Austin sporting her designs

TIME OUT WITH: Austin Jade Murray

Best Known For: Her signature fashion line, Austin Jade

Home Town: Morrisville, NC

Nickname: Jadie

Age: 20

AC: You’re so young, yet you’ve managed to create your own fashion line. How did you make your dreams a reality?

Austin: Whatever I do, I’m going to try my best—and to do that, you can’t be scared to fall flat on your face. The biggest battle I faced in getting to where I am today was convincing myself I could do it.

I also started interning for different designers in New York City when I was in high school—Nautica, Nanette Lepore and Adrienne Landau. My internships taught me so much that after my freshman year in college, I knew I had to at least try to launch my own brand.

Austin in her cheer days

AC: Speaking of school…before you were a designer, you were a cheerleader, right?

Austin: Yep. I cheered in middle school and high school. Cheering is all about teamwork, and when you’re designing a clothing line, you have to be a team player. I work with so many different people—photographers, models, pattern-makers—to make my line a success, and each person plays an integral role in that.

AC: How has cheer inspired your designs?

Austin: The cheerleader attitude has definitely inspired my line. That upbeat spirit is a huge element in my designs—especially with color. Being a cheerleader was a big part of my life, and I think it shows through in my designs.

AC: What’s your typical workday like?

Austin: Well, currently it’s crazy season for me! I’m in the midst of putting the spring/summer 2010 line on the market, so things are nonstop.

For example: I was in NYC all last week, and in one day, I spent three hours picking out fabric and buttons, another hour at a sample fitting and one more on pattern corrections. Then I made sure all orders were ready to ship, worked out for an hour (physical exercise keeps me sane), did some interviews and handled last-minute shipments and calls from buyers. I flew home in the evening, helped my siblings with homework and played with my new puppy, Teddy Bear. Then it was time to crash!

AC: How do you juggle life and a burgeoning fashion career?

Austin: It’s tough to balance everything, and I’m not sure I’ve mastered it yet. I have awesome friends who understand my crazy schedule. My family’s great and they all pitch in to help! Other than my job, I’m a typical 20-year-old. I love concerts, skateboarding, having dinner with friends and shopping.

AC: What’s been the coolest thing about your job so far?

Austin: This is going to sound dorky, but I’ve always dreamed of the day I’d walk down the street and see someone wearing one of my designs. Well, that day came recently, and I was jumping up and down on the inside.

The second coolest thing has been fostering another passion of mine: working with kids. I run a teen fashion camp called “Austin Jade Fashion Rocks.” It’s basically the camp I wished I’d gone to when I was younger. I teach kids about the fashion industry and designing, and I give scholarships. Seeing a group of teens stoked about fashion…I just love it!

AC: Have you always been interested in fashion?

Austin: When I was really young I used to have runway shows in my living room, and I’d force anyone within a 10-mile vicinity to be in them. My poor siblings were forced into outfits I thought were cool in third grade. They even had to strut down my homemade runway to ’90s pop beats.

In high school, I used to sketch dresses and shoes on all my homework and tests. One day, my paper was taken away from me, and I was told that I couldn’t sketch my way through life, and that my actions wouldn’t be tolerated at a “real” job. Now, I sketch every single day at my “real” job, and have even set up an after school program where kids can sketch the entire time if they want.

AC: Can you describe your line for us?

Austin: I really want my clothing to make the women who wear it feel happy. Austin Jade is for women of all shapes, sizes and skin tones. I use a lot of happy colors and easy-fit silhouettes to create pieces that will never go out of style.

I’ve seen eighth graders in my dresses for graduation parties, as well as 50-year-old women wearing my tops to cocktail parties. You’ll see timeless, classic pieces every girl and woman needs in my spring/summer collection.

Tori Spelling

Taylor Swift

Chelsea Handler

AC: Have any celebs worn your clothes? Who would you love to dress?

Austin: Karina Smirnoff wore one of my pieces in Life & Style. Chelsea Handler wore a top of mine on “Chelsea Lately,” which was the coolest thing, because I adore her. Tori Spelling also recently requested some pieces. I’d love for Taylor Swift to wear something of mine. I think she’s a great role model and is absolutely adorable. She has her own style, and I love that.

AC: Any advice for other fashionistas looking to design their own clothes?

Austin: Start out with a simple store-bought pattern, and change it up a bit until you become comfortable enough with patterns to do your own. Whenever you see cool fabric, get it—you’ll find a way to use it at some point. Take clothes you already have and change them up. I’ve taken last season’s coats and changed out the buttons.

AC: Any trend predictions for 2010?

Austin: The colors will shift to these great vivid tones like sunny yellow, Aztec orange and deep pink. Ripped jeans are back; this excites me! Vintage silhouettes and an ode to ’60s and ’70s fabric colors are back. Colors will have the “faded from the washing machine” look, too.

AC: What’s the hardest thing about your job?

Austin: The hardest thing is dealing with all different types of personalities. I work with a lot of awesome people, but in my industry not everyone has good intentions or is honest. High school should have taught me this, but sometimes I’m too trusting. Also, it can get really overwhelming. I just have to remember to breathe and that it will be OK.

AC: Which designers do you admire?

Austin: I love James Perse T-shirts because they’re so soft. I love the brand Free People, because everything’s so comfy. Designers Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen are amazing. They both create statement pieces that make people talk.

AC: What’s the most prized piece of clothing you own?

Austin: I have this great vintage Vera Wang little black dress. The entire back is netted and it has a high neckline and these tightly netted sleeves. It’s a little gothic, but the design is so interesting that it’s a work of art.

AC: What’s the best advice you ever got?

Austin: The world is your runway—so work it!

**Look for Austin Jade’s designs in the December 2009 issue of AC!

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