We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Lange recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

How PLB Threads became my business name. Coming up with a business name is never easy to do. You want it to mean something but also want it to be unique for your business. I have 3 kids that mean the world to me and everything I do I do it for them, so I wanted them to be a part of my business name. My kid’s names are Parker, Liam & Bryn that is how I got the PLB. Working with clothing I wanted that to be incorporated somehow so when people read the name, they could know it had something to do with clothing/fashion. When I can’t make up my mind up on something I tend to ask my mom and sister for their advice. I had many ideas like Clothing, Style, Fashion….. and Threads. All three of us liked Threads and that is where PLB Threads name came from.

Ashley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always loved fun unique clothing that is tie-dyed or reverse tie-dyed. I started with zero experience but jumped two feet in and have learned as I go. PLB Threads makes one of a kind tie-dyed, reverse tie-dyed, and ice-dyed clothing. I make tees, sweatshirts, joggers, hats, and socks.

Not many know what ice-dying is and once they find out they think it is very neat. For ice-dying I start with a piece of white clothing that has a higher cotton count to hold the dye. The items need to soak in soda ash to get the PH levels up, after the soaking you scrunch, rubber band and place the items in a bucket or basket. There are many ways to do ice-dying so depending the look I’m wanting will depend on the technique I use. Place in a bucket and cover with ice. A sweatshirt/hoodie takes about 10 pounds of ice, then sprinkle with the dry dye. The dye can go on before or after the ice again depend on the technique being used. Then you just let the ice do its magic and melt. A sweatshirt will take 3-5 days to sit and process. With the dye being dry it splits and makes other beautiful colors.

Reverse tie-dye is taking the color out of the shirt making it unique. All of my items whether ice-dyed or reverse tie-dye are one of a kind no two items are the same.

PLB Threads is about making everyone feel good no matter their size they should be able to have fun clothes. I carry adult sizes small-4XL with no extra cost on plus sizes. If you don’t see the size, you want/need please reach out and I will do my best to find the size you want. Not every brand that I use carries all the sizes, but I will find what you need, just many be a little different.

How did you build your audience on social media?

How did I built my social media, PLB Threads has a private Facebook group, TikTok, Clapper and Instagram page along with I have a personal Facebook page. I decided to do a private FB group, so everyone feels comfortable if they are posting or asking questions. To be completely honest I am not the best at staying active on all of my social media pages. Life and motherhood are crazy, and my top priority is being a mom and to make the memories now with my kids now while they are still young. I could be much better but then something else like my kids would have to give. I have a website and at the bottom of my website I list any upcoming events that I have coming up. I will also post my events in my FB group and on my personal pages. I have customers that will come to events that I have just to see what’s new and get some new clothing. One piece of key advice is show yourself on social media like I take pictures of myself wearing all the clothes I make sure my customers can see the items on someone. I follow some people that never ever show themselves, so you don’t get to know them or see who they are. Show yourself, it may scare you, but it will help.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I do sell my clothing on my website www.plbthreads.com. I also do vendor events in the area that have been a big hit for myself and customers. Doing events, it gives the opportunity for my customers to feel, see and try on the items in person. See things online can be hard to shop for due to sizes, colors and how it feels. It also gives me the chance to connect with my customers on a personal level and not just trough a screen. I also have my clothing in some local stores in the area.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.plbthreads.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/plbthreadsco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/403064831542971/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/Ashleylange30?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=48dfe5e2-593e-49eb-a13b-623d1689b6b4