Meredith Brockington spent four years working as a Photo Art Director at L.L. Bean before launching her business, Amie, earlier this year. While mapping out plans for her future community-based online shop, Meredith kept a running list of artisans and makers whose work she felt most connected to and inspired by, and quickly noticed that her entire list was made up of women. Aptly named, the word amie (pronounced ah-mee) is French for female friend, and through her shop, Meredith promotes the work and goods of women artisans, many of whom have grown to be some of her closest female friends.
Although Amie was founded as an online shop, Meredith was able to find a lovely pop-up location on High Street in Portland for the holiday season. I had a chance to tour the shop, take some photos, and chat with Meredith on a bustling Saturday this fall. A wall of windows along Portland’s Congress Street fills the entire space with beautiful light, highlighting Amie’s carefully selected jewelry, goods for the home, clothing, and art. The iron rack of altered vintage denim from Takeko is a photograph waiting to be taken. Meredith’s own macramé designs hang in the windows, while the center table is filled with unique, well-made goods. Striking ceramics from Settle contrast beautifully next to the Cedar & Thrush’s lovely wooden boards and utensils, while Mulxiply’s modern jewelry further brightens the entire collection. Since I last visited the shop, one of my favorite Maine artists, Jenny Prinn, dropped off a few of her bold paintings that perfectly complement the Amie branding, created by Mann + Kone.
If you’re in Portland this holiday season, do stop by the Amie shop at 142 High Street #213, as Meredith is constantly adding to the collection and inviting artists to the space. You’re also able to browse Amie’s thoughtful collection of handmade goods online and keep up with the brand on Instagram.
“Our mantra is female, not factory,” explains Meredith. “We’re starting a movement to support makers and items made by hand, rather than machine-made. I want our customers to be connected to the artists, designs, and know where and how they were made. We live in an era where we can get almost anything shipping in 1-day from Amazon, but the reality is we have no idea who made the item, what the working conditions are, what their wages are, etc. I’m proud to have platform that is counter-cultural and is more about creativity and connection than convenience.”
“Women supporting women is in my DNA,” explains Meredith, “I’ve always been drawn to brands centered around uplifting women and gravitate towards shops owned by women. I have a home collection of women-made objects from all over the world, so it just made sense to carry women-made designs on Amie.”
Meredith lists several women entrepreneurs who inspire her. Grace Bonney, author of In the Company of Women and Tyler Haney, CEO + Founder of activewear brand Outdoor Voices, top the list. Other inspirational women to Meredith and the Amie brand include the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement (Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tomei), Rachel Swartzmann, Founder of The Style Line, woodworker Aleksandra Zee, and photographer Tawni Bannister.
Though the shop on High Street is a temporary space for Meredith, her favorite part about Amie’s current home is the light that “pours through the antique glass windows.”
Meredith is inspired by the notion that less is more. “The shop is showroom-style, simple and approachable,” she says. “I like clean, uncluttered spaces. I wanted to create a space where folks can interact with the products, chat, and hang out. I love connecting with customers and having meaningful conversations. It’s really life giving.”
On working in Portland, Meredith says, “Portland is a super supportive city. I’ve been receiving some much love and support from the community— it’s small enough that the word gets around quickly. I’m thankful to live and work in a place that supports small businesses and buying locally made products.”On living a life in Maine, Meredith says, “Maine is, and will always be my home. I have the privilege of living and working in the ‘Art’s District’ of Portland- around the corner from the PMA Portland Art Museum. I live in a historic brick townhouse from 1832 in the West End. I truly count my blessings each day that I’m able to walk to and from work, dine at farm-to-table restaurants, hear rad live music, gather with friends and my creative community, and of course- see sunrises over the ocean.”
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