Today we’d like to introduce you to Arianna Varner.
Hi Arianna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a kid I always had a love for art and creating things with my hands. Ideas would pop into my head and I would feel an immediate urge to bring it to life. Overtime my love for fashion began to emerge alongside this desire to create, which is what led me to want to become a Fashion Designer. I attended Stephens College in the Fall of 2016 to study Fashion Design & Product Development, graduating in 2020 with a minor in Graphic Design. I owe everything I have to the educators at Stephens College that taught me everything that I know. I went in Freshman year only knowing how to sew a pillow case, to leaving with a full understanding of the Product Development process and actually being able to take my ideas from concept, to design, to physical execution. Since I graduated at the beginning climax of Covid, there were not a lot of job opportunities and it was hard to find work. So instead, I started sewing masks to make money, which led me into launching my brand AKMV in 2021. Since launching I have had 2 product launches, and have worked on custom designs with various clients. Once Covid started slowing down I was offered a full time job at Weissmans, where I previously had an internship, and gladly accepted since it offered a more stable income with health benefits. Today, I still work at Weissmans as a Patternmaker, and in my free time do custom work on the side for my AKMV business. Because I work full-time it has slowed me down in terms of working on my brand to do more product launches, but I am hoping to invest more time into my brand and find better resources to help me do so. I am currently working on a Debut Collection for my brand that I am hoping to showcase 2027.
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?
It has not been a smooth journey along the way of building my brand. There have been bumps, blockages, turns, and roundabouts, but I have continued to pursue on in hopes to continue building my true passion. One of the biggest challenges for me was having the skillset to create my garments but not having the full business sense to execute the marketing, sales, and production. It also is hard since there are not a lot of resources in St. Louis for small designers like me. I was constantly jumping through hoops trying to reach out to small production companies that could help me without requiring large MOQ’s. I was also not making enough money to sustain myself, and had to take a full-time job to fund not only my business but also my day to day expenses. I knew when I took a full time job that I would have less time for my brand and this has continued to be a challenge for me with balancing both. Another challenge I’ve had was not having someone who had already been through the process of launching a brand as a mentor. So this meant that I had to teach myself everything, as much as I could, and as fast as I could. LLC’s, business expense tracking, taxes, website building, photoshoots, etc. Since I did not have the team to help me, I was doing everything myself. Til this day I still do my own branding, website, photoshoots, marketing, content creation, patterning, sewing, fabric sourcing, and anything else you could think of.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Fashion Designer in the St. Louis area. Working full time as a Patternmaker for Weissman, and part-time for my own brand AKMV. With my brand I specialize in hand-made women’s wear that pairs street-wear elements, feminine silhouettes, and bold aesthetics to create clothing that empowers the everyday person. For the woman who knows no bounds.
I am most proud of my brand launch and 2 drops that followed. Seeing myself do it all and somehow make it work was an eye-opener into how far I can go when I am determined.
I think what sets me apart from others is my distinct eye for design. How I reference culture, history, and my own lived experiences to inform my designs is something that has shown up in a unique way when I put that into the clothing I create.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
That you can do a lot on your own but you can’t do it all, and that time is money and money is time. Sometimes we think we’re cutting corners and saving ourselves by not having to pay for something and doing it ourselves. But sometimes the time we dedicate to doing it on our own, cost more than the amount of money it would’ve taken to get it done by someone else who could be more experienced and efficient. It’s good to have a balance of knowing when it’s better to pay someone else to do it than to pay the price by doing it yourself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Business: @theakmv_ Personal: @ariekmv
- LinkedIn: Arianna Varner
