Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Alegria.
Hi Austin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my fashion journey in 2005 when I attended the University of the Incarnate Word her in San Antonio. I always had an obsession with being able to express yourself with clothing. Throughout the years I entered myself in design competitions and won a couple here and there, My absolute favorite was the go green fashion show. It was a sustainability challenge; so I made a dress out of two phonebooks… The dress even zipped in the back it was amazing! During this time I was also able to secure an internship with Robert Mitchell of Mitchell productions in here San Antonio. He was a fashion show producer who worked with, Pamela Roland, Oscar de la Renta to name a few. I was also the assistant to the regional director of Fashion Group International Sheila Masterson. So you can say I was in it to win I was at the right places to get to where I wanted to in the fashion industry. However, in 2012 I had to move and attend to my mother as she had gotten cancer unfortunately, during that process of moving back home for three years I began to work on new ideas, new designs and concepts. I began to reach out to the local fashion community and see if we could work together. I was able to get myself to styling for a magazine, made some looks for a model who was on America’s Next Top Model, and basically create my own line. in 2014 my mother passed away and I left fashion behind as I had so many other things to take care of and fashion unfortunately at the time was not paying all the bills. Flash forward to 2020 the pandemic hit, lost my job and I only had about $600 in my savings and my partner told me, “let’s go and get you a new sewing machine, some fabric and some tools!” I in turn was like I don’t know if I want to get myself back into all of this because I don’t know if its going to work, make money and or if anyone would buy my product.
Well, long story short he convinced me and I began to sew a bag. It was called the Double A; I didn’t know where it was going to go but I was just excited that I was making something again. I remember the day I posted I was going to be selling my bags on etsy in different colors and patterns and if anyone wanted to get any they would go live within the week. I finally uploaded all my product shots (that I took onto of my washer and dryer, just covered it with a purple fabric) I sent out a story post on my insta at midnight maybe closer to 1am and just waited. If I made one sale I was going to be happy because at least one person bought it, it meant that someone actually just loved my work. Well, I laid down to go to bed and within minutes I just kept getting ding after ding after ding. I was ecstatic, I think that night I had maybe about fifteen orders, and it was the most humbling and overwhelming feeling.
Flash forward two years later, I am building my second collection, have an array of different pop up shops at markets selling my handcrafted accessories, my handbags and some clothing. I look back at my start every day when I feel like I’m not doing the best with my business and think this all started with one bag and you are here because you have kept with it for two years, so just keep going. I have met so many people in the fashion industry and have had the pleasure of working with a lot of them. One person I always give my praise to is Saige Thomas VP of TFII. She honestly has been one of my biggest supporters and biggest advocates in showing my art.
With her guiding me, I have also now become the social media/marketing director for TFII and now feel like I can lend a voice to all other small business owners and designers who want to grow in the industry. I will also say however my partner is one of the big reasons why I am here. He is my biggest supporter and pushes me to always do more. He himself is so creative so he always helps me and gives me ideas as well as helps me put things together. I am very fortunate to have a partner who believes in the arts and believes in me when many others doubt you. I can’t wait for this new collection and for everyone to see it, it’s gonna be an amazing one!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been the smoothest road but I am resilient. One of the biggest struggles a small business/fashion designer can face is not having a large amount of capital to really kick off some amazing things. However, we work with what we have and what we are given. There are days where I do struggle and ask myself should I keep doing this, it’s not a steady paycheck, will people like and purchase my work? When I stress those emotions and doubts I luckily have my partner he says, “just keep going I feel like you are at the brink of getting to where you want to be.” It’s all a process but my brand is definitely getting there!
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 small business owner who sells handmade handbags, handcrafted accessories and apparel. I specialize in my handmade handbags that were made from my own pattern and stitched/glued/riveted and custom detail work made by my partner. I’m widely known for my style of handbags and people are always telling me, “oh I’ve seen this bag, or yea my friend has several of your bags, etc.” It’s always so cool to be out and about and see people wearing my creations. It’s honestly so freakin’ cool and humbling! I am most proud of making a brand out of one bag. this one bag catapulted my career back into the San Antonio/Texas/fashion community and soon the world! My resiliency in this world is what I’m also so proud of, it’s not easy being an artist but as time has gone on I have had so much support from the fashion industry and clients and that keeps me going.
When I started getting back into the fashion community, I told myself and my partner I want to help other artists in all genres of art move up with me. So if I can collaborate or help them showcase their art I will do it. I want the fashion community to grow and grow together. I want other artists to see that it doesn’t have to be a dog eat dog world. We can all work together and move up together. Many people strive to just get themselves far without a care in the world of how they get their, but for me its about community and love. We can all do it together.
How do you think about luck?
For me, I think it’s meeting people at any event I go to, I’ve met people who have introduced me to someone else who has helped me in some form or shape. I remember Makeup artist Cynthia Hernandez looking at my story on Instagram and asking me if I could loan her some jewelry for a photoshoot in Marfa! I said absolutely! In turn at that shook Saige was the photographer shooting these looks and my accessories. So I was at the right place at the right time!
Pricing:
- Double A handbag – $45
- Triple A handbag – $20
- Kristi CR2 – handbag – $70
- Clothing collection $30 – $250
- Accesories starting at $20
Contact Info:
- Email: austin_alegria@icloud.com
- Website: www.austinalegria.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/austinxalegria (@austinxalegria)
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/austinalegriaxaustin
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/ssdQwEKehto
Image Credits
Saige Thomas
Eryn Holiday
