Meet Anakacia Shifflet | Couture Designer, Author, and Artist

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

Hi AnaKacia, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
The most difficult decision I have ever had to make took place eight years after I launched my business officially, and only 5 years after I opened my studio location. A location I was absolutely in love with, a place of creativity where not only my dreams came true but my clients. However, life has a way of doing unexpected things and for me that came with COVID, which developed into Long COVID. As you can imagine everything changed for me, from my health to my business. I had to take a hard look at my circumstances and make changes which included closing my studio location. I was heartbroken, but I turned my attention into looking for new opportunities. For as Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

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.
Ironically, I am the proudest of my Painted Dress Project, which came out of anger and frustration from COVID, but has led to many opportunities to advocate for others suffering from unknown and misunderstood chronic illnesses. That one project changed the trajectory of not only my career but of my life. It was the action of doing something entirely out of control and yet controllable; it was taking all the feelings, emotions, and fears and making them tangible and unexpectedly beautiful. I have learned many lessons throughout my life, but in the last couple of years of living with Long COVID, I had to re-learn and gain a different perspective, which has fueled a truth. A truth I’ve always believed, but now I know. That truth comes from a quote by author Jean-Francoi Steiner: “Life, no matter what it is like, must be lived, but to live is not merely to survive but to think, to laugh, to write….” and in my case, to create. I talk a lot about these things in my book, Throwing Paint, which was undoubtedly the most challenging project I have ever taken on, stemming from that first Painted Dress Project. Now, I look forward to what else is in store for me as I continue to share these projects and other creative outlets I love.

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?
I can’t say I have a favorite spot in the city. Nature will always be my sanctuary; it is where I find inspiration, feel at peace, and re-fuel for the days ahead. I crave simple activities, little distractions, one-on-one conversations, and homemade nutrition-packed meals. I enjoy activities at the theater, museum, and love the ballet, but hiking to a waterfall or mountain top would be my first pick.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been influenced by many throughout my life, but my biggest support and cheerleader has been my adoring husband. Secondly being taught at a young age to work hard, and have values came from my grandparents who largely raised my self and my siblings, and in turn my parents. It was also my grandmother who not only taught me the basics that later became the core of my costume couture wedding gown business, but also challenged me to do better, be better, and always look for ways to improve one self.

Website: https://www.averilmarie.com

Instagram: Averilmarie

Facebook: Averil Marie Collections

Youtube: Amstudio3760

Other: anakacia_marie tiktok

Image Credits
Painted Dress photos – Jean Graston Photography/Graston Studios
Models : DeAnza Banuelos, Fatima Stansell-Gordon, Brittany Osborn and Aly Hummel

Dress photos by Jean Graston Photography/Graston Studios and FloriiPhoto