WEST BURKE, Vt. (WCAX) – From the Big Apple to West Burke, Brianna Paquette is stitching in style.
“I wanted to do things a little bit differently,” she said in her rural studio, surrounded by colorful hats. “I get these ideas and sometimes a little fixated on them and I want to be able to see this idea in my mind into reality.”
That’s how she came to start Ministry of Culture. But before setting up shop in her hometown, she cut her teeth in New York City.
“I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology and studied pattern-making and women’s clothing,” she explained. “But, I really disliked the ethics and the kind of, I don’t know, just a very bad vibe in the community.”
Pointing to flaws in fast fashion, Paquette wanted to create clothes she could feel good about. She sold her original designs in Brooklyn on the side for a few years before packing up to head home to Vermont. That’s how she landed here.
“There’s a wide range of fashion and people are very willing to experiment and try different things,” she said of Vermont, explaining how Vermont fashion boasts a hearty mix of practical function and unique flair.
Five-panel hats are Paquette’s biggest sellers, though she’s starting to make more clothing and other accessories. Most of them are things she would wear on the single-track or out in the backcountry.
“I see things on the shelves at bigger outdoor clothing stores and they were kind of bland, drab in my opinion, and I wanted to bring some color and uniqueness and a little better fit for different bodies,” Paquette said.
Bright patterns or blaze orange, her handmade headwear and apparel are typically made out of upcycled or American-sourced materials whenever possible. It’s an aspect of the industry that Paquette is passionate about, and something she intentionally focuses on. That, and making things that people get excited to put on.
“Like you want to wear it, but you want to have a little more customization in your style… so like a fun print, a bright color, a different fabric,” she said.
Ministry of Culture clothes and hats are sold at REI in Williston and at pop-up events. But for the most part, it’s easiest to get these funky fashions online. Whether you’re opting for a quality cap or a soft sweatshirt, you can bet color, form and function will be included.
”What I’m making can make somebody else’s life a little brighter and happier, and maybe will get passed down to their kids or the next generation,” she said with a smile