Ruby Assata

When I moved to Wilmington, I met an amazing (in every sense of the word) woman who lived in my building at the time, Alisha Payne. Upon our first introduction, I asked her, "What do you do?" She said, "Many things. I am a server. I make things. I sew things. I draw things. And I work for the costume shop at UNCW." I said, "Oh, that's nice." Alisha quickly became my favorite person in Wilmington. As I got to see these "things" that she drew and sewed, I discovered that she is in fact, an extremely humble artist. These things that she "draws" and "sews" are custom high end accessories, such as leather wallets, oversized, leather bags, dresses, and capes. She creates all of these things and more under the brand name Ruby Assata. She is one of the most creative, inspired, and motivated individuals that I know. She applied to graduate school at SCAD and RISD (sp?) and surprisingly did not get accepted. So, she moved to her parents house where she would have access to an industrial leather sewing machine and a workspace large enough to actualize all of her creative dreams. She has been working steadily, making her designs into functional, high quality works of art. She sells her products on etsy, in designer boutiques and even revealed her very first line of designer bags in a fashion show in Charlotte.

Alisha prioritizes quality and functionality in everything she designs and creates. I wish I could articulate how awe-inspiring this woman truly is. Not only is she an awesome designer and artist, she is also an unbelievable friend. I had known her only 2 months when I returned to my home from a visit with my family to find my apartment decorated with balloons and streamers for my birthday. Who had done this? Alisha. She hand makes every gift that she gives, for birthdays, "thank you"s, holidays... If she gives you something, she made it, especially for you. She volunteered her time to design and screenprint 100 posters for the local film festival here in Wilmington. She listens, learns, and does everything she can to support the people in her life. She welcomed me into her circle of friends immediately. She arranged for me to meet people who would support the fulfillment of my own dreams. She is a very special friend to me.

Why am I telling you about my dear friend Alisha? Because she is currently raising funds for herself. Do you want to learn more about her efforts to fulfill her dream? Watch this video. Do you want to track her journey, see pictures of her creations, or learn about her creative process? Check out her blog. Do you want to learn more about who she is and the products she creates? Check out her website. If you have a couple of dollars that you can donate to a worthy cause, consider contributing to her fundraising efforts. Your donation will only be cashed if they achieve their goal (she only has 12 days left). If you donate, she will send you a handmade thank you card and you will then own a one-of-a-kind custom work of art from Ruby Assata. You will be glad to own this piece of art when she is famous. At the very least, please watch the video she created with her ever-talented friends. It is beautiful.