Made in Georgia
Emily Bargeron (’06) grew up on a dirt road in south Georgia. Her family didn’t subscribe to cable television or play video games. Emily was encouraged to find more “classic” ways of having fun, being a kid, and exploring her own creative mind. “Creativity is the ability to manifest ideas into something tangible,” says Emily. “I think that creativity has always been a huge part of my life.”
Although she majored in fashion design at Georgia Southern, Emily didn’t leap into her career. She describes it more as “a wading process,” where she eventually found herself in the deep end. “As a kid I created games and toys, and as an adult I am creating clothing. I don’t know if I ever decided to be a clothing designer. I think making things and creating was just a part of my existence.”
Today, Emily is the brainchild behind the Savannah-based clothing line, Mamie Ruth—named after her grandmother. Look it up and you’ll find that “Mamie” means practical, courageous, outgoing, brilliant and witty. A woman who knows what she wants, how she wants it, and how to get there. She is the true definition of leadership and poise—a peacemaker, creative thinker, and an intellect at heart. And that is exactly how Emily describes her own Mamie Ruth.
“She taught me that I could do anything if I believed in myself,” says Emily. “She was an entrepreneur when women primarily stayed at home with the kids. She had her own flower shop and worked non-stop, while being a mother, a wife, and an amazing southern lady. She set the bar high and continues to inspire me to reach for the stars.”
At Georgia Southern, Emily found similar support. Through her experience as an Eagle, she was able to intern with a designer in Savannah, who taught her how to interact with customers on a daily basis. Emily also says she learned about production, sales, marketing, and other aspects of the business side of the fashion industry. “When you are in a real-world setting,” says Emily, “everything you learned in school is put into action.” Emily recalls Georgia Southern being an “intimate school,” where her design classmates were more like family. Smaller classes gave her the ability to work one-on-one with professors and faculty. “I was inspired by my professors because they saw success in me and pushed me to accomplish my dreams.”
Admittedly, it’s been a slow but rewarding process establishing the Mamie Ruth brand. But that’s because Mamie Ruth is more than just clothing and jewelry, it’s the carefree feeling that you get when you are genuinely happy, says Emily. “Every bad day is an opportunity to learn from it. I try to look at the bright side of things all the time. There are always days when you wish you sold more… but I am healthy and live in a country where I am able to make a living doing what I love. That’s pretty cool.” In addition to that, sustainability is an integral part of Emily’s vision. Each garment in the Mamie Ruth collection is made in Georgia – manufactured in a small town outside of Savannah in order to cut down on the negative impacts that shipping abroad can cause. The company also uses bamboo-derived fabrics that are easily replenished. “I think we are creating art as well as providing a service,” says Emily. “Each garment is artistically designed and then distributed to stores all over the country. We design our own fabrics, and sometimes I even tear down the curtains. There are no limits.”
Emily started her own business as a high schooler, making and selling jewelry at local craft shows and festivals. She continued as a student at Georgia Southern. After graduation, Emily began selling her wares to boutiques, while working as a graphic designer at a local newspaper. She received an overwhelming response from stores who also wanted to carry the line. “I eventually added clothing into the mix, making each garment by hand,” says Emily. “It didn’t take long before I had to hire additional sewing help and find local manufacturing to assist in the growth.”
Inspired by the 60s and 70s music scene, the Wild West, Native American culture, various art, and desert landscapes, Emily calls her style eclectic. Her favorite designer is Mara Hoffman, whose bold prints and exotic colors continue to inspire Emily every season. “I just like having fun with my wardrobe,” says Emily. “Every day is a costume party… Some days I feel like a gypsy queen traveling through time and other days I am a cowgirl wandering the Wild West. I don’t take fashion too seriously. I just wear what I like.”
Down some of Savannah’s historic cobblestone streets, into an architectural gem with plank floors and exposed brick, there is never a “typical” day at Mamie Ruth headquarters. Walk into the studio on any given day and there’ll be music playing and women working in every inch of space—from sewing tables to vintage sofas. Besides Emily, the Mamie Ruth team is a single graphic designer and four interns. Emily says they bounce from trade shows to music festivals to photo shoots, and then design a new collection and do it all over again. “We always have ten projects going at one time,” says Emily. “I think that there is beauty in chaos.”
Trunk shows are a staple of the fashion world, and it’s no different for Emily and Mamie Ruth. The term originated from the common practice of merchandise literally being carried to events in trunks. Today, trunk shows allow customers and potential customers, the chance to meet Emily and shop designs from the latest or even past collections. “I had an awesome couple of days vending at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee,” says Emily. “We were surrounded by smiles and music and thousands of girls who just loved our clothes. That’s the feeling I’m talking about.”
To date, Mamie Ruth has been featured in national magazines, such as Lucky and Cosmopolitan, and dressed celebrities for award shows including Brittney Cole Kelley, wife of Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley. Mamie Ruth products are being sold in more than 50 stores across the country and Emily just opened a retail store in Savannah this past fall. “I feel so fortunate to be doing what I love for a living every day,” says Emily. “The fashion business is a hard and tricky puzzle to crack and every day that I’m still in the game is another notch in the belt… I want our clothes to make you feel good. It’s not just about the shirt on your back. It’s about how that shirt makes you feel. We design garments that make you want to dance. It’s all about having fun with fashion, being confident in yourself, going beyond your comfort zones and just letting loose… You aren’t just buying new clothes, you are making new friends.” – Michael J. Soloway