Aubrey Briggs’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We recently had the chance to connect with Aubrey Briggs and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aubrey, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I think I have always had a clear vision for my career and what I thought it would look like, but it has always been the end goal that I have been envisioning, ignoring all the steps along the way, too focused on what it would look like if the dream came true. So for now, I think I’m wandering in the in between, finding my way one step at a time and trying to figure out what the path actually looks like.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Aubrey Briggs, and I am an Indigenous luxury streetwear designer based in Paris, France. As a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, heritage has always been my inspiration, and I aim to shine light on the beauty of both Indigenous tradition as well as contemporary Native American culture, through the lens of streetwear. The brand brings luxury streetwear into a new context, centering on culture and craftsmanship, forging connections, and giving back to Indigenous communities across Turtle Island. From oversized silhouettes reminiscent of hand-me-down tokens of intergenerational passage, to prints drawn from polaroids found in family archives, the brand is steeped in nostalgia and a feeling of community, where a denim jacket is more than a garment, it tells a story. Our breakout collection, entitled LUMBEE9>, gets its name from a photograph taken of my grandmother standing in front of an old street sign in Lumberton, North Carolina, indicating our community was nine miles in that direction. Although based in Paris, it serves as a reminder that I am never far away from home or the people I come from — the people I am inspired by, and the people I design for.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The women in my family have taught me everything I know about work and what it means to be a hardworking, strong, independent woman. Coming from an Indigenous background, I grew up understanding the power and significance of a matriarchy; how a foundation built on community and strong values could withstand any obstacle. Without a doubt, my mother is the most incredible woman I have ever met, and everything that I am, and everything I aspire to be, is possible because of her. From a young age, she showed me what it looks like to be a successful, powerful, woman. She taught me the importance of perseverance and work ethic, while never forgetting the reason you do it all. My mother ingrained in me the importance of appreciating and lifting up my community, honoring those that came before me, and taking care of those around me. If it were not for my mother, my aunts, my siblings, and so many others, I would not be the woman, nor the creative, that I am today. The craftsmanship engrained within our artistic traditions require tremendous amounts of work, skill, patience, and determination, all of which are passed from one generation to the next.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be that the world is so much bigger than you could ever imagine, and that it is overflowing with opportunity. You can be anyone you want to be, the best version of your truest self is just waiting to be discovered, waiting for you to go out there and find yourself. Don’t be afraid to let yourself be happy, and pursue your ambitions to their fullest extents. If one opportunity doesn’t work out, the next one is waiting for you, but it is up to you to chase after it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I am not sure if it is a strength or a weakness, or maybe it’s just a neutral fact, but I am the same person in every room that I walk into. Public or private, I find that my personality is consistent no matter the context. I’m not sure if it is a choice that I make, or if it is conscious or subconscious even, but I am unable to filter my persona through a tailored lens. What you see is what you get. I am vocal about the things that matter to me and I’m not afraid to speak up for what I believe in, no matter the circumstances.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
I would regret not trying, not giving my biggest aspirations a fair shot, and not allowing myself a chance to see what happens when I ask myself ‘what if…’

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aubreybriggs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aubrey_creator/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aubrey-briggs

Image Credits
Photography: Emil Hernon, Hugo Zurosky