Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayeshia Smith.
Hi Ayeshia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I discovered my love for fashion around the age of five when I was introduced to classic films with all of the beautiful clothing. At the age of 13, I remember purchasing a Cosmopolitan Magazine and seeing a DIY section on repurposing jeans and I reconstructed mine into a handbag. I bleached and bedazzled it, then wore it to school the next day and everyone loved it!
After consistently expressing interest in sewing, my mom bought me a sewing machine. I knew at that moment, I wanted to become a fashion designer because I wanted to create beautiful garments for women to wear that would help them express themselves and allow their confidence to shine from the inside out. My heart is the fullest when my clients put on one of my pieces and instantly light up. I feel like the vibrancy of my garments really brings out the best side of people because they look good and feel good. I started my business in 2013.
I was a young single mother, absolutely clueless about what it took to establish a solid foundation for a business and all of the obstacles I was going to face on this journey. It has definitely been an interesting journey and I am grateful for it because of who it has made me today and I wouldn’t have been as prepared for all the amazing things that are happening in my life now, including the debut of my new collection “Memphis” at New York Fashion Week!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road for me at all. As I mentioned before, I had my first child at 20, and immediately became a single mother. I was juggling trying to both pursue my dreams and figure out motherhood, it was tough to say at the very least. I remember working two jobs, going to college, and taking care of my daughter. Eventually, it became too much for me to balance and I dropped out of college with only a few courses left until graduation.
I started a career in the jewelry industry and would sew on the side. I decided to start my business in 2013 and from there I started participating in different local shows and other shows across the US in my free time. In between that time, I got into a relationship and then had my son. I had to put my dreams on the back burner again so I could take care of my family. Over time, we relocated out to the Bay Area for a fresh start. I worked for a chain jewelry company up until I started a career designing jewelry for a company in Oakland, CA and then COVID happened so we decided it was best to relocate back home after I was laid off. It was at that time that I decided it was time to focus on my dream full-time and I really started focusing on building my brand and social media presence.
A few months after returning back to Memphis, I was contacted by a couple of different companies to showcase at NYFW via Instagram. I was shocked that people saw my work and felt that my work was New York Fashion week material. I was ecstatic because I am a self-taught fashion designer with no professional training at all. It took years to perfect my craft after years of trials and errors.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a self-taught fashion designer. I taught myself how to both sew and draw at an early age and I am still learning every day. I currently specialize in designing and handcrafting womenswear of all kinds, but I will be expanding my brand this upcoming Spring 2022. I am most drawn to bold, vibrant prints that look like art.
I feel like my pieces look like wearable art. I like to create pieces that accentuate all of the curves on a woman, yet classy and tasteful. I am most proud of my newest collection “Memphis” which is named after both my hometown and the famous Memphis Design aesthetic from the ’80s. I am so proud because I was able to create this amazing collection right here in my hometown of Memphis!
What sets me apart from others is I can both design and sew, which isn’t so common these days and aside from that I create unique statement pieces where you don’t have to say much when you walk into a room because the garments speak for you.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is creating beautiful pieces that help bring out people’s confidence and make them feel as good as they look. Feeling confident makes all of the difference in the way we look at ourselves, how we move, how we interact with others, and how others perceive us.
I want people to be able to share that light with others. As I mentioned before, my heart is the fullest when I see my clients step out in their new AyeshiA piece and they are happy, smiling, and moving about with pride!
Contact Info:
- Email: ayeshiallc@gmail.com
- Website: AyeshiA.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Ayeshia.Apparel
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Ayeshia.Apparel
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/AyeshiaApparel
Image Credits
Natrual Xpressions Studios and Plitz Fashion Marketing
