Meet Ashe Cain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashe Cain.

Hi Ashe, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sewing is in my DNA. Growing up with seamstresses, fabric stores were my playground. Running my fingers across wild textures of a million bolts, through infinite rows, as my sister and I played hide and seek, filled most of my childhood Saturdays. I watched my mom, aunt, and grandmother make my clothes, bedding, and curtains, and that was my normal. But I didn’t pick up sewing until I was home alone from summer break, bored to tears. I snuck upstairs, picked a vintage pattern, grabbed some curtain lining from my mother’s stash, and made a dress before she came home from work. After that, I was hooked.

I spent the rest of high school making all of my prom dresses and costumes for band performances. I didn’t think about being a fashion designer until close to graduation and thought back on what made my heart race and secretly hopeful, and that was sewing. In college was where I discovered my passion and voice. I found my love for crisp sewing techniques, sustainability, and my inspiration from the unexpected. That is where I thrive. Honestly, I have a hard time looking at my creations and remembering how I made them. When I am creating I get in such a flow that sometimes I go to sleep and wake up shocked at what is on my mannequin the next morning.

Almost feels like it made itself in the middle of the night. And after college, I spent some time experimenting with different life paths, trying to figure out where I belong. Life has thrown me a few curveballs, but I always find my way back to my art. Sewing, designing, and creating set my soul on fire and I am so incredibly lucky to have that. So that is where I have finally landed, in a place where I love myself, and my art, and feel this overwhelming certainty and excitement for my future with my designs.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It depends on the day. Some days, I look at my work and accomplishments and am on top of the world. But the next day, I am hypercritical and regretful that I didn’t do more or something different.

The road I have traveled has been paved by myself. All the potholes and broken bridges were made by me and my perfectionism. By 2019, I had two collections, was in fashion shows, doing public speaking engagements, working with so many talented photographers and models that put me in numerous magazines, I had my brand and was also working as a professional designer for another. I was eating, sleeping, and breath fashion.

But it wasn’t sustainable and my need to be perfect ate at me. I got lost in this unwavering fear that if I did one thing wrong I was going to crash and burn. So I just quit. You can’t fail if you quit, right? Turns out the only thing wrong I ever did was give up on myself. So I’ve spent the last year rewriting my rule book. The old me was only ever behind the clothes. I knew what I was making was special and magic but I didn’t think I was meant to wear it. But now, that is where I feel most alive, is in my clothes.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What I am most known for gets many a mixed reaction but you absolutely will not forget me. I make my fur coats from roadkill. Yes, real roadkill. No, I do not have a guy, I am the guy. I think when people see my work and then see me they have a hard time believing that someone just goes out and picks up roadkill, processes it, and then makes it into some fantastic coat. Most people don’t have the stomach for it, and honestly most days I don’t think I do either. But, it’s just my calling. I see the beauty in the unexpected and repelling and I bring it out. I just want to give these animals a beautiful second life.

But I think what I am most proud of and what has been most unexpected for me, is how my clothing is making people feel. When I finally put myself out there and started making content so many different people were resonating with my work. Women, non-binary, drag queens, men, LGBTQIA+, and people of all shapes and sizes were commenting that they felt “moved” and “uplifted” and wanted my clothes. I can’t describe how beautiful that is. Sometimes I feel like I am not making clothes anymore, just magic.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have a HUGE support network. And I need them because most of the time they see me when I can’t see myself. I get my talent and encouragement from my family. My husband has always believed in me since high school. My sister helps with my roadkill adventures. I had wonderful mentors at my alma mater O’More College of Design including Ashley Balding of Ona Rex.

Without Ashley, I would not have the sewing skills I have today. My design friends are my sounding board and push me to be better every day, thank you, Sydney Duncan and Chris Pennington. And I greatly appreciate Nashville Fashion Week for supporting me and showcasing my work. Everyone in my life deserves credit for where I am now and I hope that I can make you proud.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashecain.com
• Instagram: @ashe.cain

Image Credits
Jasmine Archie, Jami-Lyn Fehr, Jacq Justice Models: Tatiana Walton, MacKenzie McLean, Sydney Duncan, Caroline Gladden, Cassady Smith, Meredith Coale, and Alex Pareigis