We were lucky to catch up with Gabby Loftin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Gabby, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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 did not realize I could turn my passion and hobbies into a living until I sold my first product to my mom’s friend. Since I was two, I have been creating. Creating is my way of expressing myself, and its a beautiful feeling to know that by me expressing myself, people would love it enough to purchase my creative expression.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Gabby and I am DC’s youngest celebrity fashion designer and published author. I started my business with making lip gloss and nail polish first. At three I learned to sew. I started with making pillows first, then I went on to make circle skirts and dressed. By 5, I was showing my first collection at D.C. Fashion week, making history to become the youngest fashion designer to ever show during a major fashion week. By 6 years old, I had shown in LA Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week. My brand blossomed from there. I started designing shoes, making accessories, and more. Now at age 11, I have been recognize by the DC Mayor, DC Chamber of Commerce, and many other fashion weeks and organizations for my business, community work and fashion designs.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society can support artists and a thriving creative ecosystem through strategies like increased funding, accessible resources, arts education, promotion, fair compensation, cultural policies, collaboration, community engagement, mental health support, and long-term sustainability. These efforts aim to nurture creativity, provide opportunities for artists to showcase their work, and ensure their well-being while enriching society with their creations.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A time I had to pivot in my business was when I made the choice to rebrand my business to be for all women that wanted to express themselves in a creative way.

When I first stared, my brand was for girls my age, which was girls 7 and under. I would get adults asking me to make them clothes or accessories, so I decided, I want to make clothes for women too. So I rebranded, and came up with the tag line “Creatively Me.” I want my products to be for creatives, so they can feel free to say, I am Creatively Me, when they purchase a Gabby’s World Designs’ product or one of my books.

Contact Info:

• Website: gabbysworlddesigns.com
• Instagram: @gabbysworlddesign
• Facebook: Gabbys World Designs
• Linkedin: Gabbysworlddesigns313
• Youtube: Gabby’s World Designs

Image Credits
@Future_Star_Photography JG Studios – @bwwjay_