washington DC | Fashion Designer | Mimi Miller