Today we’d like to introduce you to Helena Morrison.
HOW IT ALL BEGUN
In 2007, while a junior in college, Helena began hand-making her own belts and clutch purses from unusual placemats among other interesting findings that she purchased from vintage and thrifts stores close to her school. Admired by her peers in college, she was urged to develop this hobby of hers into a business as they’d been interested in owning some of her creations. It wasn’t until early 2008 while a sophomore that she started making them for commercial use. She started selling a few pieces here and there to friends and loved ones under various made-up names just to have an identity for her little home business. Some people referred to her as “the bag lady” or “Mrs finder.” She, at one point, used the name “funkyretrochic” and then she used “handmade with love”. She even also went with the name “missmo” and some family members named her “the spice girl”. But it wasn’t until November of 2008 when she finally officially registered the company as Aya Morrison. This will come to be known as the real birth of the brand Aya Morrison. Making these unique vintage-looking bags and accessories caught on so well that Helena decided to use other materials aside her vintage finds. She then started using colorful, bold African prints for her products that caught on so well as it was different and actually pleasing to the eye. Helena’s love for swimming as well as her urge to continue creating unique, functional and fashionable pieces got her to start designing swimwear with these colorful African print fabrics that were absolutely a new “thing” for the simple 2009 era. The release of the swimwear line under the brand is what popularized Aya Morrison Atelier.
THE BRAND
Now, 11 years old, Aya Morrison is a premium women’s swimwear and accessories brand that focuses on representing an African luxury ideal in a less traditional manner, representing femininity, class and a diaspora narrative; ensuring our pieces are functional, realistic and resonate deeply with well-traveled, lifestyle-focused women.
Our custom colorful threads are spun into vibrant contemporary “Ntoma” (traditional fabric from Ghana) – inspired print, then stitched together by a few amazing women in the southern suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa; this then becomes the Aya Morrison collection that you know and love.
Our design aesthetic incorporates a range of modern, retro and elegant silhouettes allowing for sophisticated, fashion-forward beach favorites. With an array of options in our swimwear designs, our seasonal collections are a cross between the contemporary, classic and cutting-edge selections; a panache of decadence that allows you to make your own personal fashion statement
Helena, our creative director is also our in-house stylist who prides herself in highlighting and combining individual pieces into enhanced mix-matched new looks through her styling tips that can be found on our blog – the ‘A.M Edit’. – Indulge
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not. The biggest challenge was finances and then finding the right manufacturers to produce my designs.
Being an entrepreneur is hard. Best advice I will give is to have self-motivation and inspiration. You have to find that specific thing that motivates you to keep you focused on the journey because there will be times that will make you want to give up. You have to motivate yourself because only you know and understand your vision so you need to motivate yourself. Also, find a good mentor that inspires you to remember why you started what you’re doing in the first place. Once you have this umph in you, everything is possible.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m the creative director at Aya Morrison. I run the business and handle all the creative/pr aspects from social media management to collection release event planning.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
Yes, I believe women have so much opportunity if they ‘dress’ for it. As a woman, carry yourself well, speak well, read wide (research and enlighten yourself), network and you will be surprised how much of these challenges you can overcome and breakthrough.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://shopayamorrison.com/
- Email: info@ayamorrison.com
- Instagram: @ayamorrison
- Facebook: aya.morrison
- Twitter: @ayamorrison
- Others: http://ayamorrison.com/
Image Credit:
Lightville photography
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