Meet Ashley Lyons

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley Lyons a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

After I graduated from college, I felt a little lost with what I wanted to do with my life. So I did what most college grads do, and started working a 9 to 5 job at the first place that would take me. I quickly realized that being in an office was not for me. I felt like a caged bird and needed to find something where I could let my creativity shine. But due to fear of the unknown, I stayed with the company for 3 more years. I finally worked up the nerve to quit and decided to move to Martha’s Vineyard. Jewelry was something I had always been passionate about since I was a little girl. I began working at a jewelry store to learn the ins and outs and started selling vintage jewelry at a locate flea market on the side. One day, while at a yard sale, I stumbled upon a tin of vintage buttons that had belonged to a woman who was a buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue. I thought it was such a waste for buttons so beautiful to be kept locked up in the basement for so many years. I went home and started working on some of my very first creations by combining the designer buttons I had found with beads. And that was how Old Soul was born. I started my business out small- selling at markets, on Etsy, to friends and family and then made the big move to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles I really began to grow my business. I made custom pieces for Billie Eilish, styled Remy Ma for a photo shoot and sold pieces to huge influencers @weworewhat and @thingsiboughtandliked. I was finally able to quit all of my side jobs and focus on building my business and creating one of a kind, handmade repurposed pieces of jewelry.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I hand make jewelry from repurposed 100% authentic designer buttons, belts, keychains, charms, etc. Pretty much any piece I can repurpose I will. For example, I recently purchased a vintage 80’s Gucci jacket. The jacket isn’t in the best shape, it has shoulder pads, the color is off, it just isn’t currently in style. Instead of it wasting away in the back of someone’s closet, I will repurpose it. I will cut the buttons off, sand off the shanks and rework them into necklaces and rings. My goal is always to bring new life into vintage pieces. I also try to keep my pieces affordable, as I know not everyone can afford to go into a designer store and buy a piece of jewelry.

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?

Patience, determination and courage. I think many people think when they start a new business that things will just take off immediately. It took me years of hard work and determination before my business started to really succeed. It takes courage to start something new and put yourself out there. When things get hard you have to remember to keep your head up and carry on. There will always be haters (especially on social media) but there are far more people who want to see you succeed.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

The past few years, I had to put my business on the back burner a bit. I had back to back babies who became my primary focus. Also, the economy took a turn and unfortunately business wasn’t quite as busy as it once was. At first, this was really hard for me. I had worked so incredibly hard to grow Old Soul over the past 10 years. I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed trying to juggle owning a small business and being a mother. I had a customer say to me to enjoy the time with my babies and that all my loyal customers would be here for me when I came back. This really meant the world to me. I have had to pivot my business a little this past year. I am focusing more on lower price pieces that are more affordable and work when I have time when my girls are napping.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oldsoulvintagejewelry.com
• Instagram: oldsoulvintagejewelry

Image Credits

Billie Eilish