This week features Sarah Ashcroft, a stunning influencer, blogger, and the entrepreneurial force behind SLA The Label. She shares her inspiring journey of launching a clothing line at just 25. Sarah dives into the challenges of balancing fame and mental health while running her brand, and explores the pressures of blogging that can affect mental well-being. Listeners gain insight into her evolution from loungewear to luxe collections, complete with personal anecdotes that highlight the importance of passion, self-awareness, and joy in her life.
Sarah Ashcroft's transition from retail to fashion entrepreneur highlights the importance of pursuing one's passions for career fulfillment.
Her candid discussion about mental health struggles reveals the hidden pressures influencers face, advocating for greater support within the industry.
Deep dives
Journey into Fashion and Retail
A significant moment for the guest was during her initial work experiences in retail, where she discovered her passion for fashion. Despite finding her first retail job challenging and unenjoyable, a subsequent experience at a boutique allowed her to engage in personal styling, sparking her passion for helping others express themselves through fashion. This turning point made her realize that her career needed to revolve around her interests and enthusiasm, emphasizing the importance of doing what one loves in life. Ultimately, her various experiences in retail shaped her understanding of the necessity to find a career that excited her, marking the beginnings of her journey into the fashion industry.
The Decision to Forego University
Choosing not to attend university was a pivotal decision for the guest and stemmed from her recognition that traditional academics did not align with her strengths or desires. This choice empowered her to pursue practical experiences in the fashion industry, leading her to enroll in a specialized Fashion Retail Academy course to gain hands-on knowledge. Starting a blog became a crucial step in her journey, enabling her to showcase her creativity and eventually land jobs in fashion PR. The guest's ability to trust her instincts and acknowledge what didn't motivate her served as a defining moment that greatly influenced her career path.
Navigating the Influencer Landscape
Growing as a lifestyle influencer brought both incredible opportunities and unique challenges, significantly shaping the guest’s personal and professional life. While she thrived in creating content and connecting with her audience initially, the pressures of social media began to instigate anxiety, impacting her sense of self and confidence. The constant scrutiny, particularly from negative comments, prompted a realization that the industry isn't always supportive or healthy and heightened her anxiety, creating barriers in her social life. This culminated in the birth of her clothing brand, SLA, where she sought to channel her creativity into something sustainable and enriching, allowing for a reaffirmation of her true passion.
The Influence of Mental Health Challenges
The guest opened up about the mental health struggles that grew alongside her success in social media, outlining a complex relationship with anxiety and social anxiety. Initially a confident individual, the pressures of being in the public eye led to feelings of doubt and stress, complicating her ability to enjoy social situations. She expressed a desire for better mental health support specific to the influencer community, highlighting the stigma associated with acknowledging such struggles in a seemingly glamorous profession. By sharing her experiences, she not only normalized conversations around anxiety but emphasized the importance of seeking help while navigating the intricacies of mental well-being.
This week on The Moments That Made Me we have a special episode with the incredibly beautiful and business driven Sarah Ashcroft. Sarah is an influencer, blogger and founder/CEO of SLA The Label. So join us as we find out Sarah's three most influential moments in her life, that has helped her get to where she is today!