One of the best parts of our work is getting to meet people who are doing groundbreaking work to advance circularity in their own, unique ways. Their stories inspire us to continue to do the work that we’re doing, but they are also a reminder that no matter how difficult a problem may seem, there are always ways to overcome it when there is a will to do so. We decided to share these stories so others could draw inspiration from them too, and hopefully join in bringing about the change we so desperately need to bring about.

Today, we’re excited to share the story of Ayana Ames, the creative force behind Am.A-Line. Ayana’s journey began at an early age. It has led her to launching her own brand so that she could have a direct and positive impact on the fashion industry and her community. She sat down with us to detail her vision and her goals.

What first interested you in fashion design?

My interest in fashion design came from a combination of things. I always saw my mom sewing and we would go to the fabric store sometimes, which made me want to learn how to sew. She and my grandmothers gave me small projects, like fixing curtains, to begin. By the time I was finishing up elementary school, I would look directly for the fashion pages in Ebony magazine. I would look at them before the bus would come and fell in love with the designs on each page. I don't think I ever realized that I was actually in love with design until I was halfway through middle school and sketching various designs myself. By this point, I was also working up to sewing larger projects and reusing parts of clothes I had outgrown to make other pieces. I was always sketching clothes and designing costumes for my majorette/twirling competitions too. But I think the ability to create something out of my mind is what most intrigued me about design and seeing it come to life.

Why did you choose to launch Am.A-Line?

I chose to start my own brand for a few reasons, but the main reason was because I saw a gap in menswear and wanted to provide something different to the market. I didn't see a lot of change and wanted to offer styles that spoke to a man's essence and modern lifestyle.

What does circularity mean to you?

Circularity to me means finding a way to better connect our world and our systems. I think we've been removed from what has been so natural to our environment, and even ourselves. It means being thoughtful in our selections and decisions, trying our hardest to eliminate (at least drastically reduce) our waste, and help better our communities in the process. A lot of my thoughts on circularity relate to sustainability, but I've found that circularity is the bridge and ultimate solution to a lot of our challenges.

What have you found most challenging about pursuing circularity? What have you found most rewarding?

The most challenging aspects I find about pursuing circularity have been engaging, or shifting, consumers’ values and looking at my own habits to change in order to reduce my own personal impact. I believe that education is important when it comes to sharing circularity and getting people to feel comfortable with what could be a drastic change is the hurdle I feel like I'm facing. However, I've found that when I talk to someone about what I'm doing and they immediately light up with the prospect of keeping that item that they love and all they have to do is have it repaired or redesigned to fit their current lifestyle, that's what I find most rewarding. Even more so, when I have a redesign customer that absolutely loves their "new" piece once it's complete is the best feeling.

Did your experiences so far differ from your expectations of the process? If so, how?

I would say that my experiences haven't differed extremely from my expectations. I will say that my design process has changed dramatically. It's a refreshing challenge too. I'm no longer just designing with a complete garment in mind, but also what can I do with the scraps, the pattern pieces to make them into something new, and (most important) how to reuse the threads ripped out of the seams. I'm looking at all of the components and how to reuse them all and what the end of life will be for the garment in a Cradle-to-Cradle point of view and not just Cradle-to-Grave. Although eventually, I will have to figure out what the term "grave" will mean for remanufactured garments and my brand.

What are your long-term goals for Am.A-Line?

My long-term goals for the brand have dynamically changed since I launched in 2019. Mostly it's what and how that has changed, especially in transitioning from linear to circular. Two of my long-term goals are: to create an ecosystem of boutique partners to service their deadstock and out of date inventory to be redesigned; and, to build activation sites for repurposing garments in 5 major cities for homeless and low-income communities.

Is there anything you wish you knew before you started your circularity journey?

I wish I started my circularity journey sooner! If I had known that what I'm currently doing was in fact already an option, I think where I am now would be totally different. But what I really wish I knew before starting, is that there is and has been a community in circularity for quite some time. I believe if I knew that, I wouldn't have delayed or felt as overwhelmed as I did last year. I kept hearing responses to some of my ideas that they would be great but there wasn't a market for it...and here we are!

What advice do you have for other brands who are considering circularity?

I would advise other brands considering circularity to really reach out and connect with the amazing community and leaders. It's truly a community effort. I would also suggest really pinning down on what pillar or circular service(s) you want to offer. I have been finding myself considering that I'd love to offer everything, but when you love one over the other and really excel at it, that's the one you should specialize in.

Is there anything you want shoppers to know about shopping with sustainable brands?

It may seem like prices are so high with sustainable brands, but we have to think about what's behind that price when we're shopping with them. I believe that it's important to understand that a sustainable brand is usually offering high quality products that will last, but most importantly, they are more than likely working with a manufacturer (or like me, artisan/designer/solo craftsperson), that aims to pay their employees a living wage. So, it may be high in comparison to non-sustainable, fast fashion brands, but there is always a mission and a team behind making better products, as well as helping our people and planet.