Fashion designer Kiya Tomlin adds style and support to Etna

The ornamental drains together Butler Road in Etna have a locust leaf layout and are shown in a winding path. Their intent is as a drinking water element that collects rain and keeps it out of the sewer system.

It is not shocking Kiya Tomlin recognized them when she first visited the town – she’s a manner designer with a keen eye.

“I like the ornamental rainwater drains embedded in the sidewalks,” she reported on a recent Monday in her boutique, Kiya Tomlin. “They give the neighborhood a charming really feel.”

Acquiring Tomlin base her organization in Etna has been favourable to the progress of the borough, found 10 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Overview

Fashion designer Kiya Tomlint within her store and workspace in Etna.

Etna addresses a single sq. mile alongside the banks of the Allegheny River. When a mill city, it is “re-emerged as a residential community with a hugely diversified company base,” as the borough’s site proudly states.

There are extra than 160 firms.

“I appreciate this region,” Tomlin explained. “It has truly developed considering that I have been listed here. I am thrilled to be at the forefront of that. It is superb to see what is taking place in Etna now.”

Tomlin stated the town has embraced her.

When she 1st visited, she claimed she knew correct absent it was the location to be in a position to structure, manufacture and market her women’s clothes line all in one particular area.

Tomlin started her enterprise in the basement of her property. She then moved to an region inside of Meadeworth Interiors in East Liberty prior to opening her possess retail store a handful of blocks absent on Wide Avenue.

She ordered the current developing on Butler Avenue in 2018. The area, previously an artist’s private studio, is about 6,000 sq. feet.

“I noticed so significantly likely,” Tomlin reported.

Soon after she moved in, Tomlin hosted a vogue clearly show and had types walking the runway – down the center of the road.

“We are definitely thrilled to have Kiya in this article,” said Mary Ellen Ramage, Etna Borough manager. “She has been a excellent asset to the neighborhood. She cares about anyone.”

Expanding her access

Just about every piece is drawn, patterned, slice, sewn and in shape to folks, not measurements, she explained. The clothes is made of bamboo, cotton and spandex.

“Women ought to have alternatives as incredible as they are,” Tomlin reported. “They encourage me to produce quick, flattering, fashionable, useful clothes. Clothing intended to expend more time on real bodies than on hangers.”

She generates in modest batches to cut down on waste. Tomlin has donated clothes to aid those people affected by a hurricane and has taken leftover items of material and upcycled it into neck rolls, therapy dolls and tactile pieces to ease and comfort hospice sufferers and specific needs kids.

Courtesy of Asia Margo Images

This blue is a new hue for the “I Am Girl” spring/summer time assortment designed by designer Kiya Tomlin. Stylist: Dominika Bronner Styling

A mom of 3 with her partner, Pittsburgh Steelers head mentor Mike Tomlin, she recently unveiled her hottest selection drawing inspiration from singer Emmy Meli’s ballad “I Am Female.”

She traded usual delicate tones and floral motifs for deeply saturated hues.

There are eight items.

Selling prices vary from $89 to $229 and things are available in dimensions XS-XXL.

When Tomlin gets a ask for to donate auction items, rather of providing a T-shirt or sweatshirt, she donates a non-public procuring function exactly where 10-12 persons can acquire a tour of the area and do a complimentary wine tasting, and she will donate 10% from their purchases to a charity of alternative.

Various groups have held functions in the room.

“It’s an experience,” Tomlin stated. “They can store and we will be there to aid with fittings and enable them locate the ideal style that matches greatest.”

Collaborating

Tomlin collaborated with stylist Darnell McLaurin, co-producer of Pittsburgh’s FashionAFRICANA, and co-founder of Utopia Design Company with Pittsburgh fashionista Demeatria Boccella, of Demeatria Boccella Productions, to design and style the showroom.

Tomlin, McLaurin and Boccella have served deliver the annual Steelers vogue present.

Tomlin stated the offer chain concerns from the pandemic have not influenced her enterprise as well harshly. Most of her line is created right here. Some of the material has been tricky to get at occasions.

In March 2020, Tomlin started creating confront masks for law enforcement and other essential workers. She instructed Ramage it was therapeutic for her and her group to be ready to do one thing. Tomlin and her staff developed styles that appeared on the masks. They have created 30,000 masks, some for Highmark and Allegheny Overall health Network’s 1 million mask hard work.

“That certainly stored us afloat,” Tomlin mentioned. “And it felt great to enable others.”

Courtesy of Asia Margo Pictures

Kiya Tomlin has made an NFL assortment of at ease, elegant outfits, great for activity working day. Stylist: Dominika Bronner Styling

Enthusiast favorites

Tomlin also is growing her NFL selection for the 2022 period, which started with the Steelers. She is planning seven distinct types, which will be released in the colours of 10 distinctive groups. Their debut is planned for August. She said there were being inquiries from non-Steelers enthusiasts.

“They can dress very well on recreation working day, also,” she reported. “That doesn’t mean they are heading to win.”

Tomlin is in the system of creating a fragrance. She said it is generally one thing she’s preferred to do, and she is aiming for a fall start.

“Like the apparel I design, the fragrance is built to be layered and put together to make some thing exceptional to the wearer,” Tomlin stated.

Working for Tomlin is excellent, reported associate designer Brittany Meyer of Scott Township, who was Tomlin’s to start with personnel. Tomlin reported Meyer was so persistent.

“I have acquired so a lot from Kiya,” Meyer explained. “She does everything ideal, down to the past detail.”

Kiya Tomlin is positioned at 338 Butler St., Etna. Hrs are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday as a result of Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.