Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Featherston.
Ashley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I spent time traveling the world, visiting inspirational destinations like Santa Fe, Venice, Nepal, and Amsterdam. I am a free spirit, made to explore without schedules or commitments. From the majestic to the smallest hostel, I find inner strength; and refuel my creative spirit.
After returning home in the summer of 2010, I became known as The Feather Junkie.
My style is based around the beauty and simplicity of the feather. In many traditions, the feather represents air, creativity, and an immutable lifestyle. Each product I design expresses my love of this unbridled freedom. I imbue this energy into my work, which is then transferred to the wearer—a sense of rebirth.
The Feather Junkie strives to inspire our customers in a positive way through a variety of products. We hope that each piece will bring you closer to your inner light. That our pieces guide you on your own creative journey. You must be free, be light and like a feather take flight. Wherever the wind may take you, wherever you shall fly, live life to the fullest until the day you die.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Everyone I meet deserves credit. I’ve had friends and family who have been there for me and helped me out along my journey, but it’s really the people I meet in hostels and in markets that influence and guide me. Just getting out from making products and being in the world changes your perspective and can inspire amazing things.
Nothing is easy, and there are always the basic challenges of logistics, something breaking on the website, getting through customs, etc. For me, doing as much as I can and figuring out how to fix things myself has been key. I’m very hands-on, and I take an almost parental approach to my work. Even if I’m up all night trying to figure out how to fix a website issue, I embrace that challenge. Knowing as much as I can about the details is empowering.
The Feather Junkie – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I run thefeatherjunkie.com, where I produce lifestyle products based around my love of feathers (which represent the element of air and flight). We are coming out of the age of “here’s a product, like it” and entering into a time of “here’s an experience, enjoy it, and I love being a small part of that. My goal was to become a world traveler and to absorb the energy of the culture of each place I visit. Then, to find a way to convey that to people who shop at my store. I want my customers to feel something when they receive my feather products. There’s a certain magic to the entire process, and that’s what I want to put out in the world, that positivity of being part of the whole. Everywhere I go I meet other travelers and we all have that same drive, that same courage and hunger to experience life. I think that comes across with my company, and I love hearing from customers who derive that joy from my products.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is different for everyone. How I measure success is a feeling when I know that I’ve done my best work and created a piece that is wholly unique. Material success can be accomplished with anything. A hot dog vendor can be financially successful. So, we each measure our successes by our drive and our true intention. When I bring something back from Asia or when I climb a mountain in Canada, there’s a certain beauty to it and a feeling of being there. When I make a design, it’s important that I’m also in that moment and that the piece is an expression of that. I tried corporate life doing the 9-5 blah blah blah, but that wasn’t my path. It’s a great path for a lot of people, and I’m sure they enjoy it very much, but I had to find my own way of defining myself and accepting that who I am may not be who you are. That, I feel, has brought me the most joy.
Pricing:
- Feather Extensions $25-$35
- Feather Earrings $25-$80
- Jewelry $25-$248
- Yoga Shop $40-$65
Contact Info:
- Website: thefeatherjunkie.com
- Phone: 682-727-0352
- Email: info@thefeatherjunkie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefeatherjunkie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefeatherjunkie
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/featherjunkie/
Image Credit:
Ashley Featherston
Julie Sonat
Sarah Loven
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