Meet Designer, Brit Moore Gilmore
You know Brit Moore Gilmore as the president of The Giving Keys, the Pay-It-Forward company that transforms recycled keys into timeless jewelry pieces for the sake of transitioning people out of homelessness. Brit is the designer behind the mid-calf length, long sleeve dress we featured in our dress collection this year. Read on to hear what inspired this elegant design.
Name: Brit Moore Gilmore
Title and Company: President of The Giving Keys
Why I designed my dress the way I did:
Since I knew this would be launching later in the year, it was a seasonal decision to choose long sleeves, but I also like that long sleeves bring sophistication to the look. I chose an open back because I think a woman’s back is a really feminine, sexy thing to show off even while keeping it more modest in other areas. I wanted the dress to have a European feel which is why I made it longer, but I included slits because I wanted it to have freedom of movement. I want pockets on everything because they make everything more comfy and cozy, but I also like the idea of blending the feminine elements of the dress with a more masculine design element.
My biggest design influence/inspiration:
While I wouldn’t say there is one person who influences my design, I am inspired by the casual sophistication of European women.
Why I partnered with Dressember / what I love about Dressember:
This is really simple. I believe all people should experience freedom, and I want to live in a world where oppression ceases. So it is an incredibly easy thing to partner with Dressember and be part of a campaign working toward a world without slavery. It is important for us to be aware and to advocate for change and this is a really fun way to join the fight.
A woman I admire:
I really look up to a woman named Tracy Palandjian who is CEO of Social Finance, a non-profit that is solving really complex social issues through public-private partnerships and utilizing Social Impact Bonds to do so. Here’s how Tracy explains what they do: ‘Successful nonprofits with proven impact and a desire to expand their services tap private investors to cover the up-front costs. At the same time, government (at the local, state or federal level) enters into a multi-year performance-based contract in which it agrees to repay those investors if and when the project achieves its desired impact, based on mutually predetermined and independently verified goals. If the program does not measurably improve the lives of the individuals being served, the government owes nothing. In other words, government only pays for results, and investors only benefit if society does.’ I heard her speak at The White House and have been hooked on this idea ever since. It just makes so much sense to me and I have so much respect for what she is pioneering.
“I chose an open back because I think a woman’s back is a really feminine, sexy thing to show off even while keeping it more modest in other areas.”
What I wish I knew when I first started my professional journey:
I was so passionate about social enterprise and the intersection of fashion and philanthropy that it became the majority of my world, but eventually, I had to find other outlets to keep my creativity flowing.
My Favorite quote:
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
What is the craziest thing you would do/have done in a dress:
The story that keeps coming to mind is Fay Fuller who was the first woman to summit Mt. Rainier, and she did it in a dress!
The 2017 Limited Edition Dressember Giving Key features the word, 'FREE'. Now available in our online store.
We love collaborating with like-minded organizations and watching them thrive. Huge thanks to Brit Gilmore for the time she took for this interview.
"The Brit" pairs great with our 2017 Limited Edition Dressember Giving Key that we created in collaboration with The Giving Keys. This key was designed specifically for Dressember advocates featuring the word 'Free'. This dainty necklace is now available in our online store.
XO
