Dressmaking and creating are in my DNA. My mother made clothes, her mother made clothes, creating has been in my family for generations. One of my favourite memories is of my nan making me clothes as a child, creating patterns from old newspapers. I’m extremely grateful to have been creating from an early age, having my family teach me dressmaking and sewing skills has been the biggest blessing.

After studying a BA at Chelsea College of Art & Design, I studied and graduated with a Masters from the Royal College of Arts in mixed-media textiles. After graduating, I started working for Alberta Ferretti in Cattolica, Italy where I fell in love with high-end fashion and textiles. I also gained a love for Haute Couture fashion freelancing for Christian Lacroix and John Galliano in Paris. However, I realised there was no middle ground in fashion, where you can buy beautiful tailored clothes that cater to everyone.

In 2008, I moved from the London fashion scene to the Cotswolds countryside. I opened a vintage boutique in Frome selling antique gowns and furniture. Working with vintage garments gave me a huge appreciation for traditional pattern-cutting techniques and craftsmanship. In 2020, I decided to strip my beloved antique shop bare and paint everything white. This was liberating, I wanted to create a serene blank canvas to showcase my own designs. With my own designs, I wanted to find a middle ground between bespoke tailored garments that are more accessible, embracing the hand. I created an open-plan studio where my customers could see me creating as soon as they walked in. Studio Ashåy was born.

The support for Studio Ashåy has been amazing. In 2021, I was approached by the Country Living Magazine to do a spread for their November issue. Following on from this, we have been featured in some amazing publications such as: Reasons To Be Cheerful, Faire Magazine and True Grace. In 2023, I was approached by Make Hauser & Wirth to create for 2 exhibitions: “Cut and Fold” in Bruton, and “Connect. Reveal. Conceal” in London. The rapid growth of Studio Ashåy has been astounding, with so much more to come.