Welcome to the Guest Blog!

As a woman entrepreneur, I find other women in business fascinating. I especially like to hear how they came to start their own businesses, what the driving idea was…and what pushed them to take that (big) step! So, I’ve decided to feature stories about women in business for themselves, starting with women I know or have worked with.

Each month I will feature a blog about a woman entrepreneur, written in her own words. The idea is to tell her story, promote her product or business, entertain and inform us–the reader. For starters, I will stick to women in businesses related to fashion or retail, but I am open to venturing into other business genres. If you know a woman who would like to contribute, have her contact me through this website with her story, web address and a few images that could be posted on the blog.

Thanks and stay tuned!

–Catherine

March Feature: Julia Rutland of Aesthetic Design Style

My passion. My true labor of love. My vision.  Aesthetic Design Style was born February 2008.  After years of being a makeup artist, working retail, and finally a stint in Corporate America I wanted to bring something fresh and fashion-forward to Indianapolis – not to mention do something I loved that was mine.  While working nights at the Art Institute of Indianapolis it came to me that there were so many fabulous and talented fashion and accessory designers in Indianapolis that just weren’t getting the recognition they deserved.  I wanted to be able to put them in the spotlight and hopefully bring business their way so they are able to continue to create the gorgeous pieces they love.  In turn I want to give them an opportunity to stay in Indianapolis and keep their creative juices flowing in our city instead of having to move to Chicago, New York, or LA to start a career in the fashion industry – that’s my goal!

Wooden rings by StudioAMF

After giving birth to my third daughter my husband and I knew it was time to change our lives in a big way.  Aesthetic Design Style moved closer and closer to the forefront instead of just something I did in my spare time.  We knew it was now or never, so I took the plunge.  I get to be home with my daughters and run my business the way I need to and I’ve never looked back – it just keeps getting better.

Not only is running a business important to me, but the empowerment of women and being a part of the community I live in is even more important.  Sometimes, as women, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for all that we do.  We’re mothers, entrepreneurs, wives, designers, teachers, and the list is endless.  It is critical to me to keep women uplifted and encouraged to do whatever it is they want to do in life and to be happy.  We strive to connect with agencies and organizations that share that same vision.

At Aesthetic Design Style we work to make the unknown become known and the “little guy” to become, well, hopefully, a little bigger.  Currently we are working with six of the most amazing up and coming fashion and accessory designers.  We find and partner with our designers and aid them in getting their lines into the hands of private clients as well as into the correct retail establishments for their particular product.

Bags of Blessing by Amy Gibbons – Carmel, IN, Brynn Capella Handbags by Brynn Capella – Chicago, IL, Chic Gems Couture by Sarah

Handbag by Bags of Blessing

Radford – Tampa, FL, ShaSAM3 by Julia Rutland – Indianapolis, IN, studioAMF by Allison Ford – Indianapolis, IN, and Sweet Revenge Lingerie by Catherine Fritsch, Indianapolis, IN are the very life and blood that run through Aesthetic Design Style.   Each of our designers create different products.  This way we can concentrate on each designer individually and their lines aren’t competing within our own company.  For example we have Chic Gems Couture, which is a jewelry line, and we also have studioAMF which does jewelry as well.  The difference is the medium.  Chic Gems uses natural stones and other items to make their pieces whereas studioAMF creates unbelievable wooden jewelry by hand.  So even though they both produce jewelry, their products are so different that the placement of their lines probably wouldn’t be in the same retail establishment or even in the hands of the same client.

As we continue to grow and gain more designers and establish relationships with some wonderful boutiques, we also continue to stay active where we live.  Success is only great if you share it with others.  All roads lead to an independent fashion revolution!