Ava Stanley is the designer behind Flavas Flixs: and “Flava” is what she calls her creative alter ego.

Her path into design began almost accidentally. While taking a required sewing class in college, Ava noticed she was finishing projects quickly enough that her professor made her the unofficial TA and encouraged her to pursue design. The next semester, she entered her school’s fashion show and never stopped sewing.

Ava also minored in Sustainability, bringing her interest in fashion together with a desire to work with materials that already exist. 

Fashion • Womenswear • Upcycling • Custom Clothing

Ava primarily creates womenswear, with skirts, pants, and dresses among her best sellers. She also creates custom corsets, and has even made a bridal corset!

Ava is an instinctive designer. Ideas often appear in her mind first, and she immediately sketches or draws them before figuring out how to bring them to life.

She is also inspired by sustainability and the idea that existing materials don’t have to reach the end of their story. Scrap and thrifted fabrics give her the opportunity to take something that has already lived one life and transform it into something completely new.

Her mother has also been an important influence, teaching Ava that passion and hard work could allow her to build a life doing what she loves.

Ava sews her pieces herself in her New York studio: which she jokingly identifies as her bedroom.

Sustainability is built into the process. She focuses on scrap and thrifted fabrics and believes sustainable clothing can still be affordable, whimsical, and fun. For custom work, Ava can also source fabrics according to specific preferences. 

Whimsy. Sustainable. Customizable.

Takes custom orders? YES
Can source specific fabrics? YES
Uses deadstock/thrifted materials? YES
Handmade? YES
One-of-one pieces? YES
Made in New York? YES