Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Locks.
Hi Leslie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve loved fashion and creativity for as long as I can remember. My mom jokes that it all started when I was teething on her Gucci bag, and honestly, that tracks. As a child, I insisted on styling my own outfits, often changing multiple times a day, and I was always drawn to creating things by hand and seeing others enjoy what I made. From artwork in elementary and middle school to helping select cheer uniforms, I was constantly finding ways to express myself creatively.
That passion deepened when I spent summers in High School studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology, which truly laid the groundwork for my love of fashion and design. As an adult, I continued to share my creativity in different ways, painting murals to beautify small spaces, designing custom denim jackets and outerwear, and eventually stepping into what I’m most proud of today: JerseyGirlATL.
JerseyGirlATL is my way of upcycling jerseys into custom, one-of-a-kind pieces that blend sporty and girly in the best way. As a mom of identical twin 8-year-old boys who love soccer and basketball, I was thrown headfirst into the world of sports, and I wanted to create a way to connect sports and fashion in a fun, authentic, and feminine way. I was inspired by Kristin Juszczyk and how she carved out space for women to have fun with fashion in sports, which motivated me to create my own lane and build a community around it.
Once the idea hit, I moved fast. I called my mom to ask to use her sewing machine, and I haven’t returned it to her since! I had no formal sewing background, but I believe anything can be learned with determination and the help of YouTube and TikTok. I taught myself, practiced relentlessly, and just started creating.
The beauty of my work lies in the upcycled component. I source jerseys from thrift stores and Depop, and as a self-proclaimed compulsive shopper, this is my way of contributing to sustainable fashion, for myself and for others. Right now, I take custom orders and sell redesigned, reworked jerseys on Etsy and Depop, with the goal of launching my own website to bring everything into one space and continue growing this community of sports and fashion lovers.
When I’m inspired, nothing can get in my way, and JerseyGirlATL is just the beginning!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I’m incredibly grateful for how things have been unfolding over the last few months with JerseyGirlATL. In many ways, I’ve been flying literally by the seams of my pants, pun fully intended. I started out creating purely from inspiration and momentum, and only recently became more strategic about my designs, sourcing, and timelines.
One of the biggest challenges is that every piece starts with an upcycled jersey. Because I source secondhand, there’s never a guarantee that a specific team, player, or size will be available at the price point I’m aiming for. That uncertainty requires flexibility, patience, and constant communication with customers. It can slow the process, but it also adds an element of excitement. There’s something special about hunting down the perfect jersey and keeping customers updated along the way once it’s sourced.
As demand has grown, I’ve had to think more intentionally about efficiency, how to source jerseys in advance, how to rework them within a realistic timeframe, and how to build inventory that’s ready to ship. With the World Cup coming to Atlanta, I’ve been intentionally sourcing soccer jerseys, especially since my ruched waist style has become one of my best sellers. This shift has allowed me to have ready-to-go, reworked pieces available at the click of a button while still maintaining the brand’s one-of-a-kind, upcycled heart.
The challenges have pushed me to grow quickly, but they’ve also helped shape JerseyGirlATL into something more thoughtful, sustainable, and scalable.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At the heart of everything I do is creativity, connection, and purpose. Professionally, I serve as the Director of the Whole Child at KIPP Atlanta Schools, where I design and lead enrichment experiences that support scholars beyond academics, through the arts, academic competitions, and creative partnerships. I’m known for building spaces where scholars can discover their interests, develop confidence, and see themselves as capable, creative, and worthy of opportunity. That work is deeply rooted in my belief that students thrive when they’re supported as whole people.
Outside of KIPP, I channel that same philosophy into my creative business, JerseyGirlATL. I specialize in upcycled, one-of-a-kind fashion pieces that blend a sporty and feminine aesthetic, custom-reworked jerseys that let women express their love of sports through style. Each piece is intentionally sourced, redesigned, and sewn to create something unique, sustainable, and bold. What I’m most known for is taking something traditionally masculine or utilitarian and transforming it into something expressive, stylish, and empowering.
What sets me apart is that these two worlds, education and fashion, are not separate for me. They inform and fuel each other. As an educator and leader, I’m intentional about modeling for scholars and peers that it is possible to love what you do, to build a career aligned with your passions, and to show up authentically in every space you occupy. I want young people, especially girls, to see that creativity isn’t a side hobby; it can be a pathway, a business, and a way to make an impact on the world.
What I’m most proud of is creating in alignment with who I am. Whether I’m coordinating regional competitions, building partnerships, supporting scholars, or sewing late at night, my work is rooted in joy, intention, and authenticity. JerseyGirlATL isn’t just about fashion; it’s about community, representation, sustainability, and confidence. And my work at KIPP is about opening doors, expanding possibilities, and helping scholars see that their passions matter.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to live creatively, lead with heart, and show others, especially the next generation, that you don’t have to choose between purpose and passion. You can build a life that honors both.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was creative, expressive, and very sure of myself in ways that felt natural. I’ve always known what I liked and wasn’t afraid to show it, especially when it came to fashion. I insisted on picking out and styling my own outfits at a young age and was known for changing clothes multiple times a day to get as many “looks” in as I could. Self-expression wasn’t just something I enjoyed; it was how I made sense of the world.
Art was my safe place in school. It was the one space where I could fully express myself without being held to anyone else’s standard except my own. There was freedom in creating without comparison, and that experience has shaped how I see creativity to this day: a space for confidence, exploration, and authenticity.
I’ve always taken fashion risks and owned my sense of style, even when it didn’t align with what was considered “typical” or “professional.” Conforming to trends that felt inauthentic never sat right with me. Feeling confident in what I’m wearing has always mattered because clothing is an extension of how I show up in the world. That belief has stayed with me into adulthood, and I’m very intentional about modeling it.
Today, I love encouraging others, especially fellow millennial women, to have fun with fashion and to permit themselves to express who they are through what they wear. For me, creativity, confidence, and self-expression have always gone hand in hand, and that foundation continues to guide both my personal style and the work I do now.
Pricing:
- Ruched Soccer Jerseys start at $65
- Long- Sleeved Football Jerseys start at $75
- Hook and Eye Tank Jerseys start at $75
- Custom sourced Jersey styles start at $80
- Other Custom styles are available upon request!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4383680610/reworked-jersey-tops
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leswrites/
- Other: https://depop.com/jerseygirlatl
