What I Do For A Living | My Journey From Fashion School to Apparel Director at 1st Phorm

One of the questions I get asked the most is, “So, what do you do for work?” The short answer: I’m one of the Apparel Directors at 1st Phorm, a premium athletic lifestyle brand. The longer answer? Well, it’s a mix of creativity, chaos, and a lot of learning along the way.

Where It Started

My love for design started way before it became a career. I’ve always been fascinated by how clothing can make people feel — the confidence a perfectly fitting hoodie brings, the motivation behind putting on your favorite gym top, or the comfort of a soft tee after a long day. I remember sketching designs in notebooks during high school, long before I ever imagined I’d be leading apparel for a brand people around the world wear. I found a love for sewing at age nine when my older sister let me use hers, and the rest is history. Something about an idea turning into a flat pattern and then becoming a 3 dimensional product someone can use or wear fascinates me.

I studied Fashion Design & Product Development at Stephens College, one of the last all women's colleges in America, and from there worked for various companies working with really cool brands like Rawlings, Ruger, Mossy Oak, RealTree, and Buffbunny Collection. One day I'll share my actual journey to 1st Phorm, but that would need it's own novel ; )

What I Do Now

At 1st Phorm, my role is as much about people as it is about product. I oversee the entire apparel process, from concept to creation. Some days that means getting my hands dirty in fabric samples, debating stitch types, or tweaking fit on a prototype. Other days it’s strategy meetings, knee deep in excel spreadsheets, analyzing trends, or brainstorming ways to make our collections feel fresh and authentic.

I love that no two days are the same. One morning I might be in a warehouse measuring hoodies, the next I’m sitting in a conference talking launch plans. And somehow, it all comes together — because I get to work with a team that’s as passionate about apparel and performance as I am.

Why I Love It

For me, apparel is never just about clothing. It’s culture, it’s confidence, it’s the little details that make someone feel like they can tackle the day. Seeing someone wear a piece we designed and knowing it makes their day easier, better, or more comfortable is honestly the best feeling. One of my favorite

moments was seeing our team’s first fully custom hoodie hit the website — it was curated from the yarn creation to the end product; a premium hoodie fabricated with so much care and intention — I can still feel the excitement, the energy, and the pride. It reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.

You could probably see why designing my house was somewhat easy for me haha designing is my whole life!

Lessons Along the Way

My path hasn’t been linear — there were plenty of mistakes, late nights, and moments of “can I really do this?” But each one shaped how I lead and create today. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that persistence and passion matter more than perfection. And when you love what you do, even the messy, chaotic days are worth it.

I’m proud to be building a line of apparel that helps people look, feel, and perform their best — and doing it all while learning, growing, and building it with the very best team I could ask for. We've come such a long way, and I'm so incredibly proud to be #IAM1STPHORM. If you've never heard of us, highly recommend you check us out :)

1st Phorm Website