Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elyse Jones. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elyse, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

The journey started as a fun joke between two friends. What began as casual talks and funny ideas about clothes slowly grew into something much bigger than I could have ever imagined. She gave me a simple task to make a maxi skirt, and I laughed. I was recovering from surgery, so this felt more like a fun pastime than a serious project. But over time, I noticed I kept returning to the same conversations about making skirts for other people. That joke turned into a clear vision. My first step was to figure out how to even operate the sewing machine. Lol! Once I mastered the basics, I went to YouTube University to figure out, step by step, how to create a maxi skirt, and the rest is history.
As a self-taught designer, I learned everything from scratch, from fabrics and pattern making to branding and production. What began as a joke quickly became a passion. I spent months, even years, refining ideas, making samples, learning from mistakes, and trying again. Sometimes the results weren’t what we expected, but each setback taught me something valuable. Every challenge pushed me to be more creative and more dedicated to our goal. As the designs improved, I started focusing on building the basics of my business. I worked on my brand identity, found suppliers, explored production options, built a website, and learned about marketing. Many late nights were spent carefully managing each step. The most rewarding part of this journey was seeing an idea, once just a conversation, turn into something real. Holding the first finished pieces reminded me of how far I’ve come since those initial jokes.
Looking back, what started as a fun joke between friends has become one of our greatest gifts. It gave me a creative outlet, a meaningful project, and a chance to make something that truly represents who I am. It also showed me that some of the best opportunities come from taking a simple idea seriously and exploring its potential. What made me laugh at first eventually became a brand, a business, and a dream come true.to life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a self-taught fashion designer and entrepreneur, but more than that, I’m someone who transformed an unexpected idea into a passionate creative mission. My journey into fashion wasn’t shaped in a classroom or through formal training. What started out as casual chats gradually grew into something I couldn’t get out of my mind. This curiosity drove me to learn everything I could about fashion design, garment construction, fabrics, branding, and business development. Although I faced many trials and errors, each mistake turned into a valuable lesson. Being self-taught pushed me to be resourceful, persistent, and inventive in finding solutions.
Today, my work centers on creating apparel that tells meaningful stories, celebrates individuality, and showcases quality craftsmanship. I don’t just want to make clothing; I aim to craft pieces that truly resonate with people. Fashion is a wonderfully personal way to express ourselves, and I believe what we wear should reflect who we are, where we’ve been, and what we stand for.
What makes my brand special is genuine authenticity. I did not start with a big corporation or a team of industry insiders. Instead, I built this from the ground up, fueled by passion, a clear vision, and a desire to learn. Every design, collection, and decision is driven by a heartfelt love for the culture, community, and stories that inspire us.
One of my main goals is to help people find clothing that feels personal rather than mass-produced. In a world full of fleeting trends, I want to create pieces that carry true meaning and let people express their identity confidently.
The achievement I cherish most isn’t a specific product or milestone; it’s the journey of transforming an idea many might have overlooked into something real and meaningful. Building a brand from scratch has taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of holding on to my vision, even when the path isn’t always clear. The main thing I want people to know about both me and the brand is that everything springs from a genuine place. Each collection reflects growth, creativity, and a heartfelt commitment to getting better with every step. I’m still learning, evolving, and striving to bring you better work with every new release. At its heart, this brand shows that sometimes the best opportunities come from the most unexpected places.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I think non-creatives often struggle to understand is how much of the work happens before anyone sees the final product.
People usually see the finished garment, the photoshoot, the logo, or the social media post. What they don’t see are the countless hours spent developing ideas, revising concepts, second-guessing decisions, solving problems, and starting over when something doesn’t feel right. Creativity isn’t just inspiration; it’s persistence.
As a self-taught designer, I didn’t have a roadmap to follow. A lot of my journey involved teaching myself skills, making mistakes, and figuring things out through trial and error. There were moments when progress felt invisible because I spent weeks or months learning something that would yield only a small improvement. From the outside, it may have looked like nothing was happening, but behind the scenes, everything was happening.
Another thing people may not realize is how creative personal work can be. When you create something, you’re putting a piece of yourself into it. Every design represents an idea, a feeling, or a story. When people connect with your work, it’s incredibly rewarding. When they don’t, you must learn not to take it personally and keep creating anyway.
I also think many people underestimate how much courage creativity requires. Launching a design, sharing your vision, or building a brand means opening yourself up to criticism and uncertainty. There are no guarantees. You spend a lot of time betting on yourself before anyone else does.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that creativity isn’t about waiting for the perfect idea or the perfect moment. It’s about continuing to create, learn, and improve even when things aren’t perfect. The breakthrough moments people see are usually the result of hundreds of small decisions, failures, and lessons that happened long before anyone was paying attention.
If my journey can help anyone, it’s by showing that you don’t need to have everything figured out to start. What began as a joke between two friends eventually became something real because we were willing to take the idea seriously and keep moving forward one step at a time.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Absolutely! Looking back, I realize that the real challenge wasn’t the lack of information but knowing where to focus my attention. As a self-taught designer, I often tried to learn everything all at once. If I could turn back time, I’d tell myself to focus earlier on understanding the business side of creativity just as much as the creative side. Learning how to design is essential, but understanding branding, marketing, production, pricing, and customer relationships truly helps turn a creative passion into a sustainable and fulfilling business.
I also wish I’d discovered the magic of creative communities sooner. Early on, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Connecting with other designers, entrepreneurs, and creators showed me that some of the most valuable lessons come from conversations and shared experiences. Seeing how others navigated their challenges inspired me and helped me avoid mistakes, especially during difficult times.
Another thing I underestimated was the power of documenting the journey. I used to worry a lot about whether my work was good enough to share. Looking back, sharing my process earlier would have strengthened my connection with my audience and created a beautiful record of my growth. People are often just as interested in the journey as they are in the final piece.
Beyond tools or platforms, patience is a resource I wish I’d embraced sooner. In today’s fast-paced world, success stories often come with headlines and highlight reels on social media. But most creative journeys require years of experimentation, setbacks, learning, and perseverance. Realizing this earlier would have eased some of the unnecessary pressure I felt.
If I could offer one tip to someone starting out today, it would be this: spend as much time building your brand and community as you do honing your craft. Creating great work is important, but sharing the story behind it is what truly makes a lasting impact.
The good news is that today’s creators have access to an abundance of resources, tutorials, online communities, educational content, and networking opportunities that are just a click away. The real challenge isn’t finding information; it’s applying what you learn consistently and staying dedicated to your journey long enough to see the results.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuttingedjdesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuttingedjdesigns

Image Credits

Photographers:
Iris Rodriguez
Jehan Daughtery
Dysheen Davis