Please tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Ashley, and I am the owner, designer, and creator behind Papoose Clothing. I started sewing from an early age when my mom taught me the basics, but it wasn’t until college when I took a few costume construction courses that I really honed my skills. After graduation I was still pursuing a career in acting when my sister told me to expect a little niece. To fill the time between gigs, I sewed up a few items for her as special keepsakes and fell in love with making children’s clothing.
What materials and techniques do you like to use?
I love the simplicity and timeless qualities of cotton so that’s my main fabric choice. I think it is so wearable and easy to clean and handle, especially for children’s clothes. I have so many machines and special gadgets to help me, it would be boring for me to list them all, but I strive for professional quality garments that are meant to be passed down to the next generation.
What challenges have you faced in the creative process?
Right now I am releasing two collections every year, and it takes a lot to go from a single idea to full collection. Then you have to take pictures and market your products. I struggle with the business aspect of things really, marketing, photography, taking time to do the more boring and tedious aspects compared to the creative side of production. I have to set a time every morning to finish things I push off doing, so time management and self-motivation is really necessary for small business owners.
What drives you to create?
Like every artistic person, I think creativity comes in waves. A person really needs that down time to just sit and soak in the world and things around you without always having the creative juices flowing. Anything around me can inspire a collection or a clothing piece, I try to keep something on me at all times to draw out an idea. I have a book I like to keep everything in that’s full of ideas and drawings that may or may not be used.
What is coming up next?
Right now I am in the beginning stages of my Fall/ Winter 2014 collection. I have selected my theme and am sketching out designs and looking for fabrics. It won’t be ready until summer, but I am excited about this collection. I think it is going to be a fun and dramatic line!
All images provided by Ashley of Papoose Clothing.
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I have Ashley in my google+ circle and I always admired her beautiful items on Etsy.... it is very noticeable because she put a lot of personality and sweetness to her creation! Well deserved feature here! Thank you!
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