Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to NyLeah Ford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
NyLeah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I’m a fashion designer and I started sewing when I was 11. I took sewing classes that were offered at JoAnn Fabrics. From that age I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer and so when it came time to go to college I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology. College as well as my many internships at places like Robert Graham and Ramy Brook, gave me tools that I apply to my designs and business today. Knowing what I know now I do not think I would have done anything to speed up the process. It takes time to learn a craft. It takes making mistakes, those mistakes stick with me, and then they don’t happen again. A skill that I have is being ok with being corrected. I’m still at the beginning of my career with so much left to learn. I understand that I will make mistakes but I am so open to learning and it’s ok to be wrong. There’s no way that I can know everything.
NyLeah, 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’m a Black, woman, sustainable fashion designer who has recently relocated to Southern California after spending a decade in New York. I created my business after working in fashion for 7 years and seeing how wasteful the fashion industry is. I love creating new designs but I did not want to be wasteful or use harmful textiles. My designs are all made from sustainable fabrics like linen, organic cotton, and bamboo. My designs are all made to order to avoid over producing and to ensure my customers purchase an item that fits them well. I like to say my brand is sustainable and sexy. At the time I decided to start my brand I was looking for cute summer clothing and did not want to shop at fast fashion brands. I was 27 and the clothing I was finding did not mesh with how I like to dress. I started creating pieces for myself and saw how folks around me and on social media responded to it. I decided to start offering these pieces on an online shop for those also interested in shopping sustainably but may want something with less of a utilitarian aesthetic.
What makes me feel most proud is when people are excited about purchasing one of my pieces and inform me that it’s their first time straying away from fast fashion. I’m always honored that they take that leap with my brand.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My college experiences showed me how resilient I am. When I attended Fashion Institute of Technology, design students had mandatory design classes to take as well as liberal arts each semester. I would take 7 to 8 classes per semester. I also worked about 35 hours/week at Forever 21 in Time Square. That store was always open. There were many times that I went from working an overnight shift then headed to class. I also had an internship every semester with the exception of my first semester. To add to that, rent is incredibly pricy in New York. I rented rooms through out college and searched for other rooms when the prices went up or other circumstances which would force me to move. I look back on those four years and I am immensely impressed with myself and my resilience.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I knew how great of a tool social media is. It is great for interacting with a community of like minded people and a great way to share ideas. It has brought me in contact with amazing people that I do not know if I would have met if I did utilize social media.
Social Tea is an amazing organization I learned about through social media. Through them I was able to work with an incredible business coach who broke down what I needed to start my business and thoroughly answered all my questions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nyleahford.com/
- Instagram: @nyleahford