FasionDora Mae
by Jess Cearley
Fashion is art. This statement normally comes with
a defensive tone from the
fashion community. But
what is art anyway? Isn’t
it something that makes
you think? Something
that evokes a feeling or
a reminder of a different
time? It inspires and is ever
changing, just like someone’s style. And style is
fashion, which is art.
Every once in a while, I like
to go to a “gallery” in search
of the perfect piece, maybe
Goodwill to find a hidden
treasure or Neiman’s to
rifle through the carefully curated collections. But
my favorite place to visit is
a workshop. A place with
endless possibilities, where
things get imagined before
your very eyes.
Nestled in the
popular
section of Orange
Avenue called
The Ivanhood,
is Dora Mae, a
jewelry workshop full of self-expression.
Designer Ansley Schrimsher began Dora Mae in
after her grandmother, a
fellow art collector like myself, gave her an Ariel sized
cavern worth of whosits
and whatsits galore (vintage
jewelry). At the time, Ansley, a garden designer, took
on reinventing each piece.
She recalls, “I think it was
my
th trip back to the
bead bar and they looked at
me and said,
‘Sit
down,
we’re going to
show you the
basics’.”
Ansley began
her business
in a closet in
her home, and
in the last
years, her designs have spread like wildfire. So much so that it was
time for her to open up a
space. Her customer base is
I visited her,
a
mother,
daughter and
grandmother
were all at
the workshop,
dreaming
up ideas and
finding new
pieces to add
to their wardrobes. After being there for
five minutes, another local
shop owner from down the
street stopped by to bring
her some odds and ends
that she knew Ansley could
just “make pretty” again.
The walls of the workshop
are lined with art done
by local artists and set a
cool, relaxing atmosphere
that makes you feel like
you are at a spa for the creative mind. Ansley herself
is like a unicorn: whimsical, eclectic and breathtakingly energetic. She allows
you to feel like anything is
possible, not only in accessories but in life. On most
days she thinks, “Who will
wear this?” and then decides, “someone will!” and
just like that another piece
is born.
Ansley’s favorite part about
the Orlando fashion scene
is how eclectic and personal it’s becoming. “I love
how everyone puts things
together in their own way
that’s unique to them. Our
community has
come a long
way and I love
to continue to
watch it change.
I love being a
part of it. Beauty and creativity hold no
ownership, so it’s fun to see
everyone taking their own
little piece of it.” When
asked what inspires her
locally, Ansley’s response
is, “People. Local people
and the different neighbor-
hoods around the city.”
She’s also a fan of other local designers around town.
“I love Tammy Jo. She is
very inspiring to me and
I love that she does with
clothes what I do with jewelry.” As for what the future
looks like for Dora Mae,
Ansley takes it day by day.
“I just like being a part of
a movement driven by Orlando creatives and can’t
wait to see where it goes
next.”
Photography provided by
Rebecca Reed Photography
Dora Mae is located at
1620 N. Orange Ave, Orlando.
You can see more at:
doramaejewelry.com
A place with endless possibilities,
where things get imagined
before your very eyes.
35
women of any age, who have
an “anything goes” type of
style and embrace freedom
of expression. On any given day if you walk around
Orlando you are sure to
find someone wearing one
of her designs. On the day
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