Finding Her Passion:
While getting ready for a job interview at Holt Renfrew, Ashley Rowe had a moment that we ladies can relate to all too well: the dilemma of nothing to wear. She decided to create herself exactly what she was looking for: a well-made piece that didn’t cost a fortune. Little did she know then that creating a one-off would turn into the birth of her two design labels: miss rowe and ASHLEY ROWE.
Her Story:
While studying Fashion Management at George Brown College, Ashley got a real taste for the industry by interning at FLARE and Fashion magazines. She complemented her time in the magazine industry with a brief stint as a stylist and by working at the FDCC (Fashion Design Council of Canada) during two seasons of Fashion Week in Toronto (now LG Fashion Week).
Ashley’s interest in fashion developed at a young age by watching how her mother carefully crafted unique outfits. “I definitely take a cue from my mom. She designs all her own clothes and has them made in her fabric and colour choices. For years, she also worked in the fashion industry and taught me about quality and well-made pieces. As I’ve grown older, she has invested in higher-end pieces that will withstand the test of time and I look forward to them being passed on to me. This made me realize the value of quality and a timeless, classic piece.”
Making it Happen:
The miss rowe line started in 2007 with a spring ’08 collection of all cream and white pieces. After working on the miss rowe collection for four seasons, Ashley felt it was time to grow in to the ASHLEY ROWE brand. “I feel more grown up than when I started the line, and the name change reflects the new feeling of the line. Ashley Rowe debuted for Fall ’09 with a 10 piece collection that focused on hand-dyed fabrics, structured dresses and jackets, and the idea of ‘customization’.”
“I made excellent contacts while interning, and I owe a huge gratitude to both FLARE and Fashion in promoting the line on their pages from the very beginning! The brand has built a reputation for itself as people can now associate the simple silhouettes and beautiful fabrics with the ASHLEY ROWE brand. I also learned a lot more from my mistakes than my successes! After two years and with five collections under my belt, I feel I am finally getting the hang of it!
Her Mission Statement:
“My mantra right now is quite simple,” says Ashley. “The mission statement of ASHLEY ROWE is to create well-made, quality pieces.”
The Challenge:
“In the beginning, I found it extremely difficult to know when to finish my ‘work’ day. I worked from home before moving into my studio so work was always staring at me! Some days it’s definitely more difficult to stay focused on the task at hand than others.”
Hopes for the future:
Ashley plans to continue working on the ASHLEY ROWE brand for the foreseeable future. “I would like to continue to grow the brand and eventually expand in to menswear, shoes and accessories!”
Her advice to you:
“Intern, intern, intern. I can’t stress it enough! Make as many connections as you can when you are starting out. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And also, do everything possible to achieve your wildest dreams. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
To learn more about the ASHLEY ROWE brand and see her rock-n-roll inspired video campaign for the Fall ’09 collection, log to onto www.ashleyrowe.com
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