Alison has been a part of the fashion industry as long as she can remember, learning to knit and sew from her mother at an early age, continuing to learn through her high school years in Victoria, B.C. and eventually moving to Oakville, Ontario graduating from the Fashion Design/Knit Option program at Sheridan College. Never one to sit on her laurels; she used her time during the Covid lock down to teach herself the art of fibre dying and painting on her knitted textiles.
After several years working in the fashion industry both for a private company and for private clientele Alison has left that part of her career behind and has embraced her new-found love of colouring outside the lines and the ‘slow fashion’ movement. She feels it’s both her honour and duty to share her knowledge of best practices in the garment industry. Alison believes in using natural, sustainable and environmentally sound fibres that are locally sourced from suppliers that support best practices in the fibre industry. She uses fibre dyes that are environmentally safe and non-toxic, sourced from a local supplier. These are some of the characteristics behind the choice of her business name, Ethos Makes.
Alison’s inspiration comes from colour and the language it speaks. Earthy greens and watery blues for comfort, saucy reds for a spark of heat, or honest yellows that bring bright and passionate vibes to a piece; they all have a special place in her work. Sometimes she takes her cues from the artwork she sees around her whether it is abstract, realism or something in between. For her, playing with colour is joyous, seeing what happens when one merges in with another, like watching magic happen! When designing her silhouettes for her knitted garments she takes feedback from her clients into consideration, always listening to what they find comfortable, fun and flattering.
Alison’s work can be viewed and purchased year-round at Scugog Arts Space.
