THE DOCTOR OF STYLE
OB/GYN turns to children’s fashion
When Edmonton obstetrician and gynecologist Jill Griffiths was on maternity leave, she found herself missing the surgical part of her practice.
She yearned to work with her hands. So she took up sewing, staying up long after the children were in bed to create dresses for little girls (of which she had two).
Some four years later, those latenight hours have led to a carefully crafted line of mix-and-match dresses that come with detachable and reversible collars, and charming capes. The line, called Kneesocks and Goldilocks, is being launched at fashion pop-up at Love Pizza (10196 109 St.) to be held on Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m.
Griffiths calls the collection a “capsule.”
That means it’s compact, and everything goes with everything else.
There are three different vintage-inspired dresses made from small prints. Griffiths says the garments are classic dresses that could be passed down to younger sisters, or later, daughters.
“I still have all the dresses my grandma sewed for me growing up and it has been so special to be able to put some of them on my own daughters,” says Griffiths, 40.
Though her mother and grandmother were able seamstresses, Griffiths didn’t learn to sew as a youngster. When the creative urge struck, she watched online tutorials and just did it.
“At first, I posted on Instagram so my own family could see, and it took off. I was selling some of the stuff I made and donating profits to the food bank,” she recalls.
Then she joined up with fellow children’s wear producer, Crystal Tracy of Edmonton’s Sweet Jane Studio. Tracy already had a significant online presence and the infrastructure to manufacture clothes in Canada. Customers can purchase items at Love Pizza on the March 19, or shop online at sweetjanestudio.com on March 20.
Griffiths’ share of proceeds from Sunday’s sales go to the Zebra Child Protection Centre.
What makes the dresses noteworthy is the simple, timeless design, and high-concept fabric made by Rifle Paper.
The dresses can also be worn with a crocheted, mini-cowl by Top Knot Style, making them suitable for fall or winter wear, perhaps teamed with a jean jacket, tights and boots. The line comes in sizes one to six. Dresses are $75, collars are $25 and capes are $49.
“In our climate — capes are nice for spring and fall, too. (Mine) are made of a flannel that looks like a tweed, but they are super-soft and cosy for the little girls,” Griffiths said.
Griffiths still works part-time as a fertility specialist but her night job has become increasingly demanding. By customer request, she makes bow ties for boys. She tests patterns for international, independent pattern companies, sewing and critiquing kids’ clothing patterns before they go out to consumers. Griffiths is also working with an Australian pattern company on a girls dress pattern to be released soon.
She wonders if her attachment to sewing beautiful garments, so important to her mother and grandmother before her, may show up in her own children.
“My four-year-old’s favourite thing to do is cut fabric with her little pair of scissors and tape it together around herself to make ‘dresses.’ So she might just take after the three generations before her.”
I still have all the dresses my grandma sewed for me growing up and it has been so special to be able to put some of them on my own daughters.