Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Watson
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I, Ashley Watson, have always had the dream of starting my own brand. Growing up with a mom who worked in fashion at Nordstrom for 23 years, I was constantly surrounded by beauty and inspired by clothes. This exposure fueled my desire to contribute to the industry in an ethical and earth-conscious way.
I attended Stanford and graduated in 2018. Post-graduation, I was very busy kickstarting my career in marketing, which didn’t leave much room for pursuing my dream. However, everything changed when I recently moved back to San Diego from New York City. The slower pace of life in San Diego allowed me to have more bandwidth, and I finally felt that the time was right to dive into my passion.
This shift led to the birth of my very first brand, Darlington.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not a smooth road, as I’m sure it is with starting any business. I think my biggest struggle, as we are still very much in the beginning stages of pursuing this brand, is the uncertainty and risk associated with committing to a certain amount of overhead with no guarantee that people will buy it all up once it launches. But like my mom always says, “No risk, no reward.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a brand marketing professional with my experience mostly focusing on partnerships and events in the fashion and beauty space. I am also a freelance content creator known for capturing the beauty I see in the world around me, styling unique but staple outfits, and advocating for mental health. I am most proud of my mental health blog, Manic! at the Disco (manic-at-the-disco.com) that explores and destigmatizes living with mental illness and thriving despite of it. Nothing brings me more contentment that hearing that my words resonated and brought comfort to even just one person.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory has to be the days spent at Lake Berryessa, a lake in Northern California, with my entire extended family. I have a LOT of cousins, and the days spent splashing in the lake, munching on s’mores, telling scary campfire stories, and roasting in the summer sun were truly some of the best days of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shopdarlington.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywhatson/
- Other: https://manic-at-the-disco.com
