“ What I love most about being a young woman on the verge of starting my own design label is the look on everyone ’ s faces .”
My name is Ajaé Lawson-Allen , and I was born in Oklahoma . Life growing up with my family was something most kids dream of . I come from a big family of seven , with three sisters and my twin brother . They are always so loving and supportive . I don ’ t have one bad childhood memory , and it ’ s all because my parents taught us to cherish each other . Now I am married to my wonderful husband , Bryce Allen , and I could not have asked for a better support system in him and my family . I am currently enrolled at the Art Institute of Charlotte , where I ’ m finishing out my fifth quarter . I ’ ll be getting ready for graduation in January and debuting my second collection . I started designing when I was 8-years-old . I can remember my oldest sister , Ayenna , showing me how to draw this asymmetric shirt with flare pants . I remember drawing that same outfit over and over again , just using different colors . I also remember my younger sisters , Amari , Alajah , and I would dress our Barbie ’ s with potato chip bags and rubber bands .
“ What I love most about being a young woman on the verge of starting my own design label is the look on everyone ’ s faces .”
Thinking back on it now it was horrible , but that started my love for fashion ! My inspiration comes from the 19th-century , Victorian Age . I absolutely love the fashion from that time ! All the bustles and corsets , all the hats , jackets , and dresses . My plan for ADD ( Ajaé ’ s Divine Designs ) is to modernize the 19th-century and bring Victorian fashion to the 21st-century with a twist .
The first , biggest highlight of my journey as a designer occurred when I designed my oldest sister ’ s senior prom dress . It was zebra and pink with a detachable train . I was so excited . As soon as the designer we paid to make it came through the door with it I just wanted to cry . Although I didn ’ t make it , it ’ s still a moment I will always remember ; my first design that came to life . I began to do little projects on my own . Making a pillow and blanket in Home Economics class my 8th-grade year in middle school . I once even took a pair of my favorite jeans , ripped them and made shorts . My mother taught me the basics I needed to know to get started on the sewing machine . My family always believed that fashion is what I wanted to do , but I think that it was through all the little projects that they started to see my love and passion for it .
Another highlight was being apart of the 2016 NC Fashion Week . I was so blessed to be a designer in the show . I was able to design and create seven original designs to complete my first collection for ADD .
A lesson I ’ ve learned well on my journey is to keep God first in everything I do , and I will be blessed . My parents always taught me that . Even though sometimes I doubted , God has always showed up and showed out . In high school , I took French for a year and a half . Although I didn ’ t learn or memorize as much as I wanted to , I did take from it my favorite quote : “ Je Pense Donc Je Suis ” by René Descartes , which means , “ I think , therefore I am .” Sometimes when I want to give up , or I feel like all the hard work is for nothing , I think of this quote , and I repeat it to myself over and over again . Then I get back to work .
What I love most about being a young wom-
www . creativeartistmagazine . com 81