As a child, Ashley Worrall hand-picked fabrics with her grandmother. Observing her grandmother’s talent, she’d see her outfit and dress ideas come to life.
“I could be in control of how my outfits looked; she could really make anything happen,” Worrall said. “My grandma is my biggest cheerleader.”
This past March, the 2007 College of Textiles alumna debuted her clothing company, Borough. The nomenclature of the dresses pays homage to the boroughs in Charleston. From the Ansonborough short-sleeve shift to the Harleston Village maxi, the dresses harmonize with the bustling localities. Patterns such as “House Hunting” and “Oyster Roasts” can be worn for a night downtown or a midday stroll on cobblestone. Moreover, the patterns are rich in Southern culture and vibrantly portray the spirit of the Charleston scene.
Notably, Worrall strives to keep the line as local as possible.
“The dresses are made of North Carolina cotton, which are knitted, printed and sewn there,” Worrall said. “The buttons are made from palm tree nuts. We’re making a line that celebrates the South, so it needs to be made in the South.”
Worrall talked with the Technician about her textile roots, inspirations and upcoming plans for Borough.
Q: How did NC State prepare you for your line?
A: “Growing up in North Carolina, bordering Virginia, I had a lot of family in textiles. When I was in high school at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, the NC State College of Textile representatives came by and pitched the school. I applied, got into the school, which was a great exposure to textile, apparel and design. I worked in marketing for a while, did specific technical designs and wanted to create something of my own that I would love to wear. It’s been a couple years in the making, but I finally got the line released in early March this year.
“The College of Textiles does a great job of rounding out your education. I majored in technical textiles, but I got exposure to marketing, merchandising and chemistry. Deciding exactly what you want to do at that age can be a challenge, so that was helpful.
“When I graduated, I started with a company that did compression garments for post-plastic surgery patients. I was designing patterns, cutting them out and sitting with the seamstresses. That first role out of college taught me a lot about actual garment production. Getting that firsthand experience right out of college made me realize that I could create my own line.”
Q: What do you like most about having your own line?
A: “I love the freedom of creativity. It started as something I did after work. It’s been amazing watching it grow and seeing people learn about it. It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve always kind of had that entrepreneurial spirit in the back of my mind. I always wanted to work for myself and be the one calling the shots.”
Q: Where do you get your inspirations for the patterns?
A: “I have a very long list of ideas. It’s inspired by Southern culture, which was a part of my upbringing. I live in Charleston, so definitely things I see around town. It’s also interesting, because there are so many parts of Southern culture that are awesome things that you don’t want to put on a dress — you wouldn’t want to put fried chicken on a dress. There are definitely ideas that make better prints than others.”
Q: How are the dress styles named?
A: “The actual dress styles are named after the different boroughs in downtown Charleston. I try to pair the dresses with the borough that most aligns with it. The classic shift is your traditional dress that goes with South of Broad, which is an elite, fancy neighborhood. The maxi goes with Harleston Village, which is where the College of Charleston is. It’s great because it can be dressed up or down; you can make it boho or preppy. It’s more free-spirited. I tried to align them with the different neighborhood personalities.”
Q: How did you end up in Charleston?
A: “I would visit when I was little, but I went often when I was in college. It was only four hours from NC State. That was a big weekend getaway for my boyfriend and I. We got the opportunity to move there and we don’t want to leave now that we’re here. Everything is charming. There’s always something going on, which is nice. If you ever say you’re bored, you’re not trying hard enough; there’s always something to do. I feel like I’m living in a vacation city. It’s beautiful, historic, the food is amazing and the people are nice. The culture is unique, friendly and full of pride.”
Q: How would you describe your personal style?
A: “It depends on my mood for the day. I love a lot of color, but I like adding a casual vibe to everything. I know shift dresses can feel uptight, but I feel like adding a slouchy boot or a hat can go well with it. Everything here has a beachy feel, so that’s probably the Charleston creeping up on me.
“Charleston is such an interesting place, because you have the people who have lived here forever, the tourists and people who’ve moved recently. There’s a great mix of styles, but I feel like everything gets that beachy flip-flop vibe after a while. It’s a preppy/boho mash up. Downtown you have to wear flats. Getting used to the city, people end up with a laid-back vibe. Still, there are a lot of traditional trends. Plus, it’s always hot and humid, so that’s a factor.”
Q: What are your upcoming plans for Borough?
A: “Right now, we’re trying to get in some stores, regionally. There are a lot of different ideas. We had a pop-up shop at the Carolina Cup, and my husband had a bowtie made out of a print that matched the theme. So many people liked it. I have a lot of friends who have little girls who might like the ‘mommy and me’ dresses. Right now, we’re just focusing on women’s dresses, but there are a lot of different avenues to consider. We have the current collection and a fall/winter extension coming out around October. The spring 2017 line will be coming out around March of next year.”
To find out more about Worrall’s clothing line, visit her website.
