Background: Glaum-Lathbury, a Philadelphia native, studied design at the School of the Art Institute. After several stints working for other designers, she started her own eponymous line because “it became clear that it could be a reality.” She made a splash on the design scene with a showing in the Gen Art Fresh Faces runway show at Fashion Focus 2007.
The pieces: Structured, architectural clothing crafted from rich fabrics. With a focus on neutral colors, her collections are simple, expertly tailored, and combine clean lines with movement.
Designer inspirations: French designer Madeleine Vionnet. “She changed my way of thinking about patterns. She taught me that there aren’t really rules.”
Chicago inspirations: “The space. I have space to think.”
On being a designer in Chicago: “Everybody is very human here. It’s not about being a rock star, being cool. Everything superficial is beside the point. It’s just about working.”
What to look for: Glaum-Lathbury turns to a variety of things in the world for her collection inspiration—and once you know what to look for, you can easily spy it in her work. Look for a Fall ’08 collection inspired by the neurological system, and a Spring ’09 collection inspired by chickens.
Where to find Abigail Glaum-Lathbury: At Bucktown boutique p.45. View her work on her Web site, abigail-glaum-lathbury.com.
Designer of The Moment 2022: Andre Brumfield Revitalizing urban environments through urban design, master planning and architecture is, for Brumfield, the means to create places of opportunity.
Line: Abigail Glaum-Lathbury
