We recently connected with Aurora Walker and have shared our conversation below.
Aurora, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
So long ago in the swamplands of Louisiana in New Orleans, I had just recently graduated college and set out to pursue my dreams of furthering my career in apparel and costume design. I had previously been a bridal consultant at Yvonne LaFleur’s boutique shop and I was trying to begin networking within the community to find clients that needed seamstress services. I happen to be out one day on Magazine St. when I took notice of a gown and formal wear shop that had signage posted in the window “seeking seamstress”. I knew now was my chance. I prepared carefully and decided to come back the next day cleaned up and dressed professionally with some samples of my work to show the manager. Following my instincts must have worked out as I got hired as a contractor for their store that very day performing alterations on gowns for their customers and the rest is history as they say.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My passion for sewing and fashion design began with me at an early age modeling myself after my mother and grandmother who both knew how to sew very well. My mother was also a very talented artist that graduated from Newcomb – Tulane. She drew the most beautiful illustrations of women and it very much inspired me to start drawing women in beautiful dresses all the time. Later on in life, I began entering beauty pageants along with my older sister at our school. My mother Rita was a single mother of 3 and truly did her best to provide. Unfortunately it meant that we were somewhat poor and couldn’t afford all of the gorgeous, and rather expensive, gowns my friends could. What my mother lacked in funding she made up with her creative talents however. Not only were our gowns re-purposed from thrift stores and friends, but enhanced and altered beautifully by my mother as well. The result? My older sister won 1st place in her class and I placed 3rd runner up in mine as well. The lesson I absorbed from this was that things didn’t need to be store bought and brand new to be beautiful and interesting. Needless to say this stuck with me throughout my career as a seamstress as I do my utmost to minimize textile consumption and needless waste in materials by utilizing used and vintage pieces when permissible.
Since then I have expanded my skills immensely and started my own personal seamstress business (Designs by Roux) where I offer assistance with custom designs in apparel, costumes, alterations, and more. From industrial sewing, to bridal, Mardi Gras, burlesque lingerie/costumes, men & women’s wear, formal wear, and film and television work I have experienced a great deal contributing to my portfolio of work. The expertise I offer with my services pertains to more than just my skills as a seamstress. From design conceptualization, to fabric shopping, fittings, alterations, and completed works; I am with you every step of the way. My personal nature with my clients and transparent honesty have been a staple of my business since its inception. By providing more than just equipment and time, I cultivate long lasting relationships with my clients built upon quality and integrity. My brand is a reflection of not only my creative ability, but also my commitment, ethics, skill, and original style all my own.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience I would say is a strong word associated with who I am and my business. From the moment I graduated high school when Hurricane Katrina completely destroyed my home, I knew I was embarking on a personal evolution. Grappling with piecing together my life while pursuing my education was an immense trial to my mental health. Forcing myself to make the most of what limited resources I had available affirmed my commitment to minimizing consumption associated with my craft. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Boy they weren’t kidding.
Another instance of obstacles I had to overcome was following a case of arson that was committed against myself and my fellow tenants residing in a quadplex in the Broadmoor area of New Orleans. A gentleman set fire to a decrepit home next door that had deteriorated since Hurricane Katrina and in turn set our building ablaze. I was a seamstress in the Housekeeping Department of the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter during this time and could not afford renter’s insurance. As a result of the fire, my neighbors and I lost everything, and I was once again forced to start over from scratch. The most devastating part of the loss was not the material possessions, but my portfolio of fashion sketches I had accumulated since graduating college.
My relentless pursuit of my dreams and my passions I fully attribute to my success despite my setbacks in life. There is no greater a lesson I can impart from my experiences than this: no matter how bleak things may seem, never give up.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Much of my education at college prepared me for the fashion industry from a retail perspective with the industry knowledge prior to development of the internet. Singlehandedly, online retail business has changed the landscape of the apparel and fashion industry forever. As our understanding of the new market was developing, so were my tactics and methods in reaching my goals. The invention of social media as well has greatly impacted the manner in which we market ourselves and products. Being firsthand witness to the societal change brought on by the creation of the internet and everything in tangent has been immensely valuable to me. I now understand that times are changing constantly, as is the way we live and conduct business on a day to day basis. In order to succeed and thrive in an industry as fiercely competitive as apparel, one MUST be willing to adapt and evolve their methods with the changing times. While it is true some things never change as far as customer preferences; the truth is only the innovators willing to change will prevail for the longevity in fashion. One of the most important relevant issues the apparel industry is faced with as of late concerns the ever growing problem of pollution as a direct result of textile manufacturing and fast fashion businesses. In short, in the near future I predict that utilizing more recycled and/or repurposed materials will become an eventuality. With that said, I foresee more designers, sewing enthusiasts, and craftsmen utilizing this principle in their businesses to maintain and expand. I proudly count myself (Designs by Roux) amongst these forward thinkers and hope more tradesmen and women of my profession be open and receptive to change as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designsbyroux.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therouxlala/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RouxlalaAtlanta
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/designsbyroux/
Image Credits
Josh Vine Studio