OVER THE MOUNTAIN
JOU RNAL
FASHION
Clothing with a Purpose
BY LAURA MCALISTER JOURNAL EDITOR
L
isaAnn Muir-Taylor has never been into fashion, but in recent years, there were just too many signs directing her life to the clothing industry. It started several years ago at a Rolling Stones concert when a random concert-goer handed her a piece of paper with a line of scripture written on it. Then there was the book she found on the floor of her closet. In its more than 200 pages, “Don’t Waste Your Life” by John Piper has only about one paragraph dedicated to the fashion industry. But that just happened to be the page LisaAnn flipped to when she opened the book. What finally made her decide to take action, though, was the tragic death of the 2-year-old son of Sherri and Rick Burgess, host of the popular radio program, “The Rick & Bubba Show.” “That was my genesis in January of 2008,” LisaAnn said. “I didn’t know Rick and Sherri, but when Bronner passed away, I was really touched. I was led to turn on my computer and watch the eulogy. “Rick said 90 percent of Christians don’t share their faith. This really hit home with me.” More online: It was then, LisaAnn said, she knew she was • See more from Nations called to share her faith through fashion, and Outfitters spring line at she started her clothing www.otmj.com line, Nations Outfitters. • Get the look. Visit The clothes she designs www.nationsoutfitters.com are mainly for young women, though she does have some men’s clothing. “I’m not a fashion person,” she said. “I’m just a regular mom. I never thought this is what God would be wanting me to do. I thought it’d be something more hands-on, but this was it.” The mother of four wanted the line to include nice, affordable clothes her own teenagers would wear, but also send a message. “I wanted them to be fun and relative, but I also wanted it to be about what you do in your clothes,” she said. “That’s what really matters. What you do in your clothes is really what makes you beautiful.” The signature of all her clothing is the Bible verse printed inside each garment. When LisaAnn and her husband were at the Rolling Stones concert, she admits she wasn’t a “believer” then. But the message the stranger handed her helped change that. “It said ‘God will never leave you,’ ” she said. “That really clung to my spirit and soul, and I think that’s why I got the idea to put (scripture) inside the clothes.” LisaAnn has no formal training in fashion – she used to be a nurse – but once she decided to start Nations Outfitters, the ideas came to her easily. She wanted the clothes to be modest, but also garments that teens would want to wear. “I think the idea to make clothing for teens and young adults came to me when I was with one of my daughters at a popular Summit store,” she said. “There was a picture of a model in jeans holding her hands over her breast. My daughter looked at me and said, “What’s she selling?’ “It’s just degrading. They’re not sex symbols. There are just so many negative role models. This (Nations Outfitters) is about something positive, doing something positive in your clothes.” LisaAnn’s designs include colorful sundresses with ruffles, maxi dresses, tunic tops and a-line skirts. For men, she has basic collarless striped shirts, polos and T-shirts.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011 • 21
A Thing for Spring
Mother Nature has given us her preview for spring these past few days, and now it’s time for local clothing experts to give you theirs. Here’s a look at the hot styles for the warmer weather. – JOURNAL
PHOTOS BY
JOHN POPE –
LisaAnn Muir-Taylor checks out one of her dresses in her new spring line. Below, local teens Georgia MuirTaylor, left, and Ashley Sorrell model some of Nations Outfitters dresses.
She picks out all the fabrics and has the clothing made locally. A distribution center was set up in the basement of the family’s Greystone home, where LisaAnn and about four other women sort the clothing and package orders. Nations Outfitters is only it in its second year, but the message seems to be catching on. So far, LisaAnn has customers in 35 states. While her business is mainly online at www.nationsoutfitters.com, she’ll soon be selling her clothes locally at Urban Green in Cahaba Heights. In addition to liking the styles and prices – almost all the garments sell for less than $50 – customers are also buying into the idea of serving their communities. “I think we’re really starting to have an impact on people,” LisaAnn said. “We get pictures from people weekly. They’re showing us how they go out and serve in their clothes.” The community page on the website is dedicated to teens who are volunteering in their communities. Nations Outfitters also has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to host community work days in the area; a portion of the sales goes to Habitat. So far, LisaAnn said she couldn’t be happier with the results of Nations Outfitters and with the support she’s had. Her four children – Tom, Georgia, Genie and Sophie – help her with shows and packaging, and her husband, Alastair, has been supportive since she first began thinking about starting a fashion line. “Since I started this, my husband has been 200 percent behind me, and my kids probably 150 percent,” LisaAnn said. “I think they know this has a potential to do great things. It is really more about a movement than fashion. “When you serve others, you feel better. I hope this can make a difference for this generation.” ❖
Carmen Smith, 12, of Birmingham looks stylish in this wood embellished floral sundress from Joy Joy, $92, paired with cork-heeled platform shoes, $84. For accessories, she chose gold earrings and a fun cocktail ring from the Chic Boutique collection, starting at $17.
CHIC BOUTIQUE, 980-2272