Meet Aliyah Wallace | Multi-Media Creator & Fashion Designer

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

Hi Aliyah, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been a very creative person my entire life. My creativity has been expressed in a multitude of ways and forms of media – constantly trying out new art skills and picking up hobbies keeps my creations innovative and new. It all started when buying second hand and thrifting was seemingly the only option for me to get new clothing and dress how I wanted to. I would buy something basic at the thrift store for cheap, and use whatever materials and skills I had in my belt at that time to revamp or “upcycle” the clothing pieces to fit both what was trendy and my current style. All of my friends had loved the pieces I had made for myself and started asking me to make things for them, so the snowball had started rolling. Making these clothes as a kid in high school put me more in touch with my inner creativity and gave me the confidence and inspiration to push forward and pursue other creative passions and outlets as well. Everything I do from photography and graphic design to making jewelry- it all ties back to the original feeling that made me start making clothes in the first place. I decided to pursue an artistic and creative career because something in me knew that I could make it – that I could adapt, that I could learn, that I could look within, then I could express- sometimes it possibly feels as if there wasn’t another option. Working for other people or under values that don’t align with my own was never easy or felt like the right path to follow for me. While working for myself has been very difficult. it’s also been very freeing. In becoming a jack of all trades, I’ve learned to nurture creativity and feel it all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is mostly intuitive. I love making logos and designs that I can then put on clothing- picking out references, fonts, shapes and forming an aesthetic. When working on an art piece, I let my mind wander instead of trying to make it perfect. This is the outlet of my life that I am able to take the most risks in and do things out of pure curiosity of how it would come out in the end. I usually go into a project with what I believe is a clear idea on how I want it to look- but it usually ends up looking completely different in the end. I create art and content that dabbles across all styles of drawing and digital creation. I’ve found that the more I’ve trusted my inner self while creating, the more people have connected to and enjoyed those prints or pieces. I’ve branched out to creating clothing designs, art prints, infographics, logos, you name it. I’m grateful for the people who come in my life and push me into new mediums when hiring me to make custom designs for them. It makes me feel good to know people trust me to take their loose ideas and create a detailed, realized vision for them.

What sets me apart from others is my ability to turn something from nothing and the levels of craftiness that go into both designing and upcycling. I’ve realized that the ability to look at a scrap of fabric that’s worn and torn and be able to see a whole vision of a new life for it, repurposed as something else, is not something everyone has. Not everybody looks in the window curtain aisle at the thrift store and has the thought “That would make a really nice button up!”. So, I believe that is what sets me apart creatively.

I also do more than just fashion, and work as a content creator and get to work with some amazing brands that love sustainable fashion just as much as I do. Being able to network and create my own personal brand as a creator online has created great relationships with other brands as well as other creators around the world!

I got to where I am today by practicing and never giving up. I’ve had to learn that I don’t need to be perfect at something the first time I do it- that I have to stay consistent and genuine to truly build something great. Practice and consistency is hard work and the work is never done or over. I’m grateful that everyday I get the choice to wake up and spend my time doing something I love to do.

Everyday with my brand AW Exclusives I’m working to make it more and more sustainable for the environment while also trying giving people things that align with current trends- yet remain timeless because of their uniqueness. The trends in fashion rise and fall at rapid speeds and this causes massive amounts of waste while consumers try to keep up buying and rotating new wardrobes. A way to offset the quick factory to landfill pipeline is creating a collection of clothes that can be kept – like a signature wardrobe staple. The cherry on top is the fact that this collection of clothes is also already on its second trip through life with a new owner after being upcycled. I want my brand to be long-lasting but unique- just as every secondhand piece I pick out is.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sunday – Coffee at Muddy Buck in Evergreen and play some card games & hit the shops that are down there to get some candy at Seasonally Yours & Mountain Man Fruit & Nut and head down to The Crystal Garden all on Bear Creek Rd. Get some Vegan Pizza @ Beau Jo’s Evergreen. Monday – Get up early to go do a long hike at Pence Park it has such incredible views.

Tuesday – Drive down to Denver and go to Cherry Creek Shopping Center because we all know shopping (or window shopping) is a great serotonin boost.
Wednesday – Go to Mount Falcon Park West Trailhead for a picnic and hike- maybe even a photoshoot because it is gorgeous.

Thursday – Having a beach day at Chatfield State Park if it is really hot out (don’t forget some swim shoes because the beach is rocks but the waters nice and cold). Then going to Saigon Landing ( a Vietnamese restaurant in evergreen) for Dinner.

Friday – Get up early to beat the wind and heat to go kayaking on Evergreen Lake. Don’t forget to bring a little boat anchor to tan in the middle of the lake without drifting.

Saturday – Take a day trip up to Boulder with an amazing drive from Evergreen to go to Pearl Street Mall. It has so many shops that you don’t normally see, street performers and a farmers market on on Saturdays! We can get some great vegan food at Native Foods down the street or hope that the Saucy Clucker’s Food truck is there!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My girlfriend Yanna Sophia has been the most amazing person in my journey to becoming self-employed and sustaining. She helps me in a million little ways with almost everything I do and create, even if it’s just offering her opinion on a color scheme. She is often my more technical counterpart. She’s good with people, an amazing writer, and often helps me think more logically and keep my ideas rooted in reality in times I can be more wild and detached. She helps me with sorting and replying to emails, booth set ups for my clothing pop-up shops, being my social media photographer and just an all around support system. I would not be where I am today without her and I’m so thankful to have her! She’s often my muse when drawing, and her features and silhouette show up in multiple places in my art work.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliyah.wallace/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatVirgoLife

Other: Design Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/livingthroughshades/ Clothing Business : https://www.instagram.com/awexclusives/