Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Andrews.
Hi Jill, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
When I was four, my Great Aunt Eula sat me on a stool in front of her old treadle sewing machine. Eula Zoe Gideon and her sister Jewell were masterful seamstresses, making dresses that were famous in Arkansas. I might grow up to be a seamstress like them. My granny, Jewell Gideon, gave me the singer featherweight I would later use to make my first wedding gowns. A great family story, recounting their resourcefulness fondly, is of my great aunt and granny pulling the car off the road to stop and pick feathers off of a recently deceased pheasant. Not surprisingly, our Irish ancestors worked as milliners for many generations.
I grew up and moved to New York City to attend FIT. I was doing restoration work there when I pieced together the yards of black silk tulle from a vintage Balenciaga that I decided to work with the world’s most luxurious fabrics. I dedicated myself to designing gowns. After graduating from FIT, I found my way to London, where I made my first wedding dresses and traveled to Paris every chance I got. Upon returning to the states, I began building costumes for Broadway, film, TV, and regional theater. I spent fourteen years perfecting my skills and exploring the history of fashion while maintaining a custom business.
As the custom work progressed, so did my love of brides. I found the perfect castle for an atelier – filled with natural light, my collection of vintage chandeliers, and a growing number of dresses. This summer, we will celebrate our studio’s 12th year in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road. Every day as a designer and business owner is about solving problems and assessing the components that go into the piece you are working on.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
While I’m known for designing wedding dresses, I am most proud of reaching outside of my comfort zone and participating in 2017’s SwitchPoint event. I was a member of the winning team at Johns Hopkins that engineered a safer, more empathetic protective suit for medical staff workers on the front lines of the Ebola epidemic.
I’m a skilled pattern maker who thrives in problem-solving. I love challenges! This is why I live for a restoration project – I love taking things apart and making them new again. Restorations almost always come with a backstory, and I love being part of each garment’s history.
I have over 30 years of experience in couture sewing techniques and extensive knowledge of building corsetry, history, and fashion. One of my favorite projects was when Baltimore Weddings magazine reached out to me to create a dress from 20 years of magazines. That paper dress had a cardboard corset! I sliced the paper to create the look of ruffles and roses; each one was more like cutting a fan. This work takes a fine hand – rolling chiffons and working with delicate silks requires skill.
I decided I didn’t want to do mass production, a significant shift for me. I decided that I wanted to keep working with people, not deadlines or a price point. As an artisan and a skilled craftsperson, I love working with my muse. Where a client’s dreams and wishes meet parameters and problems, that’s where the artistry is – it’s in the finesse.
Pricing:
- Custom Gowns: starting at $4,500
- Alterations: price upon request
- Restorations: price upon request
- Accessories: price upon request
- Space Rental: price upon request
Contact Info:
- Email: info@jillandrewsgowns.com
- Website: https://www.jillandrewsgowns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jagowns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillandrewsgowns
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jagowns
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/jagowns/
Image Credits
Each image file includes the photographer’s name. Listed below is the same information: Personal Photo: Renee Hollingshead Baltimore Style Cover: Dean Alexander Baltimore Bride Cover: Jennifer Hughes Closeup of Hands and Label: McKenzie Ditter Bride in Dressing Room Mirror: McKenzie Ditter Baltimore Weddings Cover: Nessa K Studio Workroom: Pam Aquilani Studio Showroom: Pam Aquilani Studio Dressing Room: Pam Aquilani
