She’s fond of bad jokes, doesn’t mind getting dirty on a daily basis and goes by the name Gumbo.
Yes, Montgomery “Gumbo” Taylor ’14 is one of a kind, especially when you consider she’s among the few geologists to attempt to break into the world of fashion.
Two years ago Taylor started the accessory line GARB (Geologic Attention to Rock Beauty) Designs, creating dazzling clutches, neckties, drawstring bags and more that all feature patterns of minerals. Taylor’s inspiration for such a line began at the College, where she obsessed over assorted rock samples during geology lab, staring at the mesmerizing mineral arrays for hours on end through a compound microscope.
She was teased a bit for this obsession, but it’s paid dividends: GARB Designs purses, bags and ties have been featured on many local blogs as well as skirt! Magazine, Lowcountry Parent Magazine, and Charleston Style and Design. To purchase, you can shopGARBDesigns on Etsy or on the company’s website.
Though these accessories are gorgeous in appearance alone, their beauty takes on extra meaning when one can interpret the pattern, understanding how a rock’s visual appearance gives clues about its geologic history and how it has changed over the centuries.
“Every rock has a story- of pressure, heat, and time. I wanted to come up with a way to illustrate this story to folks who know nothing, or everything, about geology,” says Taylor, who lives in Charleston and also works full time as a geologist, logging many miles each week driving to field sites around South Carolina.
Taylor credits the Honors College and College geology professors John Chadwick, Leslie Sautter, Robert Nusbaum and more for helping her prepare for her careers in geology and geology-related fashion. The College Today caught up with Taylor to ask her more about her experiences with GARB Designs.
Read more at The College Today!
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