Friday night saw the opening of Columbus’ newest store, Jamie Seel, located just minutes outside of downtown in German Village. Jamie Seel is an atelier workshop combined shop selling top quality designer clothes, handbags, ties and jewelery. The shop is set in an old house and is superbly decorated. The grand opening was stuffed with friends and native bloggers all in attendance to celebrate and shop. The whole place is decorated with balloons as everybody enjoys drinks and treats. Her window and table displays are works of art which she also ventures into displaying her products. As you look around the room, you notice that the tie is hanging as a floating display on a shelf, showing its movement and all aspects of its fabric. The grips, which come in black, white, and brown, are creatively placed over the mannequin’s legs showing the adaptability of her skin. There is creativity everywhere you look, the look at counter has “Fashion should be a form of escape, not a form of prison” – an Alexander McQueen quote is drawn, really expressing the atmosphere of the place. The shop serves not only as a showcase but also a design and workshop for Jamie. With two stitching machines, mannequins and a large workbench they were able to manufacture and sell everything from this one location. His workshop is open for viewing during the event and you can see all the tools, stitching machines and tape measures that make up his collection.
Jamie is from outside of Columbus and attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, also known as FIDM. He studied fashion design and brought back everything he learned to start his own workshop here in Columbus. He selected Columbus because he knew it was a terrific place to start a business and to start. All the pieces are handmade here in the shop and just about all the leather comes from the local leather manufacture, Tandy Leather Outlet. The pieces are uniquely cut and have an easy luxury look that’s great for many occasions. All of Jamie’s clutches feature thick gold zippers and vary in size so you can choose which one most closely fits your lifestyle. She currently has clutches and a tote bag, but is happy to debut her lined wallet this fall. Apart from handbags, she also has a fantastic collection of black and white clothing including jackets, shorts and shirts. The style is structured, comfy and opulent and Columbus is happy to own a brand like this. If you do not live close by, Jamie has a website where you can browse and buy from his collection and follow him on social media. Another place to find Jamie Seel’s work is at the upcoming Fashion Meets Music Festival in September.
