S9 Ep27 DON’T LET DISCO: Ashley Moubayed, collector and curator of vintage and antique beads - on upcycling to create limited-edition jewelry, and honoring the life within every bead.

Sep 15, 2025

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On today’s show, we’re chatting with Ashley Moubayed, the founder of Don’t Let Disco. Don’t Let Disco sources uniquely crafted beads, often vintage or antique, and one-of-a-kind, to upcycle into limited-edition jewelry, honoring the life within every bead.

Don’t Let Disco is a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, and this New York Fashion Week, Ashley will be showing her Spring/Summer 2026 collection – Pre-Loved got you a special sneak peek into some of the pieces and their stories, and I can’t wait to share these with you.

Everything about Don’t Let Disco embraces the spirit of pre-loved, and I can’t wait for you to hear Ashley’s stories– let’s dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

[4:55] Ashley loved fashion as a young child, and she particularly gravitated toward jewelry.
[5:52] In college, she started upcycling jewelry for her friends.
[11:46] Her grandmother collected coins and her grandfather collected stamps, so Ashley has a fondness for both.
[17:54] Working in the fine arts at Sotheby’s
[25:05] While at Sotheby’s, Ashley was full of creative inspiration and started making beaded jewelry.
[33:17] How Don’t Let Disco started working with The RealReal
[35:58] What we can expect from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, which premiers this week.
[39:21] The Don’t Let Disco beading bars

EPISODE MENTIONS:

LET’S CONNECT:

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SPECIAL THANKS:

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

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