Ashley Ortega tells story behind her new loungewear business
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Showbiz News
“This is the side of me that's not an artist, but as a businesswoman,” tells Ashley Ortega about her recently launched loungewear collection.
Kapuso actress Ashley Ortega is now a businesswoman at the young age of 21.
In an interview with the internal press of GMA Network, the actress proudly shared that she's very much hands-on when it comes to her new business venture -- selling loungewear pieces online.
She explains, “Well, actually hindi ko talaga inexpect na I will have a business in this pandemic. There was just this one time lang na na-depress ako kasi na-miss kong mag-taping and wala akong ginagawa masyado dito sa house. So sabi ko maybe I have to do something that I like.
“Since we're all staying at home at sobrang na-bore ako sa pagsuot lang ng t-shirt at ng shorts. But, there was a time na sinuot ko 'yung lingerie ng mom ko tapos feeling ko naging babae ulit ako.
“Since we're all staying at home, I decided na magbenta na lang ako ng mga loungewear and sleepwear.”
Thus, Ashleigh was born.
Ashley discloses that the first step in coming up with her brand was hiring a personal sewer that would match her expectations.
“Ang first ko talagang ginawa is to find me a personal sewer,” she says.
“So, nagsearch talaga ako sa Facebook, and I almost called 10 unknown numbers. Ang dami kong nakita doon at tinawagan ko halos lahat ng numbers to the point na umabot pa nga ako sa mga taga-Mindanao.
“Nung time na gusto ko na talagang mag-give up, may natawagan ako na isa who is my personal sewer now. E, sakto, she lives 15 minutes away from my house.”
After hiring her personal sewer, the actress began sourcing her materials and advertising her products online.
“Sa materials ako rin ang nag-source,” she recalls.
“I even went to this place at eight in the morning para makaiwas ako sa mga tao -- I was the one who chose [the] fabric and lace. Ako rin naghanap ng packaging. Even my [photo] shoot, sa bahay ko lang ginawa 'yun. Na, instead of renting a studio, ako na lang nagpatayo ng set sa likod ng bahay, tapos lighting na lang, and si mommy na lang 'yung nag-photo sa akin.
“I never expected na mase-stress ako sa mga bagay na ganito. But after that, I realized na it was all worth it. Halos lahat talaga 'yun it was all me.”
The actress-entrepreneur adds that she drew inspiration from her favorite eras, mostly from the '80s, and her favorite songs.
“My inspiration is mga vintage style talaga,” she discloses.
“'Yung mga '80s na artists and old songs kasi old soul talaga ako.
“Every time I listen to those songs, it makes me calm, and it relaxes my mind. And dun ko naisip 'yung aking mga designs. Naisip ko ipe-peg ko na lang sa mga vintage clothing. And since wala pang masyadong nakakaisip noon, kasi people are only buying pajama sets, e, naisip ko parang ayaw ko naman gumaya sa ganun. So that's why I decided to make my own.”
She adds, “That's why I also named it 'Ashleigh.collection.'
“Ashleigh is my real name. This is the side of me that's not an artista but a businesswoman. Never ko talaga inexpect 'yung title na 'yon, but right now I'm enjoying it.”
