We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna Flowers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.
Anna , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
I have not yet earned a full time living wage from my creative work. I have been sewing for over 30 years with a passion for wearable art and am currently working towards that being my reality. I spent the last 20years raising two children and knowing the commitment both would take, I prioritized my family. I have only in the last year decided to go 100% into business and it has been such a whirlwind I am beyond excited to see where it goes.
I have been networking and working like crazy to build my brand and collect a team and just last month my husband quit his job to become my full time tech support, web developer/ambassador document writer and overall business manager.
It’s scary for sure to be risking so much, but I have every confidence in our partnership and capabilities as a team.
We have invested a large portion of our life savings into our endeavors and have navigated product fabrication and manufacturing solutions.
Things have been moving so fast it’s hard to keep up at this stage. I have been working nearly around the clock at times, but the rewards are on the tip of my tongue. I can feel it.
Anna , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I first started sewing when I was 13 years old. The moment I sat down at my first machine I knew deep down I had found my passion. I immediately began sewing my own clothes and found I loved going to school in things I knew others wouldn’t have. Through fashion I had the ability to express myself with what I was wearing and I found that to be exciting and liberating.
I started making elaborate outfits for festivals or attending weddings in my early adulthood and when I married my current partner I started making him outfits as well. It wasn’t originally about making money or starting a business, but we couldn’t go anywhere without people telling asking where we got our clothes, if I had any business cards and if I made things for others as well.
My love is creating something unique that is brimming with love and creativity that makes the wearer feel like they have had something awakened inside themselves by putting it on.
I would have to say my most proud moment has been being accepted to walk in London fashion week, now Portland Fashion Week as well as my recent mentorship with Edward Nashen and Chairs Michelsen.
I strive for excellence and the ability to create individual works of art that fit the personality of the individual wearer.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I have a couple goals driving my business approach.
I would have to say the biggest goal is to create art. I see my brand being art at its core. And I very much want my business to be a supporter of the local arts. I believe art is what gives us our humanity and as the world moves more and more towards a tech society it is imperative that we keep the arts alive. I am involved in two separate music groups here on the Island and I want to use my brand to help build the music community here.
I my second goal is to use my brand to help empower the feminine and soon the masculine as well when I launch my mens wear collection which I am very excited about.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
I met my cofounder/business partner 15 years ago at an outdoor psytrance party (Rave) in the woods.
We fell in love under the stars and have been together ever since.
We married in 2009, and he adopted my two children from a previous marriage that turned abusive and left me abandoned as a single mother for several years.
He is the man of my dreams in so many ways that the fact he has taken the plunge in business with me is amazing. He is incredibly intelligent, meticulous with details and there is no one I would trust my company to more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.annaflowersdesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaflowersdesigns?igsh=enJhZnpoeWc0N2I5&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/Wfon8PxbCwzvbcg3/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Photos 1-4
Taken by @danzfussphotography
Model 1
https://www.instagram.com/kristin_singh?igsh=MWJwbnQxdXJvejhmZg==
Model 2
https://www.instagram.com/carla_van_den_berg?igsh=MTNsc25wN3V1cHN5eA==
Model 3
https://www.instagram.com/shelbyyburri?igsh=MWdsNXZ0NDRwdmQxNw==
Image 5
Taken by
@eddykmedia
Model
@miss.myami
Image 6
Taken by
@dose.photo
Model
@miss.myami