February 12, 2025 • 31 mins
Prepare to be inspired by the creative journey of Ashley D Love, the visionary designer behind Ashley D Love Design. Ashley shares her path from being recognized for her innate creativity to establishing herself in the fashion industry, focusing on vibrant and innovative designs in women's activewear, swimwear, and sleepwear. Learn how a crucial suggestion from a professor during her graduate studies steered her focus toward activewear, and hear the uplifting story of a model's admiration for Ashley's pieces—a moment that underscored her potential in the industry. This episode promises insights into the dedication and passion that fuel Ashley's flourishing career.
Our conversation takes a deep dive into the real-world challenges faced by fashion designers, exploring how they balance personal creativity with market demands. Discover the role of AI tools like Newark in transforming sketches into realistic designs, and the importance of a strong social media presence for attracting clients and referrals. We also hear from a seasoned designer with over 17 years of experience, who sheds light on the surprisingly crucial role of math in design and pattern making. Tune in for valuable advice on the power of networks and mentorship, and the joys of branching out into new creative ventures with the support of family and friends.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:16):
Welcome back to Market it with Atmo, where we
share the tips, tools andstrategies to help your business
be successful.
I'm your host Story and todaywe have on the show talented
designer and founder of Ashley DLove Design.
Ashley, welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Thank you for joining us, so I'm so excited to learn
all about you and your business.
So can you start by telling usjust about you, what inspiration
inspired you to get into thisand where you're at now?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
So I have been.
I've always been a creativeperson, so I've been drawing and
designing since I was a child.
I got into fashion because Iwas designing clothes and didn't
even realize that I wasdesigning clothes until
everybody else started pointingit out.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
How well you were at it Right.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I was very detailed with designing all of the
clothing, whether it was a dressor pants.
It was just very detailed andeverybody was like oh well, have
you ever thought about being afashion designer?
and everybody was like oh well,have you ever thought about
being a fashion designer?
And I didn't really think aboutit until my godfather and his
now ex-wife mentioned it,because they were looking at my
(01:32):
drawings too.
And so they were like yeah, wewant you to keep this up.
And so I started researchingand I was like okay, this is
where I want to go.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Okay, so you've always been really artistic in
what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
That's awesome, and it's great to have that support
and backing behind you.
That's wonderful.
So at what moment do you thinkin your life did you decide you
know what I want to be a fashiondesigner?
Was it after you'd learned alittle bit more about fashion
design, or when you realizedother people were noticing how
good you were at it?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I think it was when other people were noticing how
good I was at it, and thenafterwards, when I started doing
the research, I'm like, okay,all right.
So what kind of designs do youspecialize in?
I specialize in women'sactivewear swimwear and
sleepwear.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Oh wow, and what made you decide on that particular
area of fashion?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I will talk about graduate school a lot, because
that's where I did, you know,like a lot of you know, the
design part.
When we had to, when I had tocreate my thesis, we had to
actually put on our own fashionshow in addition to write our
thesis and then do thedissertation.
That's a lot.
Yes, the pieces.
(02:43):
I think they had to be like 10looks each, and looks are like
different outfits, okay.
Okay, my main thing was alwayscolor blocking, which was like
putting different colorstogether to try to create a
little pattern, uh-huh and um, Iwanted to try to incorporate
that and I wanted to kind ofkeep it in lingerie.
(03:04):
But then it was like when Istarted like doing I think I did
like a dress or something, Ithink I designed a dress, and a
professor was like, oh, thatwould be really good, you know,
for, like, you know, active wear.
(03:26):
And then that's when she talkedabout how she was a cyclist, oh,
okay, and she talked about likeall the different things when
it came to cycling and so, like,that's what made me like go
into the active wear partBecause, like, if you have
noticed, like a lot of it, youknow, is like black, white, gray
you really don't see color.
Right right and so, um, I madesure to put like a lot of color
into it and did like a lot of,you know, mixing of like
(03:49):
different fabrics, and it wasreceived well.
It was because, um, one thingthat would always happen with
this like and I still have thecollection at home wow, um, if I
put that in a fashion show, onething that always happens is
the model does not want to takeit off you know that, because
when you have it on, you love itthat's when you know it's great
(04:10):
.
And, like, I remember when, um,because before we um actually
make the real garment, whateverit is, um, we have to do what is
called a muslin, which is asample, okay, and so I did a
sample of that particular dress.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And so like the model , because I think she was at
another school and she wouldcome and like be the model for
like different classes, and soshe put on that dress, right.
And so she put on the dress,and I think I had designed some
leggings too.
So she had to put all that onand we had to talk about the fit
and what needed to be changed.
And my mom came to visit my momand my sister.
(04:51):
They were in the classroom andso they noticed that because she
had to, I think, fit for otherpeople, because there was like
three other people in the classbesides me.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
So she was the model for like everybody, because
there was like three otherpeople in the class besides me,
yeah, so she was the model forlike everybody.
And so one thing my familynoticed was that she put back on
my dress and the dress wasmessed up Like it was the hem
was messed up and everything,but she put it back on and so
she had to put on somebodyelse's sample and it was like
(05:24):
every time you know she wouldput somebody else's stuff on,
she'll take it off and put itback on my dress.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
How funny.
This is her go-to.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
That was always her go-to and you noticed it and
then, like she was doinghomework too and so, like she
took a break, she still had mydress on.
It was again the sample.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
She was trying to take that home, wasn't?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
she.
She sat in the corner, did herhomework in that dress and my
mom was like wait a minute.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
What is she doing?
So that's when you really hadthat aha moment.
Yeah, and since then, you'vehad a couple of accomplishments.
Can you tell us a little moreabout who you've designed for
and how that experience happened?
How did you develop over timeand obtain them?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
So I think the first company that I designed for it
was I think they did.
That was how I got intosleepwear.
Oh, sleepwear, these two women.
They wanted to design sleepwear, that was.
You could kind of wear it outif you had to go somewhere.
Oh, I like that, yeah, soinstead of a robe, yeah, it was
(06:35):
like fashionable sleepwear, Justin case you had to go and run a
quick errand and you didn'twant to change clothes.
You still wanted to look likesomething.
that was their idea, I love it,and so they, and I think at this
time I ended up moving backhome because you know economy
couldn't find anything and I hadto move back to Mississippi and
(06:57):
that's when I noticed that,like I think they were the first
to contact me and I thought itwas like a, because sometimes it
does like spam.
You know there's like a spamthing where it's like, oh well,
I'm looking for somebody todesign this, this, and it's not
real Right.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Bots kind of thing, gotcha.
So I honestly thought that'swhat it was until I looked at it
again and I'm like this lookskind of real.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Something told me right At that moment.
Yeah, so I contacted the personand she contacted me back and
she was like my friend and Iwe're doing this sleepwear line
and we have seen your stuff andwe really, really want you to
design for us.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
And so they wanted me to do like a little test, um
test illustration, uh, to seelike what I come up with is that
typical in your industrysometimes?
Not, I always thought it wastypical because it happened to
me.
But one of my friends she waslike that has never happened to
me.
So interesting.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
But hey, you got to do what you got to do, right and
figure it out along the way,right.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
so, um, I think I did this.
It was like a corset-style tanktop with briefs and it was like
male-style briefs, and so theyloved it, and it was like mint
and green.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
So it was something that they had never seen before,
and you just created it basedon what the criteria was.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, like what they were asking for, and so they
love the colors, they love thedesign and they were like we
really really like this.
I feel that this should be likethe main design for our line.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Oh, wow, like the focal point.
Everything goes back to this.
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
So they used that and then, like we had to come up
with like another collectionbecause they end up having
somebody else as like thetechnical designer and she did
like all of the measurements youknow get the numbers for the
bus waste, like all thetechnical stuff when it came to
like that's not numbers.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
The numbers ready.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So we had to kind of work hand in hand.
So we I think it ended up beinglike six different looks,
because it was that.
And then I think we had a robeand I can't remember, like all
the other stuff.
But I know it was like sixdifferent looks that we did.
Oh, wow, yeah, I can't remember,like all the other stuff, but I
(09:25):
know it was like six differentlooks that we did.
Oh, wow, yeah.
But the challenge with them andit's kind of like this
depending on who yourmanufacturer is, they have
problems with the manufacturer.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Ah, okay.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Because when it came to actually designing, they
would mess up.
So they were like, okay, yeah,we keep spending money on this,
why don't you sell this for us?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Talking about you.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
It was just that one little sample, like the main.
You know the corset style.
So they was like, yeah, ifpossible, can you do it for us?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And they paid me, and so like.
Since I had already done it,why not?
Yeah so sold it, sent it tothem and they were like yours
looks better than themanufacturer.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
That's incredible, but it almost a boutique style.
So you've from working withthem.
You've designed for Sheen andIconi, so what practices kind of
helped your brain grow to wherethey could see you and reach
out to you?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
um, I think the coordinator at the time, uh, she
saw, uh I think she saw mystuff on instagram, okay, and
she reached out to me, wow, andshe was like I really like what
you do.
Um, we have, you know, thisprogram and X and I feel you
will be great for it.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And so I had to fill out the information, come up
with like a 15, I think it was a15-look collection.
Wow, my inspiration whatevercolors I wanted, and they had
strict guidelines, like you knowhow it should be.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Okay, so it was kind of your inspiration, but you had
to stay within parameters thatthey wanted.
Okay, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
So, and I think you couldn't do swimwear.
Yeah, it was like somethingwith like along the lines of
that, because I think it waslike couldn't do swimwear or
something else.
So I kind of did it like it waslike couldn't do swimwear or
something else.
So I kind of did it like it wasstill like almost active, but
it was like more knit, oh OK,you know kind of like knit ready
(11:31):
to wear, yeah, and I kind ofgave it like a 70s feel, all of
the different you know colorswith it, ok.
So, yeah, I think like I didn'teven like I didn't have to sew
anything.
They had everything, you knoweverything.
All they did was like just snapthe pictures, because I think I
had to when it came to themeasurements.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
I had to like.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Go on other sites.
Oh yeah, and like get themeasurements and then put it in,
and so I was like, okay, well,if this is not correct, let me
know.
We can fix it Mm.
Of course, when they sold it,it came out perfect.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
So like they would take pictures of like all the
samples and they're like okay,if there's any changes, let us
know.
And so, like afterwards, likeafter everything was done, you
know, they were like okay, it'sgoing to be live on this day.
What I did not anticipate was aperson contacted me before it
(12:30):
went live.
I don't know how that happened.
Yeah, but before it went liveshe contacted me on Instagram
and she was like I'm seeing thisshirt, I'm trying to figure out
where to purchase it, where canI find it?
And I'm like, oh well, it's notlive yet.
It's going to be live on thisday, and she was like okay, I
(12:51):
see, like other pieces that youhave.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Wow, so they had already put your designs on the
website.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, but I think it was probably like in the, you
know, just in preparation for it, Right, but it wasn't live yet.
So how she ended up seeing it,I don't know, but she contacted
me.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
The universal line.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
She contacted me and she was like, yeah, like I'm
trying to find this shirt.
I really really like this and Ican't wait until I see the rest
of it.
And so when it went live and Ishared it, like not only did I
share it on social media, butlike they even had the
(13:31):
thumbnails oh, wow you know ofmy stuff, so people were
purchasing that is amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
So what would you say ?
The biggest challenge umworking for, for people like
that or companies like that?
That um want a creative outlet,someone to be creative when
designing it, but stay withinparameters.
What would you say is thebiggest challenge in just
designing that all together?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I guess like still trying to have your concept,
like your creative concept.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Kind of putting your touch on everything.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Putting a touch on everything, but still trying to
keep it marketable.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, because when you even design for another
company, you still want to havethat creative touch right, right
, so that you can keep yourbrand Right.
That is so cool.
So that was the biggestchallenge you think there was.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
That's the biggest challenge and also like coming
up with all the numbers for likethe different sizes and
everything.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
So how do you overcome those challenges?
Would you say that's a toughone?
Um, just kind of educateyourself on the size.
Yeah, you have.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah a lot of the stuff, you still have to kind of
do research on it and make sure, like, okay, well, this is good
.
And then like, um, you knowsometimes like you have to have
fit sessions, but if you can'tdo the fit sessions then you
still, you know, kind of have tostill go back to that research
to make sure everything iscorrect right.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
So constantly educating yourself, no matter
what, how long you've been inthe industry.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
It's really important right, and I will say that in
this industry, you are alwayslearning something new.
So it is fashion changes, rightI?
Speaker 1 (15:06):
didn't even think about that.
How much how you have to beRight, and I'm sure with
programs You'd mentioned before,that AI has become a part of
your fashion design Can you tellme more about that.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So, like right now, and there are like a lot of
different companies out, so onecompany that I always use and I
think I can't remember ifthey're in the UK I can't
remember where they're located,the UK, I can't remember where
they're located, but they'recalled Newark, and so like, with
Newark, whatever it is that Isketch out or I design, I can
(15:42):
upload that picture, oh, and itwill factor it into like how it
looks in real form.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Oh, wow, that's the AI automation.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Whether it is like how it looks like just on a
hanger or on a person.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
That is so cool.
It's amazing what technologyhas done so that's really helped
you kind of craft and optimizeyour styles for the people that
reach out to you.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Right craft and optimize your styles for the
people that reach out to you,right?
Oh, so, like, if, um, let'sjust say, if somebody is trying
to create a line and they wantto like, do a presentation, oh
um, but they don't have theactual.
Uh, like it's not sewn.
Yeah, they don't have it infront of them.
They can have that as like thepresentation, like, okay, well,
if this was like the actualdress, this is how it would look
(16:31):
that's amazing, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
So what would you say your um, your biggest
visibility is?
Would you say social media ishow a lot of people contact you.
Or would you say referrals arekind of your bread and butter?
And what platforms?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
so it um, I would say social media.
But there have been times wherepeople like, whoever contacted
me, they're like, yeah, I justGoogled fashion designer and
your information popped up.
So, it was either website orlike one of my social media
pages, so I would say likesocial media and internet.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And then I do have like some, some people would.
They'll be like, okay, well, ifyou're looking for a designer,
ashley, you know, can design soit's a lot of referrals um, so
it's kind of like a mix yeah,kind of like a mix of both, like
social media and.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I bet managing the social media because you
mentioned getting spam sometimesand having to weed through
those is a whole job in itself.
Yes, now that I'm learning Idon't know the fashion industry,
but now that I'm learning morefrom you it seems like that
would be a daunting task.
It is, but you actually receivea lot of good feedback right
from your social media platforms.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Yeah, so, touching on that,what advice would you give to
(17:48):
somebody that is just startingout in fashion design?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Learn everything that you can about fashion, because
once you get into this field,you will see that it is not easy
.
One thing that I have to and inaddition to designing, I'm also
a fashion design professor, andin addition to designing, I'm
also a fashion design professor.
(18:12):
So one thing that I havedefinitely seen when it comes to
students who are just starting,they look at shows and they're
like okay, I can do that.
And then, once they actually getinto classes and they see how
tough and challenging it is,they're like oh, I didn't know
that it was going to be this way, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
So that's amazing that you not only do fashion
design, but you really arestaying on top of the latest
trends by teaching the designportion of it.
So you are constantly educatingyourself.
And how long in the industrydid you say you've been?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
in it Over 17 years now.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, so if anyone's looking for a point person,
you'd probably be it right.
That's awesome.
You said fashion isn't an easyas easy as it looks right.
So what's one thing other thanconstantly learn?
You wish people understoodbefore they get into the class
and then have to find out thehard way.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
That you will have to do math.
Oh yeah, that was one thingthat I didn't realize until I
had to take pattern making, andI'm just going to go ahead and
just say it I'm not really goodat math.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
I mean, we never start out without it, right?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
So, when it comes to creating patterns for whatever
it is that you are doing, it isgoing to be a lot of math
involved fractions, geometry.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
So those geometry classes?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
are useful.
Yes, in this case yes, and Idid not realize it until I had
to create different shapes andsew it and make sure that it is
right, and I'm like, oh, okay,so there is an analytical side
to the creative mind and theartist.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yes, wow.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah, it is definitely math involved when
you take pattern making,especially with trying to get
the fit right, because once youdo that sample and fit it on a
person you may see, like whereit fits too loose or too tight.
(20:18):
And you're like okay, we haveto take this certain measurement
and add that in, or take thiscertain number of measurement
out.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Wow.
So yeah, it's so much finitedetail that changes probably
everything.
You have more patience than Icould ever have.
I know that for sure.
So, on that point, you've beenin the industry a long time and
it seems like you're starting tobranch out into other ventures.
What are your upcoming venturesyou're starting to do?
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Right now I am illustrating a book for one of
my friends.
Okay, his son has created abook and he has commissioned me
to be the artist and that hasalso been like another area
where I have ventured into.
I didn't realize that, but hehad me to do another book and
(21:11):
we're still working on that.
So, yeah, working on this bookfor his son right now.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
It seems like you really enjoy it, the way your
face kind of lights up.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
And I guess because he's young, he's a teenager.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
So I'm like, okay, hey, yeah, he's got some
entrepreneurial spirit as well,right.
And I looked at some of yourdesigns and sketches and they're
just amazing.
Oh, thank you.
I don't know how you do it, I'mthe other brain for sure.
So what inspired you to kind ofstart branching out into the
venture?
You mentioned a coloring booktoo, thinking about creating
that.
(21:44):
What inspired that?
Was it him creating the book,or was it something?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
else.
Well, it was because I'm in asorority, Sigma Gamma Rho
sorority.
So one of my sorority sisters,she saw I can't remember if I
put a sketch in our group orsomething, but she looked on my
Etsy and saw my illustrations.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Okay, and she has a book publishing company.
What a quinkity.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So she's like she's also an instructor as well.
So we're kind of like in thesame you know.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
I think hers is English?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I do believe, but teaching and designing or two
that y'all are kind of yeah,well, she's not designing, she
just does the teaching, but shealso has the book publishing,
yeah.
And so she saw my etsy and shewas like um, your illustrations,
and what I had was like, itwasn't even in detail, it was
just like sketches of like thefigures with no clothes on.
(22:40):
Oh.
And so she was like um, yeah,have you ever thought about
doing illustrations for a book?
You, you should be doing this.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
It seems like other people see your technique and
what you do before you do.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Yes, and it's always good to have good feedback.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I feel like and tell me if this is right having those
people in your life like asorority is so important so that
they can help point out thethings that you don't see about
you good and bad because itseems like if you didn't have
those positive people in yourlife to encourage you to
continue, you wouldn't be heretoday doing this right yeah.
(23:22):
Would you say maybe yourmentors?
Who are your mentors actually?
Who are the people you look upto and help give you inspiration
?
Speaker 2 (23:33):
So I will say my mom, my sister, okay, my sister has
she's definitely beenencouraging.
Okay, you know, she hasdefinitely been like, because
there have been times where Ihave doubted myself.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
As we all do right.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I am very hard on myself too, so, like any little
thing, I take it to heart.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Good or bad?
Right, yeah, right and.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I have anxiety about it sometimes too.
So like I guess, just hearingthat it just kind of made me
feel a certain way.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
But it happens, right it does Especially such a
technical and detailed art thatyou have to create.
I'm sure you take a lot ofpride in everything you put pen
to paper on.
I know I would if I made artlike yours and we'll share at
the end where they can go andview your art because it is
beautiful, thank you.
So what's one key takeaway orpiece of advice that you'd like
(24:32):
to give the audience to rememberfrom your story and your
journey, from the beginning andnot knowing you were into art,
to now a fashion designer, withall these different connections
and acquaintances.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
I've been self-doubting, never give up,
because at one point in time youknow things weren't working out
in my favor and I was like I'mdone.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
You know I'm not going to do this.
And everybody was like no, nono you're not, you are not, and
it was like I was kind ofquestioning myself and like why
am I here?
What am I doing?
Absolutely you know.
(25:20):
And I think, like what made merealize that I am where I'm
supposed to be is when one of myfriends from high school she
has a daughter who is alsointerested in fashion, but she
wants to be an entrepreneur.
She didn't want to go tocollege.
She was just like I'm going to,just you know.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Skip that whole little step Okay.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
So she was like yeah, I want her to talk to you and
whatever consultation fee, likeI got you.
Don't worry about it.
And so, like we ended uptalking for like maybe like an
hour.
She was asking a lot ofquestions, writing everything
(26:05):
down, and so I remember asking,like you know, was she going to
go to school?
Because I forgot just that fastthat, you know.
She said that she wasn't.
Yeah, because her mom told me.
So I was like, okay, so youknow, are you going to school?
She was like, oh no, and shewas like I'm just going to go
ahead and start, and so I toldher you know, like what she can
(26:28):
look at?
And then I was like wait aminute.
I was like wait a minute.
I was like you are in this area, how far are you from this area
?
And so she told how far and Iwas like it's a person that I
went to graduate school with.
She has her own fashion designschool and her thing was you
know I can't remember how shesaid it changing, I guess, the
(26:57):
traditional way of how we learn.
Yeah, disrupting, yeah,disrupting the fashion industry.
That's what it was.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
That's how she talked disrupting the fashion industry
, so I was like um a lot ofpeople who, uh, are in her class
like who go to her school.
They're not interested inschool, they're interested in
just starting their own line.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Almost like they feel like it's a waste of time.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Well, it's like some.
I guess they're like.
I don't want to.
You know, go the traditionalroute.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I want to go a different route in order to
obtain it Right.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I guess, and I know, like a lot of people you know
like, in addition to design,because of course in school, in
addition to designing, you haveto like take other classes too,
like all those general ed.
So they want to skip that.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Ah, I see and just go straight to the design part.
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
So I told her I was like a lot of you know people
you know who are in her classes.
They people you know who are inher classes, they want to go
ahead, learn everything so theycan get their line out.
And then some they always hadthis idea, they didn't know how
to do it, but they always wantto learn.
So they're like okay, finallyI'm going to go ahead and do it.
(28:06):
And so I showed her thatwebsite and so I was like yeah,
I was like she also has likelittle programs.
If you want to just learn this,this, this.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
And I was like so, since you don't want to go the
traditional route, you can, youknow, maybe look at this.
So she was like huh.
And so afterwards my friendcontacted me and she was like I
just want to thank you, you know, she was like, she was so happy
(28:40):
, she took notes of everythingand she was like and also, you
are getting her interested ingoing to school?
Speaker 1 (28:49):
You pointed out the things that she didn't notice,
that she may have needed.
So mentoring, it seems like, issomething in the fashion
industry, is something that'sinspired you to just keep
continuing on.
That's wonderful.
So being a mentor has helpedyou a lot, and having someone
look up to you, I imagine, wouldbe almost a proud moment, and
(29:13):
especially if they aresuccessful in what they do.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Right.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Because you've been through those hurdles and things
like that.
Yes, that's amazing.
Well, I hope you continueteaching because, you inspired
me and Lord knows I cannot drawor create anything.
Thank you, but you're veryinspirational.
Thank you so thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
So where can our listeners find you online or
reach out to you?
How can they connect and seeyour designs?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
uh so, um, I have a youtube channel, um, and I need
to start back doing the youtubechannel.
But, um, it is ashley d love,um on youtube, um, so I'm always
welcome to do subscribers,awesome.
I also have my Facebook.
(30:01):
I have a business page onFacebook.
It's Ashley Love Illustrations,where I'll put my illustrations
on there as well.
I have Instagram, ashley D.
Well, I have Instagramashleydlove.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Oh, wow, and LinkedIn , you're all over the place.
Oh, and I actually met you at anetworking event here at NUMA,
that's right.
So the next time you come to anetworking event, be sure you
let everyone know you're theretoo.
You're out there, you're doingit, thank you, and you're an
inspiration.
Thank you and you're aninspiration.
Thank you so much, ashley, forcoming on the show.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Thank you, and one thing that I will say, like a
lot of people don't know, isthat I am an introvert.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
No, yeah, you know what it's okay.
I'm definitely an introvert anda lot of people are like what
you and I'm like hey, as long asyou're happy in life, that's
all that matters, right?
Yeah, Awesome, yeah, Well,we'll see you next time, Ashley.
Hopefully we'll be able to seeyour progress in another six
months on the show, Thank you.
Thank you To all our listenersout there.
(30:59):
I'm your host Story, and we'llsee you next time on Market it
With Atma.
Welcome back to Market it with Atmo, where we
share the tips, tools andstrategies to help your business
be successful.
I'm your host Story and todaywe have on the show talented
designer and founder of Ashley DLove Design.
Ashley, welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Thank you for joining us, so I'm so excited to learn
all about you and your business.
So can you start by telling usjust about you, what inspiration
inspired you to get into thisand where you're at now?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
So I have been.
I've always been a creativeperson, so I've been drawing and
designing since I was a child.
I got into fashion because Iwas designing clothes and didn't
even realize that I wasdesigning clothes until
everybody else started pointingit out.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
How well you were at it Right.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I was very detailed with designing all of the
clothing, whether it was a dressor pants.
It was just very detailed andeverybody was like oh well, have
you ever thought about being afashion designer?
and everybody was like oh well,have you ever thought about
being a fashion designer?
And I didn't really think aboutit until my godfather and his
now ex-wife mentioned it,because they were looking at my
(01:32):
drawings too.
And so they were like yeah, wewant you to keep this up.
And so I started researchingand I was like okay, this is
where I want to go.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Okay, so you've always been really artistic in
what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
That's awesome, and it's great to have that support
and backing behind you.
That's wonderful.
So at what moment do you thinkin your life did you decide you
know what I want to be a fashiondesigner?
Was it after you'd learned alittle bit more about fashion
design, or when you realizedother people were noticing how
good you were at it?
Speaker 2 (02:11):
I think it was when other people were noticing how
good I was at it, and thenafterwards, when I started doing
the research, I'm like, okay,all right.
So what kind of designs do youspecialize in?
I specialize in women'sactivewear swimwear and
sleepwear.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Oh wow, and what made you decide on that particular
area of fashion?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I will talk about graduate school a lot, because
that's where I did, you know,like a lot of you know, the
design part.
When we had to, when I had tocreate my thesis, we had to
actually put on our own fashionshow in addition to write our
thesis and then do thedissertation.
That's a lot.
Yes, the pieces.
(02:43):
I think they had to be like 10looks each, and looks are like
different outfits, okay.
Okay, my main thing was alwayscolor blocking, which was like
putting different colorstogether to try to create a
little pattern, uh-huh and um, Iwanted to try to incorporate
that and I wanted to kind ofkeep it in lingerie.
(03:04):
But then it was like when Istarted like doing I think I did
like a dress or something, Ithink I designed a dress, and a
professor was like, oh, thatwould be really good, you know,
for, like, you know, active wear.
(03:26):
And then that's when she talkedabout how she was a cyclist, oh,
okay, and she talked about likeall the different things when
it came to cycling and so, like,that's what made me like go
into the active wear partBecause, like, if you have
noticed, like a lot of it, youknow, is like black, white, gray
you really don't see color.
Right right and so, um, I madesure to put like a lot of color
into it and did like a lot of,you know, mixing of like
(03:49):
different fabrics, and it wasreceived well.
It was because, um, one thingthat would always happen with
this like and I still have thecollection at home wow, um, if I
put that in a fashion show, onething that always happens is
the model does not want to takeit off you know that, because
when you have it on, you love itthat's when you know it's great
(04:10):
.
And, like, I remember when, um,because before we um actually
make the real garment, whateverit is, um, we have to do what is
called a muslin, which is asample, okay, and so I did a
sample of that particular dress.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And so like the model , because I think she was at
another school and she wouldcome and like be the model for
like different classes, and soshe put on that dress, right.
And so she put on the dress,and I think I had designed some
leggings too.
So she had to put all that onand we had to talk about the fit
and what needed to be changed.
And my mom came to visit my momand my sister.
(04:51):
They were in the classroom andso they noticed that because she
had to, I think, fit for otherpeople, because there was like
three other people in the classbesides me.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
So she was the model for like everybody, because
there was like three otherpeople in the class besides me,
yeah, so she was the model forlike everybody.
And so one thing my familynoticed was that she put back on
my dress and the dress wasmessed up Like it was the hem
was messed up and everything,but she put it back on and so
she had to put on somebodyelse's sample and it was like
(05:24):
every time you know she wouldput somebody else's stuff on,
she'll take it off and put itback on my dress.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
How funny.
This is her go-to.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
That was always her go-to and you noticed it and
then, like she was doinghomework too and so, like she
took a break, she still had mydress on.
It was again the sample.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
She was trying to take that home, wasn't?
Speaker 2 (05:44):
she.
She sat in the corner, did herhomework in that dress and my
mom was like wait a minute.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
What is she doing?
So that's when you really hadthat aha moment.
Yeah, and since then, you'vehad a couple of accomplishments.
Can you tell us a little moreabout who you've designed for
and how that experience happened?
How did you develop over timeand obtain them?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
So I think the first company that I designed for it
was I think they did.
That was how I got intosleepwear.
Oh, sleepwear, these two women.
They wanted to design sleepwear, that was.
You could kind of wear it outif you had to go somewhere.
Oh, I like that, yeah, soinstead of a robe, yeah, it was
(06:35):
like fashionable sleepwear, Justin case you had to go and run a
quick errand and you didn'twant to change clothes.
You still wanted to look likesomething.
that was their idea, I love it,and so they, and I think at this
time I ended up moving backhome because you know economy
couldn't find anything and I hadto move back to Mississippi and
(06:57):
that's when I noticed that,like I think they were the first
to contact me and I thought itwas like a, because sometimes it
does like spam.
You know there's like a spamthing where it's like, oh well,
I'm looking for somebody todesign this, this, and it's not
real Right.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Bots kind of thing, gotcha.
So I honestly thought that'swhat it was until I looked at it
again and I'm like this lookskind of real.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Something told me right At that moment.
Yeah, so I contacted the personand she contacted me back and
she was like my friend and Iwe're doing this sleepwear line
and we have seen your stuff andwe really, really want you to
design for us.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
And so they wanted me to do like a little test, um
test illustration, uh, to seelike what I come up with is that
typical in your industrysometimes?
Not, I always thought it wastypical because it happened to
me.
But one of my friends she waslike that has never happened to
me.
So interesting.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
But hey, you got to do what you got to do, right and
figure it out along the way,right.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
so, um, I think I did this.
It was like a corset-style tanktop with briefs and it was like
male-style briefs, and so theyloved it, and it was like mint
and green.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
So it was something that they had never seen before,
and you just created it basedon what the criteria was.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Yeah, like what they were asking for, and so they
love the colors, they love thedesign and they were like we
really really like this.
I feel that this should be likethe main design for our line.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Oh, wow, like the focal point.
Everything goes back to this.
Yeah, wow.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
So they used that and then, like we had to come up
with like another collectionbecause they end up having
somebody else as like thetechnical designer and she did
like all of the measurements youknow get the numbers for the
bus waste, like all thetechnical stuff when it came to
like that's not numbers.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
The numbers ready.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
So we had to kind of work hand in hand.
So we I think it ended up beinglike six different looks,
because it was that.
And then I think we had a robeand I can't remember, like all
the other stuff.
But I know it was like sixdifferent looks that we did.
Oh, wow, yeah, I can't remember,like all the other stuff, but I
(09:25):
know it was like six differentlooks that we did.
Oh, wow, yeah.
But the challenge with them andit's kind of like this
depending on who yourmanufacturer is, they have
problems with the manufacturer.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Ah, okay.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Because when it came to actually designing, they
would mess up.
So they were like, okay, yeah,we keep spending money on this,
why don't you sell this for us?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Talking about you.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
It was just that one little sample, like the main.
You know the corset style.
So they was like, yeah, ifpossible, can you do it for us?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And they paid me, and so like.
Since I had already done it,why not?
Yeah so sold it, sent it tothem and they were like yours
looks better than themanufacturer.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
That's incredible, but it almost a boutique style.
So you've from working withthem.
You've designed for Sheen andIconi, so what practices kind of
helped your brain grow to wherethey could see you and reach
out to you?
Speaker 2 (10:29):
um, I think the coordinator at the time, uh, she
saw, uh I think she saw mystuff on instagram, okay, and
she reached out to me, wow, andshe was like I really like what
you do.
Um, we have, you know, thisprogram and X and I feel you
will be great for it.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
And so I had to fill out the information, come up
with like a 15, I think it was a15-look collection.
Wow, my inspiration whatevercolors I wanted, and they had
strict guidelines, like you knowhow it should be.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Okay, so it was kind of your inspiration, but you had
to stay within parameters thatthey wanted.
Okay, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
So, and I think you couldn't do swimwear.
Yeah, it was like somethingwith like along the lines of
that, because I think it waslike couldn't do swimwear or
something else.
So I kind of did it like it waslike couldn't do swimwear or
something else.
So I kind of did it like it wasstill like almost active, but
it was like more knit, oh OK,you know kind of like knit ready
(11:31):
to wear, yeah, and I kind ofgave it like a 70s feel, all of
the different you know colorswith it, ok.
So, yeah, I think like I didn'teven like I didn't have to sew
anything.
They had everything, you knoweverything.
All they did was like just snapthe pictures, because I think I
had to when it came to themeasurements.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
I had to like.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Go on other sites.
Oh yeah, and like get themeasurements and then put it in,
and so I was like, okay, well,if this is not correct, let me
know.
We can fix it Mm.
Of course, when they sold it,it came out perfect.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
So like they would take pictures of like all the
samples and they're like okay,if there's any changes, let us
know.
And so, like afterwards, likeafter everything was done, you
know, they were like okay, it'sgoing to be live on this day.
What I did not anticipate was aperson contacted me before it
(12:30):
went live.
I don't know how that happened.
Yeah, but before it went liveshe contacted me on Instagram
and she was like I'm seeing thisshirt, I'm trying to figure out
where to purchase it, where canI find it?
And I'm like, oh well, it's notlive yet.
It's going to be live on thisday, and she was like okay, I
(12:51):
see, like other pieces that youhave.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Wow, so they had already put your designs on the
website.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Yeah, but I think it was probably like in the, you
know, just in preparation for it, Right, but it wasn't live yet.
So how she ended up seeing it,I don't know, but she contacted
me.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
The universal line.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
She contacted me and she was like, yeah, like I'm
trying to find this shirt.
I really really like this and Ican't wait until I see the rest
of it.
And so when it went live and Ishared it, like not only did I
share it on social media, butlike they even had the
(13:31):
thumbnails oh, wow you know ofmy stuff, so people were
purchasing that is amazing.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
So what would you say ?
The biggest challenge umworking for, for people like
that or companies like that?
That um want a creative outlet,someone to be creative when
designing it, but stay withinparameters.
What would you say is thebiggest challenge in just
designing that all together?
Speaker 2 (13:56):
I guess like still trying to have your concept,
like your creative concept.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Kind of putting your touch on everything.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Putting a touch on everything, but still trying to
keep it marketable.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, because when you even design for another
company, you still want to havethat creative touch right, right
, so that you can keep yourbrand Right.
That is so cool.
So that was the biggestchallenge you think there was.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
That's the biggest challenge and also like coming
up with all the numbers for likethe different sizes and
everything.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
So how do you overcome those challenges?
Would you say that's a toughone?
Um, just kind of educateyourself on the size.
Yeah, you have.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Yeah a lot of the stuff, you still have to kind of
do research on it and make sure, like, okay, well, this is good
.
And then like, um, you knowsometimes like you have to have
fit sessions, but if you can'tdo the fit sessions then you
still, you know, kind of have tostill go back to that research
to make sure everything iscorrect right.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
So constantly educating yourself, no matter
what, how long you've been inthe industry.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
It's really important right, and I will say that in
this industry, you are alwayslearning something new.
So it is fashion changes, rightI?
Speaker 1 (15:06):
didn't even think about that.
How much how you have to beRight, and I'm sure with
programs You'd mentioned before,that AI has become a part of
your fashion design Can you tellme more about that.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
So, like right now, and there are like a lot of
different companies out, so onecompany that I always use and I
think I can't remember ifthey're in the UK I can't
remember where they're located,the UK, I can't remember where
they're located, but they'recalled Newark, and so like, with
Newark, whatever it is that Isketch out or I design, I can
(15:42):
upload that picture, oh, and itwill factor it into like how it
looks in real form.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Oh, wow, that's the AI automation.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
Whether it is like how it looks like just on a
hanger or on a person.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
That is so cool.
It's amazing what technologyhas done so that's really helped
you kind of craft and optimizeyour styles for the people that
reach out to you.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Right craft and optimize your styles for the
people that reach out to you,right?
Oh, so, like, if, um, let'sjust say, if somebody is trying
to create a line and they wantto like, do a presentation, oh
um, but they don't have theactual.
Uh, like it's not sewn.
Yeah, they don't have it infront of them.
They can have that as like thepresentation, like, okay, well,
if this was like the actualdress, this is how it would look
(16:31):
that's amazing, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
So what would you say your um, your biggest
visibility is?
Would you say social media ishow a lot of people contact you.
Or would you say referrals arekind of your bread and butter?
And what platforms?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
so it um, I would say social media.
But there have been times wherepeople like, whoever contacted
me, they're like, yeah, I justGoogled fashion designer and
your information popped up.
So, it was either website orlike one of my social media
pages, so I would say likesocial media and internet.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
And then I do have like some, some people would.
They'll be like, okay, well, ifyou're looking for a designer,
ashley, you know, can design soit's a lot of referrals um, so
it's kind of like a mix yeah,kind of like a mix of both, like
social media and.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I bet managing the social media because you
mentioned getting spam sometimesand having to weed through
those is a whole job in itself.
Yes, now that I'm learning Idon't know the fashion industry,
but now that I'm learning morefrom you it seems like that
would be a daunting task.
It is, but you actually receivea lot of good feedback right
from your social media platforms.
Yeah, that's amazing.
Yeah, so, touching on that,what advice would you give to
(17:48):
somebody that is just startingout in fashion design?
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Learn everything that you can about fashion, because
once you get into this field,you will see that it is not easy
.
One thing that I have to and inaddition to designing, I'm also
a fashion design professor, andin addition to designing, I'm
also a fashion design professor.
(18:12):
So one thing that I havedefinitely seen when it comes to
students who are just starting,they look at shows and they're
like okay, I can do that.
And then, once they actually getinto classes and they see how
tough and challenging it is,they're like oh, I didn't know
that it was going to be this way, yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
So that's amazing that you not only do fashion
design, but you really arestaying on top of the latest
trends by teaching the designportion of it.
So you are constantly educatingyourself.
And how long in the industrydid you say you've been?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
in it Over 17 years now.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Yeah, so if anyone's looking for a point person,
you'd probably be it right.
That's awesome.
You said fashion isn't an easyas easy as it looks right.
So what's one thing other thanconstantly learn?
You wish people understoodbefore they get into the class
and then have to find out thehard way.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
That you will have to do math.
Oh yeah, that was one thingthat I didn't realize until I
had to take pattern making, andI'm just going to go ahead and
just say it I'm not really goodat math.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
I mean, we never start out without it, right?
Speaker 2 (19:24):
So, when it comes to creating patterns for whatever
it is that you are doing, it isgoing to be a lot of math
involved fractions, geometry.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
So those geometry classes?
Speaker 2 (19:40):
are useful.
Yes, in this case yes, and Idid not realize it until I had
to create different shapes andsew it and make sure that it is
right, and I'm like, oh, okay,so there is an analytical side
to the creative mind and theartist.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yes, wow.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yeah, it is definitely math involved when
you take pattern making,especially with trying to get
the fit right, because once youdo that sample and fit it on a
person you may see, like whereit fits too loose or too tight.
(20:18):
And you're like okay, we haveto take this certain measurement
and add that in, or take thiscertain number of measurement
out.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
Wow.
So yeah, it's so much finitedetail that changes probably
everything.
You have more patience than Icould ever have.
I know that for sure.
So, on that point, you've beenin the industry a long time and
it seems like you're starting tobranch out into other ventures.
What are your upcoming venturesyou're starting to do?
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Right now I am illustrating a book for one of
my friends.
Okay, his son has created abook and he has commissioned me
to be the artist and that hasalso been like another area
where I have ventured into.
I didn't realize that, but hehad me to do another book and
(21:11):
we're still working on that.
So, yeah, working on this bookfor his son right now.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
It seems like you really enjoy it, the way your
face kind of lights up.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
And I guess because he's young, he's a teenager.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
So I'm like, okay, hey, yeah, he's got some
entrepreneurial spirit as well,right.
And I looked at some of yourdesigns and sketches and they're
just amazing.
Oh, thank you.
I don't know how you do it, I'mthe other brain for sure.
So what inspired you to kind ofstart branching out into the
venture?
You mentioned a coloring booktoo, thinking about creating
that.
(21:44):
What inspired that?
Was it him creating the book,or was it something?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
else.
Well, it was because I'm in asorority, Sigma Gamma Rho
sorority.
So one of my sorority sisters,she saw I can't remember if I
put a sketch in our group orsomething, but she looked on my
Etsy and saw my illustrations.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Okay, and she has a book publishing company.
What a quinkity.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So she's like she's also an instructor as well.
So we're kind of like in thesame you know.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
I think hers is English?
Speaker 2 (22:20):
I do believe, but teaching and designing or two
that y'all are kind of yeah,well, she's not designing, she
just does the teaching, but shealso has the book publishing,
yeah.
And so she saw my etsy and shewas like um, your illustrations,
and what I had was like, itwasn't even in detail, it was
just like sketches of like thefigures with no clothes on.
(22:40):
Oh.
And so she was like um, yeah,have you ever thought about
doing illustrations for a book?
You, you should be doing this.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
It seems like other people see your technique and
what you do before you do.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Yes, and it's always good to have good feedback.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I feel like and tell me if this is right having those
people in your life like asorority is so important so that
they can help point out thethings that you don't see about
you good and bad because itseems like if you didn't have
those positive people in yourlife to encourage you to
continue, you wouldn't be heretoday doing this right yeah.
(23:22):
Would you say maybe yourmentors?
Who are your mentors actually?
Who are the people you look upto and help give you inspiration
?
Speaker 2 (23:33):
So I will say my mom, my sister, okay, my sister has
she's definitely beenencouraging.
Okay, you know, she hasdefinitely been like, because
there have been times where Ihave doubted myself.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
As we all do right.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
I am very hard on myself too, so, like any little
thing, I take it to heart.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Good or bad?
Right, yeah, right and.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I have anxiety about it sometimes too.
So like I guess, just hearingthat it just kind of made me
feel a certain way.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
But it happens, right it does Especially such a
technical and detailed art thatyou have to create.
I'm sure you take a lot ofpride in everything you put pen
to paper on.
I know I would if I made artlike yours and we'll share at
the end where they can go andview your art because it is
beautiful, thank you.
So what's one key takeaway orpiece of advice that you'd like
(24:32):
to give the audience to rememberfrom your story and your
journey, from the beginning andnot knowing you were into art,
to now a fashion designer, withall these different connections
and acquaintances.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
I've been self-doubting, never give up,
because at one point in time youknow things weren't working out
in my favor and I was like I'mdone.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
You know I'm not going to do this.
And everybody was like no, nono you're not, you are not, and
it was like I was kind ofquestioning myself and like why
am I here?
What am I doing?
Absolutely you know.
(25:20):
And I think, like what made merealize that I am where I'm
supposed to be is when one of myfriends from high school she
has a daughter who is alsointerested in fashion, but she
wants to be an entrepreneur.
She didn't want to go tocollege.
She was just like I'm going to,just you know.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Skip that whole little step Okay.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
So she was like yeah, I want her to talk to you and
whatever consultation fee, likeI got you.
Don't worry about it.
And so, like we ended uptalking for like maybe like an
hour.
She was asking a lot ofquestions, writing everything
(26:05):
down, and so I remember asking,like you know, was she going to
go to school?
Because I forgot just that fastthat, you know.
She said that she wasn't.
Yeah, because her mom told me.
So I was like, okay, so youknow, are you going to school?
She was like, oh no, and shewas like I'm just going to go
ahead and start, and so I toldher you know, like what she can
(26:28):
look at?
And then I was like wait aminute.
I was like wait a minute.
I was like you are in this area, how far are you from this area
?
And so she told how far and Iwas like it's a person that I
went to graduate school with.
She has her own fashion designschool and her thing was you
know I can't remember how shesaid it changing, I guess, the
(26:57):
traditional way of how we learn.
Yeah, disrupting, yeah,disrupting the fashion industry.
That's what it was.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
That's how she talked disrupting the fashion industry
, so I was like um a lot ofpeople who, uh, are in her class
like who go to her school.
They're not interested inschool, they're interested in
just starting their own line.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Almost like they feel like it's a waste of time.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Well, it's like some.
I guess they're like.
I don't want to.
You know, go the traditionalroute.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
I want to go a different route in order to
obtain it Right.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
I guess, and I know, like a lot of people you know
like, in addition to design,because of course in school, in
addition to designing, you haveto like take other classes too,
like all those general ed.
So they want to skip that.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Ah, I see and just go straight to the design part.
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
So I told her I was like a lot of you know people
you know who are in her classes.
They people you know who are inher classes, they want to go
ahead, learn everything so theycan get their line out.
And then some they always hadthis idea, they didn't know how
to do it, but they always wantto learn.
So they're like okay, finallyI'm going to go ahead and do it.
(28:06):
And so I showed her thatwebsite and so I was like yeah,
I was like she also has likelittle programs.
If you want to just learn this,this, this.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
And I was like so, since you don't want to go the
traditional route, you can, youknow, maybe look at this.
So she was like huh.
And so afterwards my friendcontacted me and she was like I
just want to thank you, you know, she was like, she was so happy
(28:40):
, she took notes of everythingand she was like and also, you
are getting her interested ingoing to school?
Speaker 1 (28:49):
You pointed out the things that she didn't notice,
that she may have needed.
So mentoring, it seems like, issomething in the fashion
industry, is something that'sinspired you to just keep
continuing on.
That's wonderful.
So being a mentor has helpedyou a lot, and having someone
look up to you, I imagine, wouldbe almost a proud moment, and
(29:13):
especially if they aresuccessful in what they do.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Right.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Because you've been through those hurdles and things
like that.
Yes, that's amazing.
Well, I hope you continueteaching because, you inspired
me and Lord knows I cannot drawor create anything.
Thank you, but you're veryinspirational.
Thank you so thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
So where can our listeners find you online or
reach out to you?
How can they connect and seeyour designs?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
uh so, um, I have a youtube channel, um, and I need
to start back doing the youtubechannel.
But, um, it is ashley d love,um on youtube, um, so I'm always
welcome to do subscribers,awesome.
I also have my Facebook.
(30:01):
I have a business page onFacebook.
It's Ashley Love Illustrations,where I'll put my illustrations
on there as well.
I have Instagram, ashley D.
Well, I have Instagramashleydlove.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Oh, wow, and LinkedIn , you're all over the place.
Oh, and I actually met you at anetworking event here at NUMA,
that's right.
So the next time you come to anetworking event, be sure you
let everyone know you're theretoo.
You're out there, you're doingit, thank you, and you're an
inspiration.
Thank you and you're aninspiration.
Thank you so much, ashley, forcoming on the show.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
Thank you, and one thing that I will say, like a
lot of people don't know, isthat I am an introvert.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
No, yeah, you know what it's okay.
I'm definitely an introvert anda lot of people are like what
you and I'm like hey, as long asyou're happy in life, that's
all that matters, right?
Yeah, Awesome, yeah, Well,we'll see you next time, Ashley.
Hopefully we'll be able to seeyour progress in another six
months on the show, Thank you.
Thank you To all our listenersout there.
(30:59):
I'm your host Story, and we'llsee you next time on Market it
With Atma.
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