Nabaa Alobaidi works on a piece of jewelry for Illuminated Me, a company that works out of a space within Wallace James in Portland.

Kim Ortengren, principal and designer at Wallace James, talks about steps in the design process at the company's shop in Portland. At left is Rosales. Both are veterans of the New York fashion world.

Sharon Herrick started the jewelry company Illuminated Me in 2014, employing women who are new to Maine who were artisans in their home country.

Faith McLean marks out a pattern while working on a personal design project at Wallace James. The company aims to help Maine designers, whether they are established or just starting out.

Ralph Rosales, director of production at Wallace James, marks a line on a prototype dress design at the Portland company on Tuesday.

Ralph Rosales, director of production at Wallace James, works on a prototype design.

Nabaa Alobaidi works on a piece of jewelry for Illuminated Me, a company that works out of a space within Wallace James in Portland.

A line of thread loops through a guide bar on a sewing machine at Wallace James in Portland.

Faith McLean marks out a pattern while working on a personal design project at Wallace James. The company aims to help Maine designers, whether they are established or just starting out.

Khadmia Khadim, lead seamstress and floor manager at Wallace James, sews part of a pattern at the Portland company.