Adrienne Goodine is an artist who is focused on transforming her passion for retro design into a fashion empire
Story by Paige Morgan
Photos by Kristen Sisco
From a very young age, fashion became the centre of attention for Adrienne Goodine. At the age of nine, she had her eyes glued to the TV, watching Fashion Television, which made her mom worried because of the risqué fashions shown, but Adrienne was only in it for the designs and glamour.
Born in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Goodine’s early fascination with fashion blossomed in her hometown. Her husband’s family is from Plaster Rock, another small community that deepens her ties to the region.
This passion drew her to design her clothes, which were often expressive and imaginative, demonstrating her creative instincts before she received formal training.
“I started just like, sketching ideas. And I would make designs for my favourite musicians and boy bands, and my Barbie dolls. So I guess that’s where it all started,” said Goodine.
Fast forward to 2003, Goodine successfully graduated from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Around seven years ago, Goodine officially launched her brand, which creates ready-to-wear and custom designs.
Most of her work centres around women’s fashions. Dresses are Goodine’s favourite pieces to design, especially evening wear, wedding dresses, cocktail attire, and special occasion gowns. However, she does have an interest in tailoring and is not opposed to men’s wear.
“Dresses have been my thing since I was a kid. I have more fun with women’s fashion,” said Goodine.
The couturier draws a great deal of her inspiration from trends of the 1950s and 1960s, particularly from fashion icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe. Fashion figures may guide her vision, but she also draws inspiration from nature and the spontaneous moments that life presents to her.
Fabric is a significant influence in Goodine’s designs. The selection process is thoughtful and meticulous; designers must consider practical factors such as climate and wearability. For summer collections, Goodine prefers breathable natural fabrics, like linen or cotton, and avoids synthetic fabrics like polyester because they trap heat and cause discomfort.
A lover of fun textures, patterns, and colours, Goodine finds herself choosing fabrics based on aesthetic gut reactions. Her first collection featured a navy fabric with lemons, a design she says was “love at first sight.”
“You just get that. I just get that feeling…I saw that fabric, and that was the way I saw it. And I’m like, this is the one we’re going to, we’re going to make some stuff with this, it’s going to be my first collection,” said Goodine.
Admittedly an indecisive perfectionist, Goodine’s production timeline varies depending on what she’s working on, mainly due to her workload, creative headspace, or seasonal timing, and it’s not uncommon for her to change directions mid-project.
On average, her designs take approximately a month to complete, from sourcing the fabric to the final product.
As a designer, Goodine faces many challenges. She often experiences impostor syndrome and self-doubt, and finds herself questioning why clients choose her and worrying about failing.
“There’s always a challenge. It’s usually just myself getting out of my own way,” said Goodine. “You get excited, and then you get sort of like an impostor syndrome when you’re like, why did they pick me? What if I fail? But if I don’t fail, the challenge is always like getting past myself.”
However, she says her strength lies in recognizing the need to get out of her way and embracing opportunities. Goodine believes the most significant growth comes from overcoming fear and pushing boundaries; no matter how scared she is, she actively works on scaling her business, which requires her to be bold and take risks.
Learning and growing are what Goodine loves about her job. Fashion’s ever-changing landscapes keep the work engaging and creatively stimulating. New client requests push Goodine into unfamiliar techniques or details.
Goodine’s job requires her to step outside the box to develop new ideas and evolve her aesthetic; as a result, no day is the same, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Fashion is awalys changing, always evolving. And just as a creative person, that’s always fun. You’re not stuck doing the same thing all the time, and coming up with new ideas is always a fun part too,” said Goodine.
Goodine is taking her business beyond the East Coast, with sights set on global growth and recognition.
“Keep going and be on that world stage of fashion. Dressing more people, making more of my designs, and being able to identify my style and my designs,” said Goodine
As a little girl, she made clothes for Barbies; now she’s building a real-world brand inspired by that same passion.
“Reaching all the goals I had when I was a little girl, drawing and making clothes for my Barbie dolls,” said Goodine.
