Fashion designer Kiya Tomlin adds style and support to Etna

The attractive drains alongside Butler Avenue in Etna have a locust leaf design and are shown in a winding route. Their objective is as a h2o attribute that collects rain and retains it out of the sewer program.

It is not astonishing Kiya Tomlin discovered them when she very first visited the city – she’s a fashion designer with a eager eye.

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

Owning Tomlin base her business enterprise in Etna has been constructive to the development of the borough, situated 10 minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Evaluation

Trend designer Kiya Tomlint inside of her store and workspace in Etna.

Etna covers one particular sq. mile together the banking institutions of the Allegheny River. The moment a mill town, it is “re-emerged as a residential group with a very diversified company foundation,” as the borough’s site proudly states.

There are far more than 160 companies.

“I love this area,” Tomlin said. “It has actually grown given that I have been below. I am psyched to be at the forefront of that. It is great to see what is going on in Etna now.”

Tomlin explained the city has embraced her.

When she to start with visited, she explained she realized appropriate away it was the put to be in a position to design and style, manufacture and promote her women’s outfits line all in one particular place.

Tomlin began her organization in the basement of her house. She then moved to an space within Meadeworth Interiors in East Liberty prior to opening her personal store a couple blocks absent on Broad Street.

She obtained the present setting up on Butler Road in 2018. The room, formerly an artist’s private studio, is all-around 6,000 square toes.

“I noticed so substantially probable,” Tomlin claimed.

Just after she moved in, Tomlin hosted a vogue present and had models strolling the runway – down the centre of the street.

“We are clearly thrilled to have Kiya in this article,” explained Mary Ellen Ramage, Etna Borough supervisor. “She has been a superb asset to the community. She cares about every person.”

Increasing her achieve

Every piece is drawn, patterned, minimize, sewn and in good shape to folks, not measurements, she explained. The outfits is manufactured of bamboo, cotton and spandex.

“Women deserve choices as remarkable as they are,” Tomlin said. “They encourage me to generate straightforward, flattering, modern, useful garments. Garments meant to invest more time on serious bodies than on hangers.”

She produces in smaller batches to minimize down on squander. Tomlin has donated clothing to support those people impacted by a hurricane and has taken leftover items of cloth and upcycled it into neck rolls, treatment dolls and tactile items to convenience hospice individuals and exclusive requirements small children.

Courtesy of Asia Margo Images

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

A mom of 3 with her husband, Pittsburgh Steelers head mentor Mike Tomlin, she not long ago launched her hottest collection drawing inspiration from singer Emmy Meli’s ballad “I Am Woman.”

She traded regular comfortable tones and floral motifs for deeply saturated hues.

There are eight parts.

Selling prices variety from $89 to $229 and goods are accessible in dimensions XS-XXL.

When Tomlin gets a ask for to donate auction items, as a substitute of supplying a T-shirt or sweatshirt, she donates a personal purchasing party where by 10-12 individuals can choose a tour of the room and do a complimentary wine tasting, and she will donate 10{a0ae49ae04129c4068d784f4a35ae39a7b56de88307d03cceed9a41caec42547} from their purchases to a charity of option.

Different groups have held activities in the area.

“It’s an knowledge,” Tomlin claimed. “They can shop and we will be there to help with fittings and aid them obtain the correct design and style that matches most effective.”

Collaborating

Tomlin collaborated with stylist Darnell McLaurin, co-producer of Pittsburgh’s FashionAFRICANA, and co-founder of Utopia Model Agency with Pittsburgh fashionista Demeatria Boccella, of Demeatria Boccella Productions, to structure the showroom.

Tomlin, McLaurin and Boccella have helped create the annual Steelers fashion clearly show.

Tomlin explained the source chain problems from the pandemic haven’t impacted her business also harshly. Most of her line is manufactured right here. Some of the material has been challenging to get at times.

In March 2020, Tomlin began producing encounter masks for police and other vital personnel. She instructed Ramage it was therapeutic for her and her crew to be able to do anything. Tomlin and her team made types that appeared on the masks. They have built 30,000 masks, some for Highmark and Allegheny Health and fitness Network’s 1 million mask effort and hard work.

“That definitely stored us afloat,” Tomlin said. “And it felt great to support other people.”

Courtesy of Asia Margo Photography

Kiya Tomlin has developed an NFL collection of cozy, elegant outfits, excellent for game working day. Stylist: Dominika Bronner Styling

Enthusiast favorites

Tomlin also is expanding her NFL assortment for the 2022 season, which commenced with the Steelers. She is building seven precise variations, which will be produced in the colors of 10 various groups. Their debut is planned for August. She stated there have been inquiries from non-Steelers admirers.

“They can dress perfectly on match working day, also,” she stated. “That does not necessarily mean they are going to get.”

Tomlin is in the approach of developing a fragrance. She reported it is generally anything she’s wanted to do, and she is aiming for a slide start.

“Like the dresses I style, the fragrance is made to be layered and merged to make a thing distinctive to the wearer,” Tomlin explained.

Doing the job for Tomlin is superb, mentioned associate designer Brittany Meyer of Scott Township, who was Tomlin’s first staff. Tomlin reported Meyer was so persistent.

“I have figured out so much from Kiya,” Meyer reported. “She does every thing appropriate, down to the previous element.”

Kiya Tomlin is found at 338 Butler St., Etna. Several hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday by way of Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.