The Founder's Story

Alicia Appleton is the Founder and Designer of Amber Poitier. In 2015, she was a merchandiser for a number of years, managing categories that were approximately $20 million in sales. Prior to this position, she was a Fashion and Technical Designer. After enduring over a decade of corporate fashion experience and a stressful work environment at the time, she wanted to create something that brought her back to what she loved...creating Art. 

 

Her parents migrated to the Bronx, after being born and raised in Jamaica. Alicia is a proud Bronx native and a public school graduate. She graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology, with a fashion degree specializing in Design. Both of her parents were a great support to Alicia throughout her life. 

Inspiration:

There is a dichotomy in her artistic heritage. Many of the angular lines found in her designs are inspired by the New York skyline and architecture. Her maternal grandfather was an architect and entrepreneur in Brooklyn. Although she was too young to learn directly from him, however his career was a source of inspiration in her work.

In contrast, her paternal grandfather was an Artistic Farmer. He cultivated some of the best agriculture in his native parts of Jamaica. Alicia was able to witness the love her grandfather had for serving his community. The organic 3 dimensional shapes that are found in her work is a tribute to her grandfather. 

Her grandmothers were just as influential on her life. They were both immigrants from Jamaica also. Her maternal and paternal grandmother's careers were as a Dress Maker/Designer and a Hedge Funder respectively. Being exposed to those skills have proven to beneficial in this chapter of Alicia's life. 

 

Accomplishments: 

During the creation of this career, she has been apart of: 

-African American Craft Initiative (Smithsonian Museum)

- ArtsWestchester (Grant recipient)