Meet Talia Abbe

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Talia Abbe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Talia, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

This is the most challenging part for me. Learning to be effective and successful while often being the only one in the room can feel extremely isolating and lonely. Acknowledging this feeling is crucial, especially when pursuing your dreams. I believe the first step toward success is recognizing these emotions.

I focus on embracing my authenticity rather than conforming to fit in, even though it might sometimes feel easier to do so. I’ve found success by staying true to myself, seeking out allies, being resilient, and striving to lead by example. By doing this, I not only pave the way for my own success but also contribute to creating a more inclusive environment for others to follow.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Talia Abbe, a native of New York, earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Textile and Fashion Design with a certificate in Entrepreneurship from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She then pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Talia’s personal struggles with mental health inspired her to make a positive impact on others facing similar challenges. Her work is centered around creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. While cognitive abstraction influences her prints, her voluminous designs and vibrant color palettes exude childlike playfulness. She is currently focused on building her own company/ brand Tabbe Designs. Being a designer, gives Talia a voice, to share how she is feeling and how others may be feeling. Talia will be showing her new collection in NYFW in February, date is TBD, but in the mean time she recently launched a ready-to-wear collection on her website tabbedesigns.com.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I believe three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were first, to remember to be authentic and confident in your work. There is so much being produced everyday that sometimes it is difficult to not feel lost in the noise, but as long as you are true to yourself and confident in your work, you will succeed and people will see you. Also, this industry knows when you are not being authentic, so you might as well just be yourself. Next, I would say is adaptability. Being open to change and critiques is extremely important, even though you usually do not want to hear it. Listening to feedback and being willing to learn not skills has helped me to navigate different challenges and seize opportunities as they arise. Lastly, I would say resilience. Being able to quickly bounce back from any setbacks that might occur, and trust me they are more likely to occur than not. Maintaining a positive outlook has helped me drive through challenges and learn from my mistakes.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I’m currently facing a significant challenge in finding skilled individuals to help me create my inflatable garments, particularly those with experience in working with latex. This expertise is quite rare. While I’m gradually shifting to a different material that can achieve a similar effect, finding people who are knowledgeable about that material is also proving difficult. The concept of inflatable garments is unique, and it’s challenging to find individuals who are willing to explore this approach and collaborate with me to bring my collection to life. I am very open to collaboration and love to connect with other creatives, who love what they do. If looking for collaboration people can DM me on my instagram @tabbe_designs .

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tabbedesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabbe_designs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talia-abbe

Image Credits

Photos: Vogue Runway (first 5)
Models: Sophia Donnell, Catherine Dong, Ana Barbos, Noni Cyngor, and Sanna Backstrom
Hair and Makeup: Marcello Costa
Nails: JINsoon

Models: Grace Taylor, Sophia Chen and Veronika Tsakadze
Photos: Simran Kaur
Videographer: Lucas Asensi
Hair: Fady
Makeup artists: Nicolle Cruz and Axel
Location: Sloomoo Institute