Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACY AIGUIER (PORTRAIT); JOEL BENJAMIN (THREAD, PRODUCTS) STYLE SETTER Thread spools covering the color spectrum. patches, a flashier Luxe Sport line, and Ski Classic. "Both Miyuki and I like things that have heritage to them, that have ancestry," he says. "They don't necessarily look antique, but you feel that they could be from a dif- ferent time even if they are modern and new." Perhaps one reason Miller flies a bit under the radar here in New England is that he is as choosy about the outlets his lines appear in as he is about the materials that go into them, giving only the best ski shops in a region an exclusive. He competes with high-profile lines like Bogner in both look and price (prices for skiwear range from $800 to $1,200) when it comes to his plush, body-conscious jackets, headbands, earmuffs, scarves, and boots. Miller grew up in the trade with a fam- ily tree leafed out with furriers. His father established the business in 1977. The line centered around sportier furs, a trend that Miller would take one step further by incorporating more skiwear into the line, after obtaining his degree in design and merchandising in 1981 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Luxurious fur accents and accessories remain hall- marks of a Miller creation to this day, and the family's many years in the business have helped maintain the quality of each season's collection. "We are about luxury, so we want the line to look and feel beauti- ful, INSIGHT Style icons: "Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, and Bill Cunningham—his eye, his devotion, his commitment." Best advice: "You can be five minutes early but not five minutes late. Being on time is a sign of respect to yourself and others. It shows you are ready, prepared, and interested." What's next: "We would like to add a season (or two) and work toward becoming more of a lifestyle brand." Passion: "Yes—daily!" but we're also about it being long-lasting and durable," says Miller. Miller also makes it his mission to cre- ate versatile looks that work both on and off the slopes. Ski-specific details like hoods and powder skirts are often detach- able or hidden under decorative finishes, active pursuits to city outings. "It doesn't really matter if you're going downhill or downtown; the functionality of your outerwear has to be envi- ronment specific," says Miller. "There are other bells and whistles that go into making a ski garment, and we put those in." A vintage-inspired patch adorns many pieces in the luxury skiwear collection. " We want the line to be beautiful but also long-lasting and durable. a designer for a monolithic " sportswear label in home country of Japan. Another conscious choice by Miller is to exclusively distribute to better bou- tiques and ski sport specialty shops rather than blanket- ing department stores. He currently makes only one exception: Harrods in London. While one can purchase the full collection of base, mid-layer, outerwear, boots, and accessories for both men and women directly from the Boston showroom, most seek it out in places like seamlessly engineered to transition from Woodstock, Vermont or Vail, Colorado. "We want to be a unique brand sold in beautiful stores around the world," he says. And within the past decade, the brand, whose skiwear collection is often embellished with its iconic stag logo, has taken a leap into international territory, selling in 15 countries on four continents. Next in Miller's sights is the possible expan- sion of He credits much of this thoughtful design to his wife, who serves as part- ner and lead designer. "I do this cooperatively with my wife, and sometimes not so cooperatively," jokes Miller, who feels the retro-inspired line with a modern twist is the by-product of their shared vision. He adds, "She under- stands the concept of a complete look," a skill she honed while working as the line into two seasons by adding a sportswear and resort collection. As his collection grows and his showroom gains more traction in the local market, that stag might be seen in Boston's toniest neighbor- hoods as well as on the world's poshest ski 617-426-1259; mmillerfur.com BC BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 79 slopes. 519 Albany St., A fur-trimmed winter coat. her