We spoke with Andrea Moore, founder of the clothing brand MOORE. You may have seen her featured in a variety of publications, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and ELLE. Andrea has opened up the coolest new local shop in Larchmont called The Makers NY by MOORE Custom Goods, where she not only sells her clothing but also does “most things sewing related”. Sustainability is the focus of The Makers NY, and we love that she helps clients recreate the clothing that they already own. Visit her at 132 Larchmont Ave Larchmont, NY 10538 and follow along on Instagram @themakersny and @moore_nyc.
Where are you originally from and where do you live now?
I grew up in the woods of southern New Hampshire and have lived all over the country. I moved to North Carolina when I was a teenager and got my degree in fashion design from UNC-Greensboro. After college I moved to Las Vegas and loved the desert. It was such a stark contrast to anything I’d known. After Vegas I hopped around from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, then Portland Oregon. We decided to move back to NYC when I was pregnant with our twins and we currently live in New Rochelle. Love it!
Wow, you have really moved around! We are happy to have you here in the Sound Shore! How many children do you have and what are their ages?
We have 3 littles… the twins, Sonny and Arrow, are going to be 5 in July and my baby, Zoey, is going to be 2 in July as well. Fun fact: Zoey’s due date was the twins birthday… She decided to join the world 6 days early but we LOVE celebrating birthday week!
What is your professional background?
I have been sewing my whole life and always knew that I wanted to be a fashion designer. Growing up in a rural area, the resources were not plentiful. I would make clothes from sheets and blankets (to my mother’s dismay/awe) and tailor my wardrobe. When I went to college, I also worked for a master tailor and worked at a fabric store. Sewing and creating was my LIFE!
Living in Vegas I worked in operations for a luxury land developer (started as a temp job and I loved it). That gave me a strong foundation in planning, organization, strategy, reporting, all while creating a brand and selling my clothes and producing fashion shows.
After the housing bubble burst, I shifted to retail management with a focus on product, people, operations, customization, merchandising and opening new stores. I worked for small boutiques, family run businesses to large corporations and got to live in some really fun places.
In 2014 I decided to go all in, leave my job, and start my own brand. I opened MOORE Custom Goods in Portland Oregon in October 2014. What started as a 150 sq/ft retail space/workshop and me working by my self, evolved to 1200 sq/ft of retail/workshop space, 5 contracted employees and interns and a LOT of fun stuff. Huffington Post coined my space “the open kitchen approach to retail”. I was featured in Vogue, Harpers, Elle, and all local publications several times. I was named “best emerging designer” and my shop won “best boutique” at the Portland fashion and style awards. I dressed huge musicians and athletes, partnered with Nike, Rolling Stone, and Adidas, etc was on the panel for many discussions regarding sustainability and fashion. I was a mentor for emerging designers and taught trend forecasting at the Portland Fashion Institute.
That is quite the resume! Congratulations on opening The Makers NY by MOORE Custom Goods! Tell us about the services you provide and what you sell.
The Makers came from a dream I had after 5 years of being a stay at home Mom designing in my home workshop when my children were sleeping. I use the space as my workshop in that I am creating new garments nearly daily. I have a cutting table to layout the fabrics, 3 different industrial sewing machines, each with a different function, all of which share a space with finished garments neatly merchandised.
With sustainability as a pillar of The Makers, clients bring me a wide variety of projects and I like to say I will do most things sewing related. Some people have things in their closets that they don’t wear because they wish they were a little different or maybe things that don’t fit anymore… we can work together to recreate or shift or adjust these looks. I also create a range of custom garments, though I don’t prefer suiting or formalwear.
What is your long-term vision for The Makers NY?
Well, I come from a family of makers… my Mother is a super talented creator and her focus these days is metal sculpting but she has worked in many mediums throughout her life. My Dad was a custom home builder and still is a wood worker. My siblings are each very skilled in a variety of creative endeavors. My great grandmothers and one of my grandmothers were all very talented seamstresses. I have a few tools that were my Nana’s that I use regularly. All that to say, being surrounded by and supported by creative people my whole life has been so valuable.
By opening a space that can be a destination for people seeking to connect with other makers, by selling the work of other creatives, it is my hope to support and build on the community of Makers in our area.
What’s your favorite part of owning your own business?
I am most grateful for the flexibility. I tell people “I know my hours are weird… with 3 small children, I am not the one dictating when I can work”. I have a sign in my window that says “these are my hours this week” since my availability is always changing. The neighborhood has been incredibly supportive and kind.
We love to support local! What are your favorite shops, restaurants, and things to do here in the Sound Shore?
We are a vegan family so we LOVE all the spots that provide delicious vegan options… Billy and Pete’s Pizza, Grass Roots Cafe, La Casa and Ani Ramen are just a few.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story! We are so excited to have you here in the community.
Interview by Kelly Postiglione. Photos provided by Andrea Moore.