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01/05/2016 01:00 PMAfter leaving the nest in Essex to fly away to experience the fashion and allure of city life, Georgia Caroline Milton has returned home to Centerbrook and has brought with her a unique take on avant-garde fashion.
Her goods can be seen at her first solo Ruba Ruba Design Showcase Fashion Show, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the Lyme Art Association.
Milton was first drawn to fashion and textile work when she took a quilting class in high school. From there, her passion grew. She graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2012 majoring in fibers and experimental fashion, and promptly went to work on her own clothing line called Ruba Ruba Designs (after her cat). She has been cultivating her young business ever since.
“When I moved back to the area at the end of last winter, I realized how different the energy was here from the energy in other places due to the cold weather,” said Milton. “I recognized how depressing and endless the winters can feel, so I wanted to have my fashion show in the middle of winter in hopes of bringing excitement to the area.”
The night of fashion Milton has planned includes music, food and wine, and of course some very “out of the box” fashion ideas.
“I have been exposed to a wide variety of wild and experimental fashion and art by living in Baltimore, New York, and spending time in Chicago. I want to bring that attention to contemporary art and fashion here,” said Milton, who attributes her artistic innovation to growing up in a creative household.
“I am wearing all the hats when it comes to putting this show on. I am designing/making all the garments myself, and doing all the planning and preparation for the show,” said Milton. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s a great process and I am so thankful to have a lot of support from family, friends, and sponsors.”
All of Milton’s clothing is hand-made. She designs her pieces and accessories to be a highlight to any wardrobe, working to create items that can easily be integrated into any women’s wardrobe.
“This show will give me the opportunity to showcase my creative work, while making the audience aware of my everyday wear pieces,” said Milton. “I work hard to create timeless pieces and I hope that people of all ages feel comfortable wearing my accessories.”
At her show, Milton will be featuring several of her innovative scarves specifically designed to take the “fuss” out of the equation of being fashionable.
“I create these scarves to invent a flattering layered look, without the constant adjustments. They are built to have volume, and lay perfectly every time. This structure is accomplished through the architecture of the scarf. The Origami-inspired handwork and soft leatherneck band creates the perfect accent,” said Milton, who hopes to eventually open her own store.
“I still want to explore the world and country, but I love this area so much and I appreciate it so much more now than I did when I was growing up here. I would like to be part of this area’s success and culture, so maybe someday I can open a store here. I am open to all possibilities.”
The show is being sponsored by the Spa of Essex, Camelot Builders High-End Artistic Remodeling, Indigo Threads-With Integrity, Pough Interiors, Marleys Café, and Essence Center for Beauty and Wellness.
Trigger 2016 — Ruba Ruba Fashion Show
Saturday, Jan. 23 at Lyme Art Academy. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets ($20 in advance, $225 at the door) to the 18-and-over show include food and live music before and after the show. Snow date is Saturday, Jan. 30. For more information, visit www.rubaruba.com.