Jessica Abernethy is a Providence, Rhode Island based designer focused on clean, forward, and wearable apparel. Rather than being trend oriented, Abernethy’s designs reference a sharp, effortless sophistication informed by her German education and the New England upper crust. Born in Connecticut in 1979, Abernethy expatriated in 1995 to a small town outside Nuremberg at the age of 16. After completing high school, Jessica was accepted to the prestigious ESMOD University in Munich where she obtained degrees in both design and pattern making, and was awarded an internship with Marc O’Polo. Abernethy returned to the United States in 2001 to work for acclaimed American designer Liz Collins, assisting in the creation of Collins’s 2002 White Collection. She has since been working independently, and has appeared in numerous locally curated group collections such as Exposed, Queen of Hearts, Recycled Fashion, Catwalk to Campground, and Craftland.

In addition to the 3 solo shows of independent work Abernethy has exhibited since 2005, she has become noted for her custom designs, collaborating with individual clients to create multiple seasonal wardrobes and four wedding gowns.