Warming – and catching – up with AprilMarin

The Armonk-based fashion company AprilMarin has launched a charitable effort, Shawls for Shelter. Courtesy AprilMarin.
WAG first profiled the Armonk-based fashion duo of April Bukofser and Marin Milio back in 2013. Today, AprilMarin remains a vibrant fashion force that has just launched a charitable component by teaming up with White Plains-based Lifting Up Westchester.

WAG profiled AprilMarin back in September 2013’s fashion issue, and we went on to spotlight the Armonk-based contemporary knitwear company over the years with quick updates on its styles and events.

News of AprilMarin’s latest effort, though, sparked our interest to hear more than just a snippet, so we checked back in with April Bukofser and Marin Milio, the designing duo who met as students at Pace University and would go on to form the fashion company that marked its 10th anniversary last year.

The charitable effort is the teaming up with Lifting Up Westchester. The White Plains-based organization has the following mission: “We aim to restore hope to Westchester County’s men, women and children in need by providing them with food, shelter and support — and lifting them to greater self-sufficiency with dignity and respect.”

AprilMarin comes into the picture with the launch of a one-for-one collaboration with the organization.

AprilMarin’s designs include a variety of wraps, shawls and more, and in this “Shawls for Shelter” program, for every shawl purchased through its website, AprilMarin will donate a shawl to Lifting Up Westchester to be given to a person in need.

“We are thrilled to partner with Lifting Up Westchester,” said Milio, AprilMarin owner,  in announcing the collaboration. “It is such an incredible organization and we love that we can make a difference in our home community. Their work of restoring hope by providing food, shelter and support to people in need is amazing, and we are honored to be able to help.”

Added Bukofser, AprilMarin president, “We have been so fortunate in our lives and our business and we are excited to help those who are less fortunate. We believe in the values and mission of Lifting Up Westchester and look forward to not only donating a shawl for every shawl purchased but to also be helping at their community dinners and events.”

The fashion designers and entrepreneurs have also made a major change in their business since WAG’s original story — transitioning from custom-made to one-size clothing.

As Bukofser told us, “When we started AprilMarin in 2007 our focus was custom and making custom clothing for young professionals. At the time we were in our 20s and had professional jobs out of college and wanted nice tailored pieces to wear to work.”

Then, she added, “Fast forward a few years, we each have three girls and our lives are much more on the go. We changed the designs of our pieces to suit our lifestyles and in doing that we found a cult following.”

And the following continues to grow.

“Our ‘cult’ includes all of those busy women on the go, especially moms, who have little time for themselves but they still want to look good. Our customers love that all of our pieces are easy to wear, can be dressed up or down and are always comfortable and stylish.”

Added Milio, “One size just made sense to me as AprilMarin embodies everything casual chic.”

It’s tied to the company’s philosophy, as well.

“Life is not taken too seriously,” Milio continued. “Laughing is always encouraged and nothing is ever too tight. I love what we are doing now, as it just feels right. We have been busy selling to over 350 retail boutiques around the country, including Anthropologie.”

In addition to the collaboration with Lifting Up Westchester, Milio noted that the company is excited about its “amazing” one-size-fits-all holiday items, including new colors of its signature City Ruffle Shawl, along with a selection of attractively priced sweaters and scarves.

We’re sure the next time we check in, AprilMarin will have even more news.

As Milio said, “We are excited about everything we have going on and are looking forward to what’s next.”

The entire AprilMarin collection can be found online through the company site and at the AprilMarin shop, at 495 Main St., No. 208, in Armonk. The shop is open by appointment, with regular hours to be introduced this month.

For more, visit aprilmarin.com.

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