Today we’d like to introduce you to Lila Blaylock.
Hi Lila, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hey there, I am Lila. I’m a lifelong artist that loves to express myself and serve others through many different mediums. I am also the owner of abundantlila.
The abundantlila brand and online art and thrift boutique were officially launched this past Summer. I am offering a wide variety of goodies from vintage clothing to one-of-a-kind handmade items and artwork, with something for everybody to enjoy. I am also available for commissions, collaborations, and vending opportunities.
I created abundantlila in 2019 by sharing high-value content, distributing Kangen Water ionizers, and selling digital commissions all through Instagram. Before this, I had experience working in resell, being a private art tutor, freelancing as a designer, and managing social media accounts for other small businesses. On the side, I opened a Depop account to resell clothing and knick-knacks, which inspired me to expand my own business even further.
I taught myself to build a website and developed the abundantlila brand by using my prior knowledge of art and design, then started a blog and gallery to showcase some of my ideas and work. As I mentioned already, I recently opened my complete online store, and I am working every day on creating and uploading more unique apparel and art pieces.
When I was younger, I knew I wanted to do something different with my life, especially because both of my parents are artists and musicians. My childhood was interesting, to say the least, but because of my individual experiences, I have always been drawn to creativity, spirituality, and sustainability. Abundantlila is a combination of all the things I love; it’s like a hub for me to share these things, and it grows and evolves as I do.
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?
Getting to where I am today has been a rollercoaster ride. There’s been so many ups and downs I’ve faced, but I’ve learned a lot that’s truly been humbling.
When I was only 8 years old, I lost my father to suicide. All inheritance entrusted to me in his will was stolen, and I received only a handful of his belongings and creations. It’s been a long time of cycling through grief, but my love for him and the love I know he had for me and so many others is my biggest inspiration.
I’ve also personally dealt with mental health struggles for a long time, due to things like bullying and other traumatic experiences, so I’m learning to use my voice to encourage others to find their own inner strength and to become more compassionate and empathetic.
Sometimes it’s a challenge to balance things like finances and my personal schedule on top of everything else because I’m training myself to be my boss, but nothing seems too difficult to overcome when I stay focused on my overall mission. Facing doubt from myself and others has been tough at times, but it feels really good to keep pushing myself to accomplish my goals and to prove that I am capable of overcoming my past.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an artist with a constant passion for self-expression, to be able to work in a way that grants me the freedom to show off my style that also aligns with my moralistic and spiritual values – is the biggest blessing ever. Even though I graduated with a degree in fine arts, I was unconventional and created my own career path, because I knew I needed to find a way to work that is beneficial to both my mental health and the health of the planet.
Abundantlila is distinctively unique from other online thrift stores, because of my eco-friendly initiatives. All items for sale are sourced ethically or are resourcefully made and then shipped out in recycled packaging along with a small gift. To combat the negative impacts of fast fashion, I try to find ways to give preloved items a new life and attempt to prevent as much waste as possible.
I also make donations from the proceeds of select sales, in support of small organizations dedicated to sharing the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga. I was introduced to and naturally resonated with Vedic yoga practices as a child, due to the emphasis on maintaining a devotional, mindful, and plant-based lifestyle, and by giving back, I hope to be able to open the door for more people to learn about the origins of Yoga.
What sets me apart as an artist and small business owner, is that there is a deeper message of love woven into everything I create and do. There is a higher purpose behind every little thing I offer, and abundantlila is operated with the conscious intention of making every person feel as if their life has improved in some way after shopping with me.
I recently hit a milestone of 222 sales, and have been receiving amazing feedback daily from happy customers, which makes me extremely ecstatic. Abundantlila is already a success in my eyes, but I am so grateful to be able to help the business grow more and more, because of the positive impact it has.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I work in a grey area between the art, design, and fashion industries, which I feel are all typically interlinked, and there is a common theme right now of needing to experiment with change to become more ecologically beneficial overall in practice. From the way we source material, to how we process it, and finally, put the finished product to use – we are in the now or never era of saving the planet.
I think we have about 10 years left to handle the climate issues all of us perpetuate daily, and there are a lot of unethical practices in the fashion industry, so I feel these next several years are meant for a total revolution to truly save the future. We have to leave the Earth better than how we were born into it.
With social media bigger than ever, a lot of fads pop up and pass within a few days, and what seems to last are the things that are genuine in quality. When I was younger thrifting was usually looked down on, but now it’s trendy to shop resale, so I think that it’s only going to increase in popularity for a while. As for design trends we’ve seen it all from archaic to modern and futuristic fashions, but I feel like a lot of ideas are going to be adapted further to fit the digitized social media world.
The biggest shift I can see happening is that as the spread of knowledge increases its rate daily, and as more people are choosing to become conscious of their actions, it’s becoming the fashionable thing to ditch the bandwagon and find and develop your unique style that is also harmonious with the world. Diversity is being appreciated and celebrated more, along with being environmentally conscious, and I find it all really beautiful to observe and partake in.
Pricing:
- Most items are under $30
- Wide price range from around $5-$100
- Discounts available on website
- Commission rates vary
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abundantlila.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopabundantlila | https://www.instagram.com/abundantlila
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlila
Image Credits
Lila Blaylock
