We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anna Dougherty a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anna, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
Like so many people, I was laid off in March of 2020 when the Covid lockdown when into effect. I had been working in the fashion industry, and the company I was working for closed down our New York office. During the early stages of the pandemic, there were almost no fashion jobs to be found. After applying for more jobs than I can count within the fashion industry, I was really frustrated and discouraged. While looking for jobs, I’d made a coat that I was really happy with the outcome (I’m a fashion designer), and my mom encouraged me to try to make some more while I had the extra time. I ended up making 5-6 more coats. I remember thinking to myself, “I know what kind of worker I am – if no one else will hire me, I’ll hire me!” This became the beginning of my coat brand. Once I decided that I was going to really give my brand a shot, I changed my approach to the job search and found a job that would allow me to focus on launching my business. It was not the route I expected to take when I was laid off, but after 14 months of job searching, it was what I needed!
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I founded Anna Gray Collection during the Covid-19 pandemic. Anna Gray Collection creates lively outerwear for women looking to add a little merriment, joie de vivre, and color to their lives. Anna Gray pieces are thoughtfully designed, responsibly produced in NYC, and meant to be cherished for years to come.
I really enjoy all aspects of the creative/business cycle, but I find the most exciting part to be seeing my designs and ideas come to life in 3D. It’s also thrilling to see people wearing my designs and how they make them their own through their own style.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
A couple of items that have been helpful in getting me to this point are creativity, discipline, and community. I think creativity is a gift that has to be cultivated. The more you allow yourself the time and space to be creative, the more creative you will become. Discipline has been very important for me, too, since I also work full-time. Leading up to my launch, I had to be very careful with my time to make sure I could get everything done. Community is a little different from the other two, but was also very important in getting me to this point. I joined an accelerator program which paired me with a mentor and a mentor group of other people trying to launch their own fashion businesses. The mentor group and the mentor I was paired with were really invaluable resources for me as I had many questions that came up along the way, as well as being able to have a built-in group to brainstorm with and be encouraged by.
My advice for anyone starting out would be to just start – whether it’s sketching, sewing, or something else related to what you want to do – just go for it. Allow yourself the time and space to be creative and don’t be afraid to make something that’s not perfect to start with. I would also schedule the time, so that you make sure it happens! We’re all busy and it’s easy to let things fall through the cracks that aren’t on our calendars.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents have been an unwavering stream of support throughout the whole process of launching my business. My dad is an entrepreneur and has always instilled values like working hard, not being too important for any job, and persistence. I think the biggest thing, besides lending countless listening ears and the qualities listed above, was when my mom encouraged me to make more coats while I had the extra time, and then suggested that I think about launching a coat business since I love coats. That suggestion helped me to think beyond unemployment, gave me the courage to work on my business, and ultimately improved my mental health during a rough time. That suggestion/encouragement was something I needed to hear and I’ll always be grateful for!
Contact Info:
- Website:www.annagraycollection.com
- Instagram: @annagraycollection
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annagraycollection
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-dougherty/
Image Credits
Tianna Howard
