We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Austin Alegria. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Austin below.

Hi Austin , thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

I started my business officially March 2020 during the pandemic, I was let go from my job due to the pandemic. My boyfriend said now is the time to do what you actually want and work on you and your business. I was scared as I hadn’t sold anything of mine or made anything in a very long time. But I took the plunge and decided to make crossbody handbags in an envelope style.

if I would have believed in myself more I think I would have actually been in such a good position right now. But I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. I do not think I would have been able to handle the pressures ten years ago. I think I would have caved and never looked back into doing it again. I’m glad I started when I did because I have my boyfriend who helps me and pushes me to be the best version of myself and a good boss for myself. The times I’ve always wanted to quit he’s always been there to help me through it.

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 was born in Jackson Mississippi, and raised in south Texas. Growing up I always had an interest in fashion but never knew that I could ever actually do something with it. Growing up my mother had a floral shop/wedding planning business and was also so intrigued by it. She also did small beading working on the side for custom gowns and I would watch her for hours when she would bead. As time passed I finished high school and decided to head to college at UIW. I entered as a business student but last minute during my orientation process I changed my major to fashion design.

I began to put really put myself in everything and anything. I Applied to internships, I became dressers for fashion shows, I stayed late after class to work on projects, etc… as my second year came around I became fashion society president; It was such an amazing experience.

During my second year I also interned for Robert Mitchell, a powerhouse in fashion show production. I was able to learn how to build a runway from the ground up. I was able to work for retailers like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Dillards and Julian Gold. Also work and assist Carolina Herrera for fashion show here in San Antonio. It was truly an honor to work along side her for this!

I was also able to gain knowledge on the business aspect of fashion and business while working for Sheila Masterson who brought Fashion Group International to its start several years ago. I was her assistant and saw all the work it took to build shows and host events and work with local artists.

Several years passed and my dream had to take a back burner due to family issues with my mother unfortunately getting sick. I had to leave my passions and care for her. So for seven plus years I worked in retail and not on my dreams.

Flash forward to today; I would not have seen myself doing what I am doing now. It took the pandemic to really push me to do what I wanted to do. I was let go from my job on March 19; and was told that it was due to the pandemic. After being home for a week my boyfriend said let’s get you all your tools to start your business and let’s get this going. I started to make handbags, accessories and now clothing once again. If it wasn’t for the pandemic and the push from my boyfriend I would not be here doing this today a year later! Fashion is my passion and I love the way it makes people feel. I love the way someones confidence changes when they have they right outfit on or the right accessories. It’s something I always see myself doing, and something i’ll always do.

I am most proud of everything I have accomplished. From creating a clothing line, now doing our third fashion show for Texas Fashion Week on October 5th. Becoming a Board of Director for Texas Fashion Industry to just actually being happy for the first time in my life with my career choices. We strive to be all inclusive in all aspects of our brand. We want the world to fall in love with our art and encompass it in their every day life. As art continues to inspire we strive to inspire those to be who they want to be in a world where it seems like you can not. Originality, Evolution & style; you are original, you will evolve and do it with your own style!

We strive to be all inclusive in all aspects of our brand. We want the world to fall in love with our art and encompass it in their every day life. As art continues to inspire we strive to inspire those to be who they want to be in a world where it seems like you can not. Originality, Evolution & style; you are original, you will evolve and do it with your own style!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2013 I had to move back home to the Rio Grande Valley from San Antonio unfortunately because my mother had received the news that she had cancer. I right away packed my things and moved down to help her. In this process I had a self hate with myself because I thought everything was going wrong, I couldn’t hold a job, I thought I wasn’t creative enough and I thought no one loves me because I was just a loser.

In this process however I decided to start my design career back up and start to do what I wanted since I was at home with my. mom. My mom being a seamstress and had her own wedding planning business said she would also help me. So I began to fall in love with my craft, myself and my journey once again. We did this for two years and things were on the uphill! I started styling for magazines, started designing sustainable dresses for fashion shows and started having shoots with my collection. it was absolutely amazing. it all took a turn the moment my mom got really sick and unfortunately cancer took her. I lost my rock lost the person who pushed me and lost the ability to feel creative. I had to work again pay bills and put what I wanted in the back burner because now I myself had a whole house, vehicles, credit cards to pay for. It wasn’t what I wanted but it was what I needed to do!

I worked retail up until the pandemic; March of 2020 I was let go and again I was lost. But this time I had my boyfriend Christopher Collins to help me through it. He said nows your chance do what you want to do and ill help you along the way. I said no I don’t think people care about what I have to sell or make anymore I think that has passed. I eventually listened to him and decided to make bags. Make the pattern sew it etc.. Well since March 2020 we have built full on collections. From handbags to accessories and now clothing again. We are working on our third collection for Texas Fashion Week happening October 5th. Without him I would not be where I am today and I thank him very much for the person he is and the person he’s made me be. I am also now a director for the Texas Fashion Industry non profit. I help new designer and artists work on their craft and their dreams. I can’t wait to see where the next two years will take us! Maybe NY or maybe Paris!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

one of the best pieces of advice I can give is to always post on your social medias. When you have a customer purchase an item make sure you tell them to tag you that way you can repost. In the beginning I always made sure to take photos of people who bought items at our pop ups. I had them give me their social medias and I would tag them in all platforms. Eventually I got their followers to follow me. Create a business card with a QR code and use link tree in that QR code. put all your social media platforms and have people follow you. I added the QR code as soon as the pandemic happened and let me tell you it works! Take videos of things you make, or your outfits and create reels and or tik toks, those things go a long way! It having and creating content!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.austinalegria.com
• Instagram: @austinxalegria
• Facebook: Austin Alegria x Austin
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-alegria-92694393
• Twitter: @austinxalegria

Image Credits
Photographer: Daniel Lockwood Saige Thomas Chris Contoya