The Name Says it All
What ’ s in a name ? For Adrienne Guariglia A ’ 02 — everything . As she was getting ready to launch her business in 2018 , she still didn ’ t have a name to put on her products , which includes handbags , wallets and other handmade leather items . Adrienne felt tremendous pressure to come up with a name that was unique and memorable , that captured her professional aesthetic and personal values . Then while riding the train in Chicago , she remembered a pair of cobalt blue , slighted pointed , leather pumps …
Adrienne ’ s life has always been full of creativity . She went to college at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago ’ s Fashion Program , her father is a musician and her mother and brother are both artists and musicians . Creating beautiful pieces of art has always been a part of who she is . But it was her time at Sacred Heart , with uniformed girls and boys , where she found the inspiration for her company ’ s name and its products : SISTER EPIC . She vividly remembers back to kindergarten and her visits to Anne Eppig , RSCJ , the school nurse , with her beautiful , stylish , leather pumps in every color imaginable . Her shoes coordinated perfectly with whatever fabulous outfit she was wearing — and stuck in Adrienne ’ s memory for the rest of her life . She believes that Sr . Eppig ’ s outfits sparked her interest in fashion as a form of self-expression . To her , the name SISTER EPIC , a play on the beloved nurse ’ s name , meant living your life in an epic way and “ being a sister to as many people ” as you can .
To her , the name SISTER EPIC , a play on the beloved nurse ’ s name , meant living your life in an epic way and “ being a sister to as many people ” as you can .
The journey that Adrienne has taken with her company since its official launch in 2019 has been epic . After spending eight years in corporate retail and spending 90 % of her time traveling , Adrienne left her hometown of Chicago , quit her job , and moved to Pittsburgh with her now betrothed — all while planning to start her own business . Besides teaching herself the technical aspects of leather work , she needed to build a website , create a business plan and a marketing strategy , and conduct product research . Her interest in leather goods only came about during the preparation of her senior thesis — somewhat late in her educational career . When SISTER EPIC launched in 2019 with a live website , numerous vendor shows , and incredible interest in her products , Adrienne was ecstatic and busy .
Then the pandemic hit . Just as SISTER EPIC was thriving and expanding , the entire in-person aspect of all business shut down . “ It was like somebody pulled the emergency break ,” she says . Clients were unsure of finances , the market was unstable , and her sales started to fall . To keep sane and keep her mind and hands busy , Adrienne started making masks to help her community while she decided the next steps for herself and SISTER EPIC .
Adrienne now views this slowdown as a gift from the pandemic . As the production and demand decreased , she was able to take stock and pay special attention to details : on her website , in her mission statement and in her products . Instead of panicking about the future , SISTER EPIC ( and Adrienne ) had the advantage of a reset . Due to the pandemic , she shifted her attention to social media , online presentations and her website . As a result , she sought help from professional photographers , videographers and printers . Up until this point , Adrienne had handled every aspect of her business , from products to advertising to shipping out products . By seeking this assistance and focusing more on her strengths , Adrienne ultimately made her brand better . Today , Adrienne proudly boasts that SISTER EPIC is stronger than ever . She recently launched a spring look book with her latest creations and is looking to expand her brand outside of the Pittsburgh market .