Fashion & Beauty 101 or FAB by India Ashley is a brand that I came up with shortly after losing my mother to stage four pancreatic cancer. I was in school finishing my associates degree and working in insurance at the time. When I graduated that summer; I was invited to an event for the school because I was now an alumnus of their institution. I remember participating in a “Think Tank” event about 6 months after she passed. I presented idea at the event of an all of one store, or one stop shop concept. This is how Fashion & Beauty 101 was born.
It was something that had been a concept for a long time. My mother was my support system and my inspiration. She would always come over to my home and get her hair done and I would do her makeup, arch her eyebrows and occasionally paint her nails. She would always call me her one stop shop. She was always delighted by the service I provided for her because of the quality and the convenience. I started this brand with a woman like her and myself in mind. I want to provide trendy items, affordable service and the ability to have all the essentials in one spot.
I am a wife and a mother of two and my top priority has always been to take care of my family. I never allowed myself to live out any of my dreams. In my mind, I was never meant to be a designer. If you had asked me a year ago where would I be today id tell you id be working towards being a license insurance agent and moving up the corporate ladder.
My life changed so much over the last year or two from loss of my mother at only 63yrs old, to having to move a lot, a terrible car accident that totaled my car, losing my job, and the career path I thought I was working towards.
I thought had everything in my life in order and it suddenly changed in an instant. Now unemployed for the first time in 17 years, I had no idea what to do with myself. I found solace and peace in making stuff for fun. Eventually making stuff turned into a full-on hobby that allowed me to make few extra dollars for myself. Fast-forward one year later, I’m on my second year of business and now here being able to have the pleasure to showcase my designs in New York for Fashion week. I am so blessed and highly favored and could not ask for more.
