Rising Stars: Meet Liyana Postles of Atlanta, Ga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liyana Postles.

Hi Liyana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I feel like I truly found a passion for fashion during COVID. This was when TikTok was on the rise and my for you page mostly consisted of people playing dress up in their closets. I can’t really explain it, but something just clicked inside of me and it led me to researching colleges that had majors in fashion. Now, I am a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design, studying fashion marketing and management and I’ve been introduced and intrigued by so many different kinds of roles in the industry that I never would have been privy to.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There will always be a challenge that arises whether internal or external, especially when it’s something you’re passionate about. The fashion industry is not an easy industry to break into, so naturally I worry that the work I produce is not up to par or get nervous to try something because I don’t want to fail. It’s honestly all about shifting your mindset. Do it scared, feel honored or privileged to have tried and failed. The world keeps spinning and life really is about living and learning. It’s obviously easier said than done, but it’s true! The other challenge is feeling discouraged when you apply for something and don’t get chosen and it sometimes makes me want to quit altogether, but because I’m passionate about fashion I try, try again. To anyone expecting to succeed on the first try or doing things that you’re not in love with, it’ll show. At the first sign of struggle you’ll quit. Find the thing you’d do for free. The thing you’d do for nothing in return.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t have just one thing that I do so I guess you’d just file me under ‘creative.’ I style, creatively direct, research and analyze, and dabble in makeup. I’m most proud of the way I make people feel when I direct, style, and do makeup. Making others feel confident, bringing their visions to life, and sometimes revealing sides of them they didn’t even know about is so exciting and fulfilling. I think my ability to intersect business and creativity is what sets me apart. While I love to be hands on at shoots and bask in the creative side of fashion, I still can back up my decisions with data and research. I can decipher the numbers on assortment plans, make charts and diagrams and present information to executives in a digestible way. Now I can talk to the product development team and the marketing team seamlessly, using language that makes sense to them.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was very outgoing (quite different from myself now I’d say.) I was very active, had lots of friends, and many extracurriculars. I also was very organized. I’d tell my mom I wanted to hang out with my friends months in advance with all the details: who, what, where, and when. (This was quite unusual for a thirteen year old.) I went to an art school from middle school to college. In middle school I was in dance, tech theater, and choir. Choir bled over into high school and up until quarantine I was sure that would be the extent of my pursuit of an artistic career. Fast forward almost six years and I could not imagine doing anything else!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://liyanapostlesportfolio.my.canva.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liyanapostles?igsh=MTM5bHE0cmc4ZnR4NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/liyanapostles

Image Credits
Liyana Postles
Terryn Speed
Azalea Cox
Jasper Valentine
SCAD Staff