WHO IS AVA LOVE?
Poet, Designer And
Self-Proclaimed Mutt
By Leah Jayasanker

Poet and t-shirt designer Ava Love is a self-proclaimed mutt. Born in Tampa, Florida she proudly states that she is of Chinese, Nicaraguan, Italian, Irish and West Indian descent. Ava has lived all over the United States-- Florida, California, Boston, Vermont, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, and San Francisco-- but now calls New York home. In addition to being a published poet, a few years ago Ava began silk screening t-shirts with whimsical, natural designs and selling them on the streets. The response was overwhelming. Now her work is sold in stores worldwide (even though she still vends on the street) and she dreams of branching out into gowns and house wares. Vis.A.Vis sat down to talk with Ava about the trials and eventually successes that come with being an independent clothing designer in New York City.

When did you start designing and why?  
I've always made things.  Usually, they were Christmas presents for friends and family.  About three years ago, in between my part-time job at CosmoGIRL! and temp jobs, I decided to make butterfly clips, and sell them on the street to pay my rent.  It went well—they were featured in CosmoGIRL!-- but it was so much work for such a small return.  After that, I started making collages out of images, paint, glue, glitter and rhinestones.  So much fun but it wasn't enough to pay the rent. Then, about a year and a half ago, while still at my magazine job, I silk screened a few peacock tee shirts and sold them on the street.  They all sold, so I made a few more.  Those sold and it just kept going.  
It became my weekend job. I was going home nights [after the magazine] to print, and selling on the weekends. Things looked promising and so I decided that it was time to stop working two jobs, and take a chance running my own silkscreen printing business.  I went to school for poetry and art, and then got a Masters in poetry.  

Would you say things have "taken off" for you?
My main source of income has been the streets of New York, but recently I did my first trade show, and am now in many stores including stores in Singapore, and Japan. In September, I got a call from a friend who said Penelope Cruz was wearing my tee as one of People Magazine's Best Dressed. I didn't believe it, and it took me a few days to buy the magazine to see. But it was true! By pure magic and luck, she was wearing my tee! I have no idea how she got it or how she got in People wearing it, but it's amazing, and part of that amazing feedback that I've gotten from the "universe" telling me I'm doing the right thing. Taking off for me, is just the idea that I am able to support myself being creative.  I view my apparel/shirts as works of art-- poetry, hand-printed, limited edition lithographs that people can wear—but not only art as in the design, but art as in supporting art and artists to be able to live out their dream.

Can you describe the process of making your pieces? How do you choose the images?
Each design is a metaphor. They are organic, as is life is and the creative impulse. Much of my work has something to do with birds. It's a romantic notion.  Some think of birds as the soul, others as a beautiful thing that wakes you in the morning, a symbol of freedom, or of peace.  Each person has their own interpretation of what birds mean but usually it's positive and uplifting.  I like this idea, and it's wonderful to be able to wear this as an emblem.

How do you work? Do you work at a certain time of day? Do you listen to music?
I like to work first thing in the morning and music is important.  Sometimes I listen to opera!  Sometimes I listen to Indian mantras.  Sometimes I listen to Joni Mitchell.  It's nice to create a dream state while printing, so the magic goes into the clothes.  Listening to music helps create this state of mind.

Who or what inspires you?
I love pioneers, those who are passionate and aren't afraid to be themselves.  My feather collar shirt was a dream costume, something I always wanted to wear.  One Halloween, I was "When Doves Cry" the Prince song. I had this feather collar, that I wished I could wear everyday. So I decided to make it into a tee shirt.  I thought it would be a strange design, and not many people would like it, but I did it for myself and for people like Bjork who dare to wear it every day.  But it turns out, people like it!

Where is your work sold?
My work is sold at a stand on Prince Street in SOHO.  It is also sold on avalove.etsy.com . I have also been sold at United Arrows in Japan, Property Of in Singapore, soon to be in Germany at Peek Und Kloppenburg, Shop Caravan in NYC, Mesh in San Diego, The Royal Family in Dallas, a store in Utah, Addy and Ferro in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Catbird in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Boogies in Colorado, Camden Boutique in Illinois, Lisy B in Newport Beach, Ca, cutandpaste.com, and starsandinfinitedarkness.com. My artwork has also been represented at Ernesto Mayans gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

As for poetry, I've been published in literary magazines, two poetry anthology books, and won a few awards over the years.  My blog of finished and unfinished work is ava-love.com .

What does the future look like for Ava Love designs? Are you going to add new separates, accessories, etc.?
Ava Love wants to keep making apparel.  I'm interested in creating tee shirts that are viewed as works of art, lithographs, transforming our beloved tee into something dressy and fabulous. But I'd like to take the typical silkscreen that's made on tees and transform it into something new, take it to a place it's never been.  I'm looking forward to screening more dresses and gowns.  How about someone getting married in a beautiful silk-screened gown? Now that's what I'm talking about.

I'd also love to bring more text into my work so that it has that bookish feel and so I can proudly say, I am self-publishing my poems. Also, I'd love to move into house wares.  I keep daydreaming about plates, etc with these designs on them. And I would love to work in neon.  Wouldn't that be fun, house wares?

But for now, I'm just following the flow, and seeing where it takes me, pushing the boundaries of what is typical, and transforming, re-defining the norm. And someday soon, I'd love to publish a book of poetry.