About Mignonette

I grew up watching my mother sew, and my earliest memories are of visiting the fabric store with her on Saturdays, playing in the fabrics and running my hands through the loose buttons in the bins. Though I have a degree in creative writing, all of my free time in college was spent building costumes in the theater department. In 2002 I started Mignonette as a sportswear label, and it grew up as I did, eventually becoming known for ladylike details and sharp silhouettes. I always had custom clients, but it was while planning my own 2009 wedding that it all came together for me: I tried on gown after gown without finding the ‘one’, and I left each bridal shop feeling tense and confused. I confided my woes to a client whose gown I was making and she wondered why I hadn’t thought to make my own. Though it seems obvious, it was the ‘ah hah!’ moment I needed to have. After having several brides come to me with similar tales, I decided to devote myself to making every bride feel beautiful.

The Basics
Kpoene’ resides in Chicago with her wife Anne and their two kitties and holds a degree in creative writing from Middlebury College. She started her label as Mignonette Designs in 2002 and later attended FIT in New York. A passionate advocate of handmade goods, in 2004 she founded the Ladies Independent Design League (LIDL) in Brooklyn as a supportive network for crafters and artists to hone their business skills; LIDL now has branches in New York and San Francisco. In 2007 she began working in corporate apparel buying and later became the lead buyer for the Museum of Craft and Folk Art in San Francisco, providing a platform for artisans to showcase handmade work; in 2009 the store was named Best Museum Store by Niche Magazine and became known for its Craft Bar with Etsy Labs events. This year Kpoene’ and Anne are proud to announce the opening of Mignonette, a full-service lifestyle boutique that will offer all couples everything they need to plan a luxuriously handmade ceremony.