Meet Jalisse Ambrosia | Fashion Designer and Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jalisse Ambrosia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jalisse, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Success is not on sale; there’s no “skip-the-line” way to achieve your dreams. Easy success may always be available, but recognition in your field, respect for your craft, and inspiring others will always require hard work, diligence, and persistence. It is the character building on the road to success that is most valuable.

Just as you cannot rush a plant to grow, you cannot rush your career growth. Time teaches us one of the most important lessons in life: everything you nurture, and water will eventually grow. First, you must sow your seeds and allow your roots to grow underneath the soil. Even when you feel your hard work isn’t paying off, it is all accumulating towards divine timing when God allows you to see returns on your efforts.

I share this because I tried to speed my way to success after college. I started a quick lash business and worked for years in corporate thinking I would focus first on making the money to build my fashion empire. Although my ventures brought financial stability, I always thought it wasnt the right time to start or I hadnt yet made enough money. This left me feeling stagnant and far away from accomplishing my dreams. I experienced deep depression, despair, and feelings of failure.

Fed up with dissatisfaction, I decided to redirect my focus, time and finances towards my pursuit of fashion and design. With God’s blessing the doors of success began to open. Atop my lash business—Lash. Sparkle. Pop., I now have a collection with the global fashion giant SHEIN, and I own an e-commerce fashion business—Ambrosia Boulevard. I’m just getting started.

My story is not to say that all my efforts didn’t add up; it all adds up. I’ve learned many business lessons and lashed influential people who now support my current journey. Even when I had periods of unemployment, temping as a fashion assistant, I learned skills that help me create clothing masterpieces today. I’m thankful for the journey, and I’m grateful I now understand that success is costly.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

With a saturated market of fast fashion and overproduction, trendy clothing has taken precedence over unique fashion expression and quality garments. I remember when I was younger, my friends and I had the concept of “pieces”—a unique item that stood out by color, fabric, print, or shape. The piece would be the star of the whole outfit and possibly the star of our closet. My brands and I aim to bring back creativity to clothing, which I feel many fashion enthusiasts are craving. Not only does the quality-over-quantity mindset help fashion enthusiasts, but it also contributes to lowering waste for our planet.

Though an uphill journey, I am where I am today because I diligently work towards what I love to do. That means I take on any challenge or opportunity that I can, whether that be paid or unpaid—for example, entering design competitions, attending community events, collaborating with my peers, consulting others on their businesses, or simply taking initiative on an idea that I may have. Pushing myself beyond my mental limits, going with the flow of divine timing, and believing in myself took faith and trust in a power greater than myself. That is no easy task when you’ve grown up in a marginalized community fearing failure, diming yourself to appease the insecurities of others, and not recognizing your worth.

It’s not talked about enough in success stories, but healing from childhood trauma and focusing on internal growth has been a key factor in my success. I had to first make peace with people and experiences that traumatized me to be able to view myself as worthy of success, love, and happiness. I had to love myself more than I wanted to be loved by others to be able to remove negative or toxic situations that were distracting me from expanding myself. I had to own my narrative, take back the power I’d given to others, and give happiness to myself. The power to create a life I love to live motivates me daily to rise and grind for my dreams.

So, as a designer who understands what it’s like to not have a voice, I create and sell clothing that empowers voices. I live for the non-verbal communication that one could express through a well-curated outfit. I love to be a part of someone’s unique story; it’s an honor to know that my clothes and designs align with voices everywhere.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

If my good sis were visiting the city, I would suggest she stay at my bestfriend Crystal’s Airbnb property in Los Angeles — “Luxe Utopia w/ Pool and Spa,” a beautiful 2-bed, 2-bath home equipped with a pool, jacuzzi, and grill. To kick things off, I’d love to take her out to Harriets, a rooftop brunch, and lounge. While brunch ends at 2 pm, the DJ keeps the party going into the evening; the vibes and views are simply spectacular. Other rooftops with great vibes include EP&LP and Perch LA. After lounging and sipping champagne, if hunger strikes again, I would float over to Bossa Nova, a Brazilian restaurant that stays open until 4 am on weekends. Everyone shows up there after late-night partying; it’s almost a fashion show.

To tackle the week ahead, we need our minds clear and spirits filled! We’d hit the gym and attend Oasis Church in Koreatown on Sunday. Afterward, I’d show her my favorite sushi spot that my good friend Erica introduced me to — Crazy Rock’n Sushi. Ending the night in the pool with some more of the girls would be fun, especially since Crystal’s home has a fuse ball and pool table!

Throughout the week, there are multiple spots to attend like the outdoor mall and hangout spot — The Grove. They have a theater and a huge Nordstrom amongst other shops. Grabbing drinks at the outdoor bar is freeing. If she’s up for it, Six Flags Magic Mountain would provide the thrill. One of my favorite hole-in-the-wall joints would be Hungry Joe’s Jamaican Restaurant in Inglewood; the food is “mwah”—chef’s kiss. Speaking of cultural experiences, we would have to attend Poom Poom Tuesdays at El Cid on Sunset! I have such good memories dancing to Reggae, Soca, & AfroBeats; we’d for sure dance the night away. Fancy dinner spots are everywhere, with Mastros Beverly Hills being my favorite, and others like Katana in West Hollywood, Ocean Prime in Beverly Hills, and Catch LA.

Never forgetting to stimulate the mind, I’d stop at my favorite black-owned spot, Simply Wholesome, for a smoothie. Not only is it a health store, but it’s also an organic and natural eatery. They have the best incense, soaps, vitamins, and hair care products for the melaninated. I wouldn’t skip the Getty Museum; the tram through the mountains is breathtaking. Wi Spa in Koreatown is a MUST. They’re open 24 hours and equipped with a gym, saunas, steam rooms, pools, and lounge areas. The spa has 3 floors and a rooftop; they even have a Korean restaurant. In the summer, LACMA, the city museum, has an outdoor jazz show on Friday evenings; just bring a blanket and your favorite wine.

Other suggestions for activities would be a Color Me Mine pottery activity at the Howard Hughes Center, yoga with Lend Your Love Body Care, or the Black on the Block vendor event for black entrepreneurs – can anyone say shea butter?! Lastly, how can you visit Los Angeles without a beach day? Malibu, here we come! There’s Paradise Cove Beach Cafe where you can sit right in the sand facing the ocean, or slip on a bikini to hit the water!

As an L.A. native, I know my city and its highlights. My friends know to ask me for advice on girls’ night, hot spots, and soulful activities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Most importantly, glory be to God for his guidance, love and protection. He’s led me out of dark mental spaces and gave me all my wonderful talents that I am able to use to succeed.

Next is my mother for always believing that I could be somebody and do something monumental. Though I grew up as a black girl during the drug epidemic in the marginalized community of southern Los Angeles, my mother, a single parent, raised me with dignity and integrity. She created better opportunities for me by keeping me in performing arts magnet schools which allowed me to attend schools in neighboring cities. It’s in those schools that I found love of the creative arts. She inspired me to go beyond my immediate reality by showing me what was possible if I actually strived for what I wanted. Nothing was impossible for me in her eyes.

Last but not least my support team- my family, friends and my man. My team is always there for me when I have run out of internal motivation or have lost my inspiration. They provide a place of rest, laughter and joy. They have loved me beyond my mistakes, and through my mental breakdowns. My man in particular has poured in to me so much to change my mental paradigm, and has made me a better woman. My team is always there to remind me of the light that I have to share with the world.

I am thankful for the people who God has brought into my life for my journey.

Website: www.jalisseambrosia.com

Instagram: @jalisseambrosia

Linkedin: Jalisse Ambrosia

Twitter: @AmbrosiaJalisse

Facebook: Jalisse Ambrosia

Other: Please also check out my e-commerce fashion store – www.ambrosiaboulevard.com