Ashley Brooks

Background

About Ashley Brooks

If my childhood had been ‘Instagrammable’, hundreds of photos would exist of me in a few key scenarios: peeking out from inside the rounders of printed cottons at Sky City, sketching the garments I dreamed up for my Barbies, and learning to sew from my artistic Mama and Granny. As far back as I can remember, I have always loved the way textiles look, feel…and even smell. They say your interests don’t really change much over your lifetime — and that has certainly been true for me. I enjoyed 25+ years as a successful Designer, Manager, and Executive in my apparel design career. Both my education and the start of my career were in the heart of North Carolina's textile industry, where I am still grateful to have experienced locally and firsthand yarn being spun, jerseys knitting down, and denim rolling off the looms. I am most well-versed in the Childrens’ Apparel sector, along with its relevant garment construction/safety requirements. I light up from creative + modern application of color, silhouette, and graphic/print development. I am well-known for my taste level + personal aesthetic, relationship-building, balanced right/left brain approach, and for the scouting, assembling + development of amazing creative teams. My passion for color + print fully takes over in my own artwork. Palette + pattern kickstart the improvisational modern quilts I design, create, and primarily hand-quilt. I choose to use repurposed garments & vintage fabrics in my work in order to give cast-off textile items a new lease on life, and yes…to this day, I STILL get weak in the knees over a stunning retro print!