Meet Jennifer Larkin | Business owner & Fashion Model

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

Hi Jennifer, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
From a young age, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Always thinking of new business ideas with my best friend. A true manifesting generator from the start. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, but it wasn’t something that I really consciously thought about until I started my own businesses. Long story short, I was scouted to be a professional model at age 16 & have been modeling for the last 10 years. With that immersion in the fashion world, it only fueled my love for fashion, and my desire to either be a merchandiser or a boutique owner. Fast forward 9 years later, during a global pandemic, I launched a boutique, called Ava the Label, but made it sustainable, to align with my ethics. As I dove into this side of business, I wanted to help other small business owners start their dream businesses, so I launched a consulting company called Jennifer Larkin Design. I felt like there wasn’t a lot of accessible information on the internet, at an affordable price for people who had no idea where to start, and that’s what I wanted to offer. Both businesses have shifted a lot since I started them, and that’s the fun of owning your own business. I also can’t go without saying that working for yourself and making your own schedule is definitely nice. 🙂

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The business I’m probably most proud of is my boutique, so let’s talk about that. Ava the Label has been a huge labor of love for the last 3 years (let’s be honest, a lot happens before the actual launch date). The name came to me in a dream, and the whole business model/idea was ironed out at a kundalini yoga retreat in the desert of Joshua Tree. As a fashion model, you often times see the harm of the fashion world on the environment, and I knew that I always wanted to start a boutique, but I refused to sacrifice my values for money. So, with that, I took the whole business & centered it around sustainability and ethical practices. Everything from the products, to the packaging (even the shipping labels), to donating to carbon neutral shipments, supporting female founded businesses, etc. it is as ethical as I can make it at this point in time. I think that’s what I’m most proud of. I didn’t sacrifice my beliefs for money. I spend extra money to make sure I’m not compromising on that, and in the long run, I know it is worth it, and I feel good about what I’m doing, everyday. I got to where I am today by working hard, like really hard, a lot of sacrifices, my community, & trust. It has absolutely not been easy, I’ve had late nights, tears, fear, sadness, doubt, and much more, but I know that what I’m doing matters, and at the end of the day, I love what I do. I love who I serve, and I know I’m making a difference, even if it’s small right now. I really look at my business in a scope of the next 10,20,30 years, not the quick return. The way I overcome all of the challenges is seeing the bigger picture. I’m a big list maker. Lot’s of pro’s & con’s and a lot of reflection, and I can say with complete con certainty, that the positives outweigh the negatives. Nothing beats getting an order in your sleep. The biggest lessons I’ve learned are, in a year you’ll have a year of experience. Just go for it and pick up the pieces along the way. No one is paying as much attention as you are. Trust yourself. Analyze the Data & so much more, but those feel the most prominent right now. I want the world to know that I care. I care about you. I care about the environment and I want to make an impact.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So, I moved back to my hometown from Brooklyn, NY during the pandemic, & I miss it, so let’s pretend we’re going back to New York ;). If my best friend was visiting, I would probably stay in Williamsburg, BK as much as I could, because I love it there & that’s the area I know the best. Some of my favorite things to do are go out to eat, brunch & dinner are my favorite. Going to parks & people watching. Going to grab a drink. See some comedy. Get our nails done. Do some shopping. & probably see some sort of pop-up art installation. & we can’t forget getting some lattes. With all that being said, I would take them to blank street near S 3rd street for some matcha and a bagel, and sit in their outdoor seating area. Take a walk by domino park to see the view (or maybe we’ll save that for night when the lights are all on). Shop on Bedford avenue & stop in all the boutiques. Maybe get some jewelry from Catbird. Get lunch at Quinoa – literally ate here weekly when I lived there. Go to Setagaya for ramen. Get our nails done at my spot on Bedford avenue. Can’t forget Vanessa’s dumplings & their red sangria. The dog bar on bedford ave because we love dogs. I also love 12 chairs for lunch or dinner. Midnight for a Moscow mule & some food. The roof of the Williamsburg hotel or the Wythe hotel. Get dinner at the Williamsburg hotel, or maybe brunch on the weekend because they always have something going on. Old man hustle on bedford for some comedy. The 29 rooms installation is so fun for art & photos! There are so many options and you can’t really go wrong in New York City 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I love this! I would absolutely not be here without SO many people. The given answer for me is of course my family, friends, my partner, BUT it isn’t just them. The beauty of my career as a model, is that I am constantly working with new people and that gives me the ability to get a lot of different perspectives and advice. I would not be where I am without the advice of people who were really strangers, who became friends over a course of a day or two. Some of the best advice I’ve received is from people I’ve never seen again. Additionally, as a content creator, and someone who shows up on social media…a lot, I can’t go without saying that I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my loyal followers. Whether they’re friends I’ve had for years, or people I’ve only just met. They are some of the most consistent people in my life who are always picking me up when I’m down. To get more specific, I have to attribute a lot of my knowledge and mindset to my biggest business mentor, Ashli Pollard of Team AP Consulting. She’s amazing.

Website: design.jenniferlarkin.me & Ava-thelabel.com

Instagram: @jenniferlarkindesign / @ava_thelabel / @jennifer_larkin

Image Credits
Photos by Lizzy Hall @lcphotographic on IG