Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Bates.
Hi Austin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into fashion really started with my family. Creativity has always been a part of my life. My parents actually met while modeling in a fashion show, my dad is a photographer, my mom is an interior designer, and my sister is a makeup artist. There’s also a strong sewing and fashion history in our family. My great-grandmother, Martha, who was my mom’s grandmother, passed down the sewing gene, and my grandmother Gladys, on my dad’s side, did some modeling in the 1970s.
I started sewing at a very young age. I remember making little coin purses in fourth grade and trying to sell them to my friends. Even then, I knew I wanted to create something and share it with others. As I got older, I explored different sides of the fashion industry. At one point, I thought I wanted to be a model, so in preparation, my parents got me braces. But I decided that I walking the runway wasn’t what I wanted. Then I thought I wanted to be a stylist, and they connected me with family friends so I could practice personal shopping. Later, I thought fashion editing might be my path, so my dad taught me how to use Illustrator and challenged me to create a magazine cover.
I think all of those experiences were important because they allowed me to explore the industry from different perspectives. But eventually, I realized that I kept circling back to the thing I loved most: sewing and designing.
After graduating high school, I attended The Art Institute to study Fashion Design, and that’s where I really discovered my passion for eveningwear. I fell in love with creating garments that felt elevated, feminine, and special—pieces that could make someone feel beautiful and confident.
Today, I’m incredibly blessed to have built a career that allows me to surround myself with the things I love most. I have my own women’s eveningwear brand, Austin Ariana Designs. I also co-own the fashion-forward ready-to-wear brand Heirloom LXVII with my mother, Nichelle Hosley, and my sister, Caitlin Love. My husband and I co-own Heirloom Customs, a custom embroidery business, and I’m also the co-manager of All Brands Sewing & More, where we sell and service sewing machines and teach sewing classes.
When I look back, it’s funny because I spent so much time trying to figure out which part of the fashion industry I belonged in, only to realize that I didn’t have to choose just one. I was always meant to create. Today, I get to do that in so many different ways, and I’m incredibly grateful that sewing and design have grown from something I loved as a child into the career and life I have today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any road in a creative field is necessarily smooth. There are always going to be challenges, setbacks, moments of self-doubt, and times when you have to question whether you’re on the right path. The fashion industry especially can look very glamorous from the outside, but there is so much work that happens behind the scenes that people don’t always see.
For me, being a fashion designer has meant a lot of long, sleepless nights, especially when preparing for a collection or a major show. There have been plenty of times when I’ve had to sacrifice time with my family, miss events, or put other things on hold because a deadline needed to be met. It’s a career that requires a lot of patience, discipline, and commitment.
That being said, I’ve been incredibly blessed to have an amazing and extremely supportive family and circle of friends. Having people around me who understand my vision, encourage me, and support me through the demanding seasons has made such a difference. They’ve seen the late nights and the stressful moments, but they’ve also celebrated the accomplishments with me.
I’ve learned that the difficult moments are often part of the process. Every challenge has taught me something, whether it was about business, creativity, time management, or simply believing in myself. The road hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t trade the journey. I think the sacrifices make the moments when you finally see your vision come to life that much more rewarding.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Austin Ariana Designs is a women’s eveningwear brand centered around feminine power without compromise. I design for women who can be soft and commanding at the same time. The brand lives in the space between romance and edge—elegance with a little tension.
For me, fashion is about more than creating something beautiful. It’s about artistry, legacy, and creating pieces that make women feel unforgettable rather than simply “on trend.” I want my designs to have a sense of timelessness and craftsmanship that makes them worth remembering and passing down.
I’m also becoming known for my love of corsetry. If you see an Austin Ariana collection, you’ll probably see at least three corsets! I love how something so structured can become incredibly beautiful and feminine. The craftsmanship, precision, and shaping involved really allow me to combine my love of sewing and design.
What I’m most proud of is building a brand that feels authentically mine. I want Austin Ariana to make women feel confident, powerful, feminine, and unforgettable—and that’s what sets it apart.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think design is all about risk. There’s a certain vulnerability that comes with putting your creations out into the world and hoping people connect with them. It can be scary, and honestly, it can take an emotional and mental toll. You can put hundreds of hours, sleepless nights, and personal sacrifices into a collection, only for people to potentially not like it. But I think that vulnerability is also what makes creating so rewarding.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was working for multiple fashion designers early in my career. At first, it sounded like the perfect opportunity—to get paid to do something I loved while learning from other designers. But there’s also a risk of losing your own design voice or allowing someone else’s brand to take priority over your own.
Looking back, I’m actually grateful I took those opportunities. I learned so much from each designer—the good, the bad, and everything in between. Those experiences helped me understand not only the kind of designer I want to be, but also the kind of designer I don’t want to be. I think sometimes taking a risk means being willing to learn, even when you don’t know exactly where that experience will lead you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinarianadesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.arianadesigns/
- Other: https://www.heirloomlxvii.com/
