Allyson Leak: Jewelry Entrepreneur

Allyson Leak has been an entrepreneur since the age of eight. She laughs as she remembers making sequined jewelry that no one would buy and trying to sell off her grandmother’s jewelry to family members. “Looking back, it’s always been like that,” Ally recalls about her willingness to sell and create.

Those same entrepreneurial instincts “all grown up” lead to the conception of AllyMarie Couture Collections, her fun, flirty, and ultra-chic collection of jewelry which also features clothing designs. The Washington, D.C native has already caught media attention from the likes of music artists such as Alicia Keys and Remy Martin, who’ve each worn her creations.

She also appeared on MTV’s Run’s House as a fashion writer for the launch of Angela Simmons’ Angela’s Rundown magazine. Some may wonder how at the young age of twenty-five she’s managed to reach some of her goals. Ally's story proves age ain’t nothin’ but a number.

The motivation to take her love of fashion and turn it into a business venture first occurred when she was a student at Temple University in Philadelphia. It was there where a hot pink belt she had made caught the attention of a woman in downtown Philly. When asked if she was a designer, Allyson coyly introduced herself as a designer (although she admits at the time she wasn’t).

From then on she sold designs and participated in fashion shows during college. All of her designs she makes through memory with little need to follow a traditional pattern of any kind. In addition to helping with fashion shows while at Temple, she made her stamp by founding S.H.E., a brief student publication designed to unify women of all backgrounds. “I didn’t even know what a masthead was when I started,” she reflects when describing the experience.

Being a “Jane of All Trades”, Allyson’s journalism career also expanded after college once she relocated to New York. She began to freelance for Hype Hair, Soul Food, and Angela’s Rundown, and has published over 100 articles to date. Currently, she writes a column in Word Up magazine called "Diggy's Doing It," about the charismatic younger brother of Angela Simmons. From fashion to magazines many may wonder how she keeps herself sane. One of her favorite pastimes is to meditate which is something she’s done for the past year or so.

However, still many may wonder what the secret to success is, and how they too can combine their aspirations into a career like Ally. When asked what advice she’d give to young women who wanted to gain success in their chosen field, she said, “If you have a building, most people are going to go through the front door right. Sometimes when you want something, when you have a dream you have to find a way to break in the side window.”

Other advice she offers are having a career mentor, surrounding yourself with positive people who support your ambitions and using defeat as a way to grow instead of simply giving up.

Reveling in her fairly recent L.L.C. title for AllyMarie Collections, she has many other ventures planned. “Its really like affirmation for the busy woman,” she divulged about one of her current projects, a book she’s working on about daily affirmations and meditation. Constantly climbing the ladder to success, her wit, charm and dedication speaks volumes of what’s in store in the future.

Currently Ally’s showcases her designs at various showrooms, event venues, and hopes by Fall 2008 to have her designs in some boutiques and shops. To learn more about AllyMarie Collections and view Ally’s creative flair visit www.allymarie.com.

(Photo courtesy of Allyson Leak)

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