Ayana Ifè is a fashion designer who designs clothing that is edgy, modern and modest. Catch some of her designs during Utah Fashion Week‘s Urban/Streetwear Show, held at 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. on March 17 at The Falls Event Center, and at SLUG‘s 28th Anniversary Party Fashion Show, held March 25 at The Depot. Keep up to date with Ifè on Instagram (@ayanaife) and at etsy.com/shop/AyanaIfe.
Special thanks to CUAC, who hosted this month’s SLUG Style within their beautiful gallery space, and to artist Scott Malbaurn, whose exhibition Cake will be on show in CUAC‘s back gallery through March 10.
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Every month, SLUG Stylefeatures distinct and unique members of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.
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“I’m a fashion designer and my dream is to create a clothing label that specifically caters to the modest market,” says Ifè. “I feel we’re a bit under served… Then eventually, I’d like to expand into swimwear and active wear, and maybe even special occasion.”
Photo: @clancycoop
“I would like to be an acclaimed international modest designer,” says Ifè. “I would like to be the number one brand for modest fashion in the US or at least up there with the number one brand.”
Photo: @clancycoop
“I was born in Brooklyn, New York,” says Ifè. “I spent a little time in Tennessee, that’s where I got my Bachelors in apparel design. I moved out to Utah for a new scenery—fresh start. I’ve been here for a year now and during that time, I was able to get into Utah Fashion Week and just network and meet people.”Photo: @clancycoop
“I started designing when I was six. I used to make doll clothes and things like that,” says Ifè. “I have a lot of siblings. I’m number eight of eleven children, so growing up, we weren’t the most wealthy. Everything that I got, in terms of clothing, was always a hand-me-down. I used to cut sleeves from here and put sleeves on other things, and just change things around so that I could have my own personal touch on things.”Photo: @clancycoop
“People would ask me for styling advice even when I was 10 or 11. I would give styling advice and then I started freelancing after that, so I used to sew for people,” says Ifè. “I actually sold my first piece when I was 10 to a classmate in fifth grade. It was a pair of pants for $5 and I was super stoked.”
Photo: @clancycoop
“When I was 13, I did a summer sewing course and that helped a lot sewing on industrial sewing machines and things like that,” says Ifè. “Then it just really grew. In between, my family wanted me to pursue nursing, you know, job stability. I was going to do that, but my heart was here in design.”
Photo: @clancycoop
“Even though I design primarily with modest intentions—I say by Muslim standards just because there’s no skin showing and you won’t find cutouts in the back of shirts or anything like that—I appreciate all fashion. I just feel like it’s an under served market,” says Ifè.
Photo: @clancycoop
“My designs are worn by everyone, not just by people who cover for religious purposes or for modest preferences,” says Ifè.
Photo: @clancycoop
