College of Human Sciences alumna conquering fashion world with passion and purpose

One word comes to mind when describing Ayesha Ali — an up-and-coming founder and clothing designer who received her master’s degree in Apparel Design and Production Management in the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences from the College of Human Sciences in 2022 — and that’s passion.

Ayesha Ali earned her master’s degree in Apparel Design and Production Management in the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences from the College of Human Sciences in 2022.

Born and raised in Pakistan, Ali grew up surrounded by what she described as beautiful people and a culture punctuated by intricate craftsmanship on clothing, and an abundance of unique traditional arts and crafts. Once she entered her teenage years, a hobby for designing clothing slowly turned into a passion.

“I loved drawing Eastern motifs and designs in my sketch book when I was a little girl,” said Ali. “I've been designing clothes since I was 13 years old. It was a hobby that turned into a passion. It’s a common practice in Pakistan to buy fabrics and trims from the fabric stores and have them tailored from the local tailor shops. I would go an extra mile and not only make a sketch of my own design but also write measurements and specific details for everything. I didn’t realize it then, but I was making a tech pack or a specification sheet as it is called in the industry.”

Ali became more serious about clothing design when she made the move from Pakistan to the United States. While clothing and cultures differ greatly from Pakistan to the United States, Ali saw this as an opportunity to blend her own clothing style and fabrics and introduce them to those living in the U.S.

“The most fun I had in designing was when I was moving to the U.S. after getting married,” said Ali. “I thought to myself, ‘Wait... What am I going to wear in America? I can't wear traditional Pakistani clothes over there.’ I never really connected to what was available in stores. So, I bought a bunch of fabrics from my favorite fabric store and designed my first collection of an East-West fusion wardrobe for myself which I absolutely loved. That’s the first time I realized that I had the potential to generate exciting new ideas with my creativity.”

Not long after moving to the U.S. Ali started a small business where she sourced and tailored fabrics from Pakistan and designed clothes for friends which helped build connections and understand the design preferences of the American customer. After putting her design skills to work, Ali knew deep down she wanted to learn more about the fashion industry.

Fortunately for Ali, Auburn University and the College of Human Sciences would soon become home and in turn set her up for future success in the fashion industry.

Finding a home at Auburn University and honing her design skills

It was a Friday night in the spring of 2018 where Ali first crossed paths with Auburn University. Up to this point, Ali had somewhat heard of Auburn University’s Apparel Design and Production Management program, but it wasn’t until she saw The Fashion Event up close and personal that spring evening that made her want to apply to the Consumer and Design Sciences graduate program.

“I was so inspired by the creativity of the students,” said Ali. “The professionalism and the entire presentation of the show was so amazing that I just made up my mind to apply to the program. That is how I got into Auburn University and then my College of Human Sciences journey began.”

Once arriving on campus, Ali made the most of her opportunities. With Dr. Karla Teel serving as a mentor, Ali was inspired to become a teaching assistant for the 2022 Fashion Event Management class. She alluded to her time as a teaching assistant, her participation in the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad as part of the graduate leadership certificate program and designing her capstone project as defining moments that gave her direction on what she wanted to do in the future.

“I not only gained a wealth of knowledge but also formed close relations with faculty and professionals in the industry that really helped shape my career,” said Ali. “I especially learned a lot from Dr. Karla Teel. Her mentorship guided me to navigate my way in the industry and challenged me to think out of the box so I could unleash my creativity while making educated decisions about my projects.  In 2022, I was also one of the recipients of the Beth Stukes Leadership Scholarship through which I was able to travel to Italy. It was an amazing experience, and it opened my mind and creativity to another level. As students, we were so deeply immersed in the Italian culture that made me realize that no matter where we are from, who we are or what languages we speak, we have so much in common than our differences and that has had a direct impact on my design philosophy as well.”

Launching her own clothing label and first collection

Using the knowledge and education she received from Auburn University, Ali got right to work founding her own clothing label called Ayesha Ali Design. Going back to her roots using Eastern art and culture, and her childhood passion of drawing motifs, Ali’s clothing label blends that with American fashion that features high quality, timeless pieces with her original embroidery art that can be worn in all seasons.

“I design garments that are timeless and keep versatility in mind,” said Ali. “My theory is that you don't need 20 pieces to create 20 different looks. All you need are a few high-quality pieces that last many years, so you can create many different looks with them. It was my dream to create a clothing line so that women from all backgrounds can relate to it and I want them to look elegant and feel beautiful.”

In April of 2024, Ali launched her first collection titled “Vintage Luxe,” an occasion wear line that is inspired by the red rose — a symbol of love, glamour and timelessness that represent the essence of her brand.

Launching her own clothing line was a very important first step but following that, Ali knew it was critical to start promoting the clothing line and reaching a wider audience. Thankfully for Ali, an awesome opportunity to showcase her clothing line would come to fruition.