Meet Olivia Boykin | Creative fashion designer, sewing educator, and community builder.

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

Hi Olivia, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success—and the success of my brand—has been resilience. I’ve had to grow through seasons where resources were low, confidence was shaky, and the vision felt bigger than what I could handle at the time. But I never let that stop me. I leaned into my creativity, stayed true to my purpose, and kept showing up—even on the days I wanted to quit.

I’ve built my brand on authenticity, passion, and a whole lot of grit. I don’t chase trends—I create with intention, and my audience connects with that. At the end of the day, my success comes from not being afraid to pivot, not being afraid to rest, and never being afraid to be me. That’s the heartbeat of everything I do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I went to fashion school at the Art Institute in Miami, but life happened, and I wasn’t able to finish. Still, I never stopped learning. I kept creating, watching, practicing—and I leaned into what I already had: my creativity, my passion, and a momma who’s been sewing for over 40 years. Her hustle, her eye for detail, and her “figure it out” attitude shaped me more than any textbook ever could.

This journey hasn’t been easy—there were doubts, detours, and seasons where I had to take breaks and come back stronger. But every challenge taught me something. I learned that consistency will carry you when motivation fades. That being resourceful beats being perfect. And that showing up as your full, unfiltered self is the real flex.

If there’s one thing I want the world to know—it’s that NSTRCTNS is bigger than fashion. It’s about breaking boundaries, owning your vision, and living with no rules, no limits. And trust—this is just the beginning.

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?
Honestly, I’m still learning the new Atlanta myself, but if my best friend was visiting, we’d be outside all week—starting with brunch at Atlanta Breakfast Club, walking the BeltLine, and hitting Ponce City Market for shopping and rooftop views. We’d explore Little Five Points for the funky vibe, check out local art at the High Museum, and catch a live show at the Fox. I’d mix in some hidden gems like Korean BBQ in Duluth, a day trip to Kennesaw or Allatoona, and of course a stop at Magic City—because, Atlanta. By the end of the week, my friend would be full, inspired, and probably planning to move here.

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?
Big shoutout to my daughter—my daily reminder that I gotta keep pushing and dreaming bigger. To my momma, who’s been sewing longer than I’ve been alive (self-taught, a true OG—though I’d never tell her she’s my inspo… she’d never let me live it down 😂). And to every client, student, and supporter who’s rocked with me—y’all are the thread in this whole journey. I see you. I appreciate you. We’re just getting started.

Website: https://NSTRCTNS.com

Instagram: @nstrctns

Other: TikTok @nstrctns