Ariel Jillian Smith is an American Indian Fashion Designer who not only loves designing but also enjoys working with and teaching high school students and children's humanitarian work.
Born in Seattle, WA, Ariel was able to get a great education and had a Fashion Design class in high school which propelled her interest in Fashion. She obtained a Fashion scholarship in which she attended Washington State University with a major in Fashion Design. Graduating in 3 1/2 years, Ariel chose to pursue her teaching passion and joined Teach For America in which she moved to Birmingham, Alabama to teach Geometry at Bessemer City High School. While not a direct fashion teacher, Ariel lead a dance team, and helped put on Fashion shows and fashion competitions at the school. She also made a few graduating students Prom dresses which propelled her into designing for Prom season.
Ariel then moved to Atlanta,Georgia to continue growing her skills in the fashion industry and also became a High School teacher at Cross Keys High for 1 year. At Cross Keys she was head of a fashion design after school program which was highly popular among the students. She also began growing her skilled team and created a Fashion Intern program where paid interns will work and learn with her during Prom Season.
1 dress lead to 2, which lead to 4, 8, 24, and now over 300 dresses can be produced by Ariel and her team in one season. With over 11 years of custom Prom designing experience, Ariel paved a way for herself in a not so open fashion industry by focusing on her gifts of designing and working with young adults.
Now for the third consecutive year there will be PROM AWARDS premiering in December in which dozens of Senior students will receive scholarships for their outstanding performance at school and their creativity during Prom Season. Over $50,000 has been given away via scholarships and kids afterschool programs thus far due to the business generated from Ariel Jillian Designs.
Ariel hopes that her life is an inspiration to kids that pursuing Art and Creativity can lead to big things if you really get good at your craft! Take your time, enjoy the small wins in what you're doing, build your audience, trust in God, and the rest will follow!
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