Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ayana Ames. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ayana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job
I’ve had a few different jobs and positions that have impacted me as a business owner. I would say the most important experiences I have had came from interning and management positions.
Throughout all of these positions, the common themes were customer service and direction with purpose. Working in the photography industry with children, as well as the death care industry has given me the most perspective. As far as customer service goes, I learned: how to interact with frustrated and disgruntled customers in the most kind and respectful way possible to turn the situation around, when to take a moment to gather all the information before reacting, and to meet people at their needs not just their wants.
When it comes down to “direction with purpose”, I’ve found that it’s more about the mission and the active steps to achieve walking in that statement, rather than sharing empty words and working aimlessly. To have a purpose in general is very important. It’s what we all search for, yet seldom find. Community has been a huge part of my life, but also the positions in which I’ve had. It’s about servicing the community in ways that will improve all of our lives. It’s not just the local community, but includes the global community. Working in the death care industry really taught me a lot about service and serving others; removing yourself and allowing a spirit of service to exude above all else. I am so grateful for the experiences I’ve had so far.
Ayana, 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?
To make a long story short(er), I wear a number of hats and have had many interests growing up. However, my greatest interests settled into clothing and chemistry. I began designing before I knew what I was doing and learned how to sew around 7. My interest in clothing grew as I got into middle school with how I could make something from scraps and illustrating every day outfits. By the time I got to high school, I was designing and constructing my majorette, twirling costumes and more interested in fashion as a whole. So I decided to major in apparel and textile design once I got to college, as opposed to chemistry. From there, I obtained a few internships with a boutique, a t-shirt printing company, and more, learning the in’s and out’s behind different facets of the industry.
After I graduated from The University of Alabama, I had a few other internships and small jobs and decided I wanted to have my own clothing line, Am.A-line Collections. I started with custom clothing for local clients. In 2015, I started having a creative block and in 2018, jumped back in full swing by attending the Magic trade show in Las Vegas. This catapulted restarting my brand and my business with a focus on menswear. I gained knowledge and experience on manufacturing that year, which in turn aided me to launch our first collection in the Spring of 2020.
Am.A-line Collections is a men’s clothing brand specializing in versatile clothing that transcends seasons. We focus on using eco-friendly and sustainable fibers/fabrics in our clothing for longevity as well as for a lesser carbon footprint. All of our designs are lightweight by nature in order to create the ultimate layering pieces. Our collections range from short sleeve henleys, long sleeve button ups, 3/4 sleeve shirts, sweaters, and pants. Each style has a subtle, yet bold design statement that is sure to turn heads.
I am so proud of how far the line has come since beginning this journey. There’s a lot to do and a lot more ground to cover on the journey, but I’m excited to see where it leads the brand. I’m excited to share where we’re headed as a small brand. We’re hoping to set a tone and aid in the revival of the art of dress for men, even if it is in an unorthodox manner. We may even be in a store near you soon. So definitely keep a lookout on our progress and where the road takes us next!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I have read quite a few books that have strongly influenced me. The top three books on my list are: Essentialism by Greg McKeown, You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero, and The Art of War by Lao Tzu.
Each one of these books has struck me in different ways at different times in my life. Essentialism gave me a different view as to valuing my time and maximizing it in ways most important to me. It strips everything down to what is essential and has allowed me to recoup and champion my time.
Jen Sincero’s book was suggested to me during a time of healing. It reaffirmed a lot of what I knew about myself and also provided another perspective on how to shut out the extra noise.
I refer back to The Art of War often. I use the tactical strategies and proverbs on a regular basis. It helps me to refocus my efforts and analyze my strategies to succeed.
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
I do manufacture our products. I had a general working knowledge about production, but not to the extent I needed.
When I went to Magic in 2018, I met so many manufacturers, as well as a brand consultant. She helped me navigate through how to communicate with factories and get started. It really opened my eyes and gave me a deeper understanding about the manufacturing process.
So over the last couple of years, I’ve sourced for various manufacturers and have created some relationships. It was, and can still be, a challenge to find a great manufacturer that understands what I want my design to communicate. Through trade shows and online sourcing platforms, I’ve been lucky enough to find a few and hope to continue working with them.
I’ve learned quite a few lessons through the manufacturing process; and, each time it gets a little better with fewer mistakes and less miscommunication. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is not being afraid to be direct, ask as many questions as possible, and continue to stay in touch. The last being the most important, especially since a factory may be servicing over thousands of brands a day. Also, I’ve learned that your quality will only be as good as you have sourced and questioned for it to be. If you don’t speak up and just put your whole trust into it, you may end up more upset with the product than as happy as you were with the sample.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amalinecollections.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/amalinecollections
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/amalinecollections
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/am-a-line-collections
Image Credits
Joseph Stevenson