Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Nelson
Hi Haley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, my name is haley Nelson and I am a fashion design student from La Crosse Wisconsin . I graduated high school in 2020 with practically no idea what I was going to do next like most graduating highschoolers I decided to follow the college path and went to school at Mankato State. I always knew I wanted to work in fashion, but didn’t know if I had the, talent and creativity to be a fashion designer. I went to two years of school for a marketing degree but quickly realized that path didn’t feel right, and I needed to follow my gut and do some thing that I really loved growing up. I always loved fashion, and expressing myself through clothing and I learned that it’s some thing I’m very passionate about after a lot of back-and-forth I decided to take the leap and attend fashion school online through the Academy of Art University, which is based in San Francisco. Being from a small town in the Midwest, this seemed crazy and very unrealistic, but I knew I had a follow my gut. This is the first time I felt confident in a school setting and like I knew what I was gonna be doing with my life some thing that was really interesting to me was how the fashion industry impacts our environment. I quickly learned that fast fashion is one of our biggest polluters and from that point on, I knew I would always make an effort to create sustainable pieces.
in 2023 I created an Instagram page called Nelsewn to document my projects and growth during my time in college. I found a love for reworking secondhand pieces into some thing, new and trendy. Not only is using secondhand apparel more affordable, but it also allows you to use high-quality fabrics without producing a ton of waste. I also love the ability to create one-of-a-kind pieces that really resonate with my style and my brand.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The main struggle I really had to push through. In the beginning of this journey has been overcoming self doubt, and really, just trusting my Gut. I found myself stuck in this trap of feeling like I had to follow this very structured path that a lot of my peers were following in order to be seen as successful, or just like someone who other life together in general.
Putting yourself out there in a creative field is really scary because of how vulnerable it is to put your art and ideas out into the universe. However, along the way, I have met so many other people that I really inspired me to do it feels right without caring about what other people think or how other people perceive what I’m doing. I’ve been very lucky to be surrounded by a lot of strong, independent woman who worked hard to make their dream a reality, even if it seemed so far from reality in the beginning.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I create 1/1 reworked second-hand clothing pieces. I love finding Preloved garments that can be transformed into a completely new trendy piece. I mainly enjoy working with denim, because it’s easy to come around, super versatile, and something that has never gone out of style. I also find a lot of excitement in trying new techniques and mediums to create unique pieces. I recently found a new love for cyanotype printing, (Cyanotype photography is a camera-less technique that involves laying an object on paper coated with a solution of iron salts before exposing it to UV light and washing with water to create stunning white and Prussian blue images) this technique opened a whole new door for me when it comes to creating graphics and garments and creating pieces that are even more unique and personalized.
I’ve also had the opportunity to work as a Tailor at Jlongs in Mankato much has allowed me to gain so much knowledge and insight on the fashion world.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Some advice I have for anyone who is interested in getting into the fashion world is to trust yourself and follow your dreams even if they seem super out there. You only have one shot at life so you might as well put your energy into something that you love, something that makes you feel whole and something that makes you Excited to wake up every day. I also want people to know that it’s never too late to start following your passion, sometimes the things that you’re most scared of are the things that are gonna be the most fulfilling and rewarding in your life. Lastly, I urge everyone to practice being kind and patient with yourself, and remember that the world is big enough for all of us to follow our dreams and have a fulfilling life. all creative people bring a different thing to the table. If what you’re doing, doesn’t look like, what the people around you are doing, don’t discredit yourself and your hard work. We’re all on different timelines and that’s a beautiful thing.
Pricing:
- I will be launching my first shopable collection in July 2024! this collection can be purchased via my instagram page
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/haley.nels/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nelsewn/
