Ten years ago, Julie Maeseele received the news that her family would be relocating from Belgium to New York. At that time, she was working with a nonprofit on a social textile design project and training to become a seamstress, all while considering a career in fashion design. The prospect of living in one of the fashion capitals of the world was enticing.
“I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, fabulous. Let’s do it,’” Maeseele shared recently on The Localist podcast with Carrie Rollwagen.
But the plan shifted. Instead of New York, the family would be moving to a place Maeseele had never even heard of before: Birmingham, Alabama.
Though initially disappointed, Maeseele remained excited about the move to the States. As she began researching her new home, she discovered Birmingham Fashion Week and its Emerging Designer competition.
Fast forward to 2016: After settling in Cahaba Heights, Maeseele entered the competition and won. In a short time, she had made a name for herself in the local fashion scene, and her connection to the community deepened. She realized that the unexpected change from New York to Birmingham had worked out in the best possible way.
“This is an amazing community,” she said. “Everybody knows everybody, and people are super-supportive and humble. It’s different from where I’m from or New York, where people tend to be more pretentious.”
Because Maeseele feels a strong sense of belonging in Birmingham, she has sought to give back to the community through her work as both an artist and a businesswoman. She has taught workshops on hand embroidery, upcycling, and sustainable fashion at venues like Pizitz Gallery and O’Neal Public Library, as well as for Youth Serve leadership programs.
Maeseele has also volunteered for UAB Arts in Medicine and participates in maker markets in Birmingham and Nashville. She occasionally serves as a panelist for arts-related discussions in local churches and community gatherings.
“Working as an artist can be isolating,” she said, “but I want to be part of my community, share my skills, and glorify God with my work.”
One of Maeseele’s notable contributions to the community is her involvement in the Haute Pink Fashion Show, an annual fundraiser benefiting the Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. Set for October 17 at the Red Mountain Theatre Arts campus, the event will honor the 1 in 8 women and 1 in 1,000 men in Alabama diagnosed with breast cancer.
The show will feature 10 local women impacted by breast cancer modeling customized apparel created by 10 local designers. Maeseele has been involved in the event since its inception in 2021, having been invited by Forge for the first Haute Pink show. She’s excited to continue supporting this cause through her designs.
Haute Pink, she says, is a celebration of those affected by breast cancer. The funds raised will support Forge’s mission to improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients, survivors, and their families.
An Artist First
Despite gaining recognition for her fashion design work, Maeseele still considers herself primarily an artist who happens to create clothing.
“I was always intrigued by making art, but the idea of creating something you can actually use, like wear, makes it even more interesting,” she explained.
Maeseele works out of a converted three-car garage that she had specially framed to accommodate her clothing creation process. Every garment is hand-cut and machine-sewn using single-needle fine tailoring techniques, built to last.
Her signature style blends traditional techniques with a modern twist, often incorporating recycled materials and surplus textiles into her designs.
“I’m not a tailor,” she emphasized. “Sometimes people confuse me with that. I don’t do prom dresses. It’s just not my vibe.”
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