Most girls grow up experimenting with fashion and playing dress up with their Barbie dolls, and one local fashion designer is no different.

Selma native, Melissa Tabor, 30, has always had a niche for fashion. She credits her affinity for it to her mother Dolores, who was a seamstress.

“Whatever I learned, I learned from my mom,” Tabor said. “I was more of a tomboy growing up and I would watch my mom sew. I’ve always been interested in fashion though. During college, that’s when I gained a love for it.”

Tabor took an internship with industry icons Gucci and Oscar del la Renta before graduating from the University of Alabama in 2002 with a degree in fashion merchandising and from the American InterContinental University-Atlanta in 2006 with a degree in design.

While in college, Tabor created her own signature style, which she describes as classic.

“I started my own line in September 2006,” Tabors said. “My designs have clean lines and I’m really into fabrics. I don’t focus on trends and I’d say my pieces are something you can keep now and two years down the road. It stretches across all genres.”

After graduating from college, Tabor moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 2009 to continue her fashion pursuits. Tabor’s online designs received rave reviews and massive press coverage. Tabor was invited to showcase her work with famous designers such as Betsy Johnson and Project Runway’s fourth season winner, Christian Siriano, during Nashville’s Fashion Week, March 29-April 2.

In her very first fashion show, on March 30, Tabor’s models shared the stage with Betsy Johnson and others. Tabor said the show was the highlight of her career.

“It was all an amazing experience,” Tabor said. “I’m sticking with this; I love it.”

Tabor has big dreams for her line in the future.

“I’d love to have boutiques across the south and trunk shows in Nashville, Birmingham, New Orleans — places I know,” Tabor said. “I want to build up my market, possibly have my line in department stores and just go from there.”

Tabor is a 1998 graduate of Morgan Academy. For more information on Tabor and her designs log on to www.melissatabor.com