Chit Chat is back and with the most inspiring interview yet! I am so inspired by this girl, you have no idea! Allison Tovey, owner and designer of Asolon Clothing has more determination then anyone I know. After suffering a hemorrhagic stroke in 2009, leaving her in a coma for 4 weeks she woke up to realise she had no speech and the whole right side of her body was paralysed. But this didn't stop Allison, three years later she had relearned how to walk, talk and sew only using her left hand. With a passionate heart and a driving force of a bull, she accomplished what she wanted to do, create her own fashion line. Using beautiful soft merino wools and organic cottons, her children's collection is unique and comfortable for babies 0-24 months. Read on to find out more about the most inspiring Allison Tovey!
Buy her collection here: http://www.asolonclothing.com
1. TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF,
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
I’m Allison, a born and breed New Zealander who has sewing in my
blood. After graduating with Bachelor of
Design in NZ, I took off to explore Europe with the intention of pursuing my
career in fashion.
While I was getting to know London I ended up in a marketing position.
Still dreaming of starting my own business I began to cultivate ideas in the
hope of one day making that leap.
In December 2009 when I was 25, life and my dream stood still momentarily
as I suffered a major hemorrhagic stroke. After 4 weeks in a coma, I finally
woke to find that life was not to be the same again. I had lost nearly a half
of my skull (don’t worry 6 months later they replaced it with shiny titanium),
the entire use of the right hand side of my body and my speech had disappeared!
Every part of my physical body was affected by my stroke, the surgeons
held out little hope that I would ever be able to walk or hold a conversation
again. One element that they didn’t realise was that my creative brain always
remained intact. This allowed me to use my hunger for design as part of my
rehab. Over the next three years I went through the pain and struggle of
re-learning how to walk, talk and communicate. Through many hours of
frustration, practice, problem-solving, re-invention, trial and error and a few
Rocky montages I was able to teach myself how to sew using only my left hand.
My right hand, while not moving yet is still a work in progress. Hence I am the
one handed designer, for now at least!
Today I am a self-employed designer, maker, crafter and web design
enthusiast – doing all the things I love. My stroke was a turning point and now
thanks to a bit of grit, determination and a mind that doesn’t stop working, I
have made that leap I had dreamed about.
2. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO
DESIGN KIDSWEAR?
Before my stroke I was
making women’s Merino Lounge under the name of Asolon Clothing. Obviously that
was put on hold but soon after my stroke I was invited to a baby shower. I was still a shell of my former self and
finding it hard to communicate. I really wanted to prove to my friends that at
the core I was still the same old creative person that I always was.
This led to my very first
successful hand-made Gift Set – ‘The Hare and The Tortoise’ and thus Asolon was
re-born. So as I re-learnt and developed my skills, my range expanded to what
it is today.
3. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE
TO KNOW ABOUT ASOLON, WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER BRANDS?
Our fabrics and our love
of Merino Wool is what distinguishes Asolon from other brands. We are
determined to bring the benefits of Merino into every little one's wardrobe
with trendy, fashion forward items.
The benefits of merino
are numerous; it isn't itchy or scratchy, but is odor and stain resistant,
machine washable and most importantly... keeps children comfortable no matter whether
its summer or winter!
4. AFTER HAVING A STROKE IN
2009 AND HAVING THE CHALLENGE OF RELEARNING HOW TO WALK, TALK AND COMMUNICATE,
YOU TAUGHT YOURSELF HOW TO SEW JUST USING YOUR LEFT HAND, WHAT WAS THE DRIVING
FORCE THAT KEPT YOU GOING AND HELPED YOU ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH?
Growing up my mother had
a saying that she was faithful to – Get over it, you can’t change what has
happen but you change how deal with it!
So that’s what I
did, through my determination and drive to be a successful designer alongside
the support of my amazing boyfriend and family, I got over it. Also anyone who
knows me will tell you that I am an independent and determined soul, or
stubborn whichever way you would like to put it. So when my doctors didn’t have
much faith in my recovery it just added fuel to the fire, I was sure I could
prove them wrong.
It reminds me of the
scene in Happy Gilmore, when the doctor tells Happy to stay off his feet
for a while and Happy tells him ‘to hell with that!’ – ‘Fine! Do whatever you
like. What would I know, I'm just a Doctor.’
I think I have done just
that!
5. WHERE DO YOU GO FOR DAILY
INSPIRATION? DO YOU HAVE A FAVOUITE CAFÉ, STORE, BLOG, ETC YOU GAIN INSPIRATION
FROM?
My daily inspiration is from
everyday life, the book or magazine I’m reading, the music I’m listening to and
shops I go into etc. Put me in to a good material shop and I will be inspirited
for hours!
6. IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE
WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD THIS BE? WHY?
Hard question! There are
so many people I would love to work with but if this person was still alive I
would love to collaborate with Miroslav Sasek, he is the illustrator of the
book series ‘This is …’. I love his illustrations and the life he creates into
his subject matter.
7. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC
WHILE YOU ARE DESIGNING? IF SO, WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT?
Since I was at school I
always need to have noise in the background and now when I switch on my
computer Spotify comes up and I explore! At the moment I’m listening to a lot
of Brandi Carlile, Kodaline, The Lumineers, First Aid Kit etc …
8. WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE
SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU?
Slow and steady wins the
race!
9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE
FOR US?
I know it’s so cliché but
Life is short and never know what is around the corner – if you want to do
something don’t wait till tomorrow.
10. THE HOLIDAYS ARE JUST
AROUND THE CORNER, DO YOU HAVE ANY HOLIDAY TRADITIONS?
Since moving to
the UK I haven’t had my normal summer family Christmas. I recently moved in to
my boyfriend’s house and really want to create a tradition that will stay with
me no matter what the weather is. I am currently sewing a bunting advent
calendar where I can put small present for everyday till Christmas!
11.WHAT’S NEXT FOR ASOLON? ANY EXCITING EVENTS OR NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
What’s next for
Asolon?
We love our
customers and we think 0 – 24 months is not longer enough to enjoy our
beautiful products. That been said we are hoping to extend our range to 0–5
years! Watch this space.
12. WHAT HAVE YOU ASKED SANTA FOR CHRISTMAS?
I would really like Santa
to bring me a KitchenAid Classic Stand Mixer!
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