We had the good fortune of connecting with Ayeshia Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ayeshia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

The reason I pursued a creative career is because of my passion for fashion that I discovered at a very young age. Choosing a creative path allows me to continuously express myself through my designs, but also my clients that take pride in wearing garments both designed and constructed by me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I’m a self taught fashion designer that both designs and constructs custom garments from scratch. What sets me apart from others is I follow the beat of my own drum and not follow trends. I curate my collections based on what inspires me. I am where I am today because of my thirteen year old self. I had a dream to become a fashion designer and I stuck to it. It has certainly been challenging, but also very rewarding. I’ve learned that there is no guide to overcoming challenges, you just have to learn how to navigate through it as it comes. What I would like for the world to know about my brand, AyeshiA, is that my mission is to create wearable art that allows you to express yourself and showcase your confidence to the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

If my best friend was visiting the area for a week we would definitely be doing a lot of dining because Memphis has sooo many restaurants to offer! I would take her to lunch at Coastal Fish Company to enjoy both the food and scenery of Shelby Farms Park. We would have an outdoor adventure at Go Ape and complete the obstacle courses and zip lines. I would have to take her to Uncle Goyo’s for the best authentic Mexican food in the city. We would hang out Downtown at Hu’ Hotel’s rooftop to check out the amazing view of the Mississippi River and afterwards head to dinner at Supper Club on 2nd to enjoy the for the crab crusted Salmon(my fave) and the rich decor, it’s a whole vibe. I would also make sure I take her to Midtown to grab cocktails and a photo op at Tiger and Peacock. If she was in the mood for fine dining we would definitely go to Porch and Parlor, but if she just wants to hang out and listen to live music I would take her to Lafayettes. It’s so many spots I love here in the city especially since I’m a foodie!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my kids because they keep me on my toes. They support my dream and always encourage and motivate me. I love that they show interest in my work and that they feel I am an inspiration to them. Through both my hardships and successes they’ve been right here with me through it all. They are truly a blessing in my life and the reason that I keep going.

Website: Ayeshia.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayeshia.apparel/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/AyeshiA.Apparel

Other: TikTok: @ayeshia.apparel

Image Credits
Photographer: Patrick C Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.