INDIVIDUALITY FOR THE LITTLES

Afashion designer by nature, Isabel Miller is willing to take every opportunity to learn more about the fashion industry. This passion for learning helped to produce Miller’s business, Hedgehog Belly Designs.

Growing up locally in Framingham, MA, Miller’s journey into the industry started when she attended college as an Art Education major, thinking that becoming a fashion designer was out of her reach. While completing courses for her chosen degree, Miller had the opportunity to take a fashion design elective to further her knowledge about the craft. Eventually, the Art Education chapter of her life came to an end, and Miller made the decision to transfer schools, and began majoring in Fashion Design & Production at Lasell College, (now Lasell University).The Class of 2005 alumni learned so much from her time at Lasell and has continuously carried the knowledge she learned throughout her career.

After graduation, Miller moved to New York City on a whim and began her industry career at Marc Jacobs. Although it was her dream to design children’s wear, the company had not yet established its children’s wear brand. Instead, Miller would begin her journey on the company’s Product Development team. On the first day of her position, she began collecting threads and zippers in New York’s famous garment district.

“I cut probably 50 zippers a day and would come home from work to change my clothes and would have zipper teeth falling off of me onto the floor,” said Miller.

While not exactly a glamorous job, Miller excelled in her role. So well did she succeed, the members of the Marc Jacobs’ team presented her with the opportunity to become a design assistant on their newly created children’s line. Miller and her boss eagerly began to work in this new small team setting, allowing her to take a more hands-on approach in her specialization of choice.

From these humble beginnings, Miller eventually left the company to take a new opportunity in London, designing for the Burberry’s Children’s Weas Collection. As a part of this new team, Miller was able to network with vendors and share ideas with the company’s top designers. Eventually, living in London got to be overwhelming, leaving Miller feeling too far apart from her husband back in New York. Luckily, Burberry offered Miller the opportunity to move her operations to New York. She would only have to travel to London monthly to touch base with the rest of the team. While this move seemed like a win, Miller was working 60+ hours a week and was exhausted. While at Burberry, Miller found it difficult to balance work and family, and she realized her family was much more important. After three years of constant travel, Burberry urged Miller to move back to London, but now, she had to make the decision to be close to her family. After some time from leaving Burberry, she was now pregnant with her son. She realized that she didn’t want to be working 60 hours a week after having her son. Thus, Hedgehog Belly Designs was created. This would be a brand that she could have on her own time, and would provide her with the chance to utilize her sewing abilities.

She realized that she didn’t want to be working 60 hours a week after having her son. Thus, Hedgehog Belly Designs was created. This would be a brand that she could have on her own time, and would provide her with the chance to utilize her design and construction abilities.

Hedgehog Belly Design’s journey began at farmer’s markets, where she was able to interact with her customers. These farmer’s markets allowed Miller to receive immediate feedback from parents about their children’s dress. Eventually, a close friend of Miller’s pushed her to create a storefront for her children’s wear. Later that year in December 2020, Miller had a pop-up in Natick to call her own. The success of this pop-up shop gave her the confidence to begin the hunt for a brick and mortar.

After a few months of scouting, Miller was one of 12 brands chosen to receive storefront space in Newton Highlands, through a small business grant program called Project Pop-Up. Although the space would be shared, Hedgehog Belly Designs was able to create a sweet and charming space for their clientele. They resided in this space for several months during the 2021 year. With the lease coming to an end, Miller and the other retailers jumped at the chance to renew, keeping their little slice of heaven. With the back renovated into Miller’s studio space, the front remained the hot spot for the merchandise.

Miller’s concepts match her creative style from season to season, basing everything around the fashionable jogger she created for her son. She wanted a piece that would be functional, but wouldn’t break the bank. These joggers have become a staple in every single one of her collections. Another functional staple in every collection is her Vivian Dress.

“Seeing your ideas come to fruition is the best part of my job, I get to see the dreams and hopes I have come to reality,” said Miller.

Most of the pieces at Hedgehog Belly Designs are Miller originals, but she does support other small businesses by including books and toys for sale to match her brand’s aesthetic. The books in her store represent all demographics, from narratives about acceptance to educational stories on race. Miller wants her son, who is multiracial, to be able to pick up a book and see a main character that resembles and represents him. This is something she believes is important for every child to experience.

When asked about what the future holds for Hedgehog Belly Designs, Miller expressed her desire for one or two more storefronts in the next few years, and to create a larger Hedgehog Belly team. Miller’s creativity has come to fruition, and seeing those designs come to life allows for customers to find a happy place within her designs and storefront. As for right now, Hedgehog Belly Designs is located at 1 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA.

“You should come from the place of yes, try anything. You will end up doing things that you really don’t want to do. Do an internship, it doesn’t matter where, take the experience. Take things away from those jobs, even if you think you won’t,” said Miller.

When it comes to self-expression for those tiny tots in your life, look no further, because Hedgehog Belly Designs is a staple of individuality for the littles.

@hedgehogbellydesigns; hedgehogbellydesigns.com

Liah Brown