Phoenix Blogger Series: Indie Stitch

As what is described as a collaborative to help push local fashion forward, Indie Stitch creates an outlet for local bloggers and fashion fans to experience all that Phoenix has to offer.

While Phoenix isn’t globally known as a fashion capital, the local style scene is definitely something to consider. Without the help of internationally known magazines and style icons, Phoenix’s main fashion expression comes from its local bloggers and followers.

Indie Stitch creator Dustin Hoyman started out in the marketing field and always had a taste for fashion and a passion for art. But it wasn’t until his first run at Phoenix Fashion week nearly four years ago that he really jumped into the local fashion scene.

“I kind of tripped and fell into it,” Hoyman said. “I just fell in love with it, fell in love with the people and just really wanted to support it.”

Photo courtesy of Hoyman

Born and raised in Phoenix, Hoyman’s love of the city is what fueled him to bring awareness to all the local art. He saw the potential the valley had to really become a staple in the fashion world on a larger scale.

“I really want to bring fashion into Phoenix,” Hoyman said. “Nobody gives Phoenix any credit…we have a uniqueness to us and it’s always growing and getting better.” 

Indie Stitch came about in the last few years from Hoyman’s innate desire to bring attention to Phoenix fashion even though as Hoyman said he isn’t as into the fashion specifically as he is into the whole scene.

Thuy An Bui, a contributing blogger for Indie Stitch, said the blog is all about support for local art, whether it’s fashion trends or events and it’s the devotion of the bloggers that has made it such a well-known aspect of Phoenix fashion and style.

“Phoenix really has something but we haven’t done as much in the past to promote it on a wider scale.” Bui said. “With Indie Stitch we want people to see that we have a real fashion scene here and there’s more to Phoenix than what people expect.”       

Hoyman said he wanted to bring in contributors to his site to really expose them to the industry and bring more and more notoriety to their ideas and writing. He said Indie Stitch was and is about connections.

“Everybody wants to support each other…It’s more based on community than competition,” Hoyman said. “Most people want to help build this community and push it forward.”

Photo courtesy of Scottsdale Fashionista

Indie Stitch has proven itself to be a real outlet for the local fashion community and continues to grow and bring attention to the Phoenix style scene.

Vanja Veric

Arizona State’s newest Fashionista

The following is a profile article written by sophomore Journalism student, Randi Stevenson.


Erin Browner shifts through her stuffed drawers and color coordinated closet looking for the perfect shirt to compliment her new skinny jeans and vintage earrings. Waking up with nothing but style on her mind, this young fashionista has made it a priority to study hard, pursue what she loves and look fabulous all the while.
“ I wanted to get away from home and create my own life where I could create my own path,” the freshman said about leaving her hometown of San Carlos, Calif. to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.
“I wanted to go south for the heat, and when I saw ASU had a journalism program, I knew it was the right place for me I guess.”
After four years of setting trends throughout the halls of Carlmont High School, she decided that it was time to truly run with her passion. Browner dreams of one day being the fashion desk editor at a large magazine or the New York Times fashion and style section; however, she could also see herself working in public relations somewhere in fashion market.
“It’s a category where my opinion matters,” Erin said about the fashion industry,
“and I believe I can have a positive influence and make a difference when it comes to trends and popularity.”
News Director at the Blaze 1260 AM, ASU’s campus radio station, Bri Valdivia has been a mentor figure to Erin this semester. She said that although the news department doesn’t have anything fashion-based yet,
“There is an art behind it, and you have to be really intuitive to see that as a journalist. It would be fun to put something like that on air.”
Browner’s earliest icons date back to Audrey Hepburn, as the poster hanging in her room proves; but she admitted to having a new guilty pleasure.
“I’m obsessed with online bloggers,” she said, “I love reading about innovative clothing ideas and I think they’re real pioneers in the industry.”
Erin’s roommate, Chelsea Vmystir, said that she loves being roommates with a fashion goddess because she always has unique ideas about what to wear.
“She also has exclusive veto power if I put on something terrible,” Chelsea added.
Besides simply reading about and indulging in style every chance she gets, Erin also founded somewhat of a pioneer in the industry as well: ASU’s first fashion journalism club. As a current freshman, Browner took it upon herself to gather members, create a website and build the club from scratch, with hopes that the organization will inspire fashion lovers to join and not feel pressured to go into hard news.
“I started it just because I was interested in it, and its objectives so far are online blogging and brainstorming ideas. I even have a few professional speakers scheduled,” said Erin.
Between living and breathing shoes and bags Erin Browner said she considers her life made, but with her new found love for sundresses and flats, her mornings are filled with harder decisions every day.
Erin laughs, “At least if all else fails, it’s easy to pull off the simple jeans and t-shirt look in this state.”