Dave and I had such a lovely thanksgiving, but trying to get back into the swing of everything has definitely been a challenge… we are so close to Christmas now- I can hardly believe it!!! This year has seriously flown by so quickly and it’s time for another Boss Babe post. I know I say this all the time, but I absolutely love these posts, because I get to know more about an awesome gal, and I get to promote her business to all of Ya’ll. This girl is such a sweetheart and she has a killer T-shirt company, that is filled with positive, uplifting messages. I love the shirt she designed for me and am always excited to see what designs she’ll come up with next. Another thing that I absolutely love about her company is that she gives back with every purchase. My November Boss Babe is Ariellas Designs.
So sit back and relax, grab your favorite drink and check out her interview below:
Tell me a bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you like to do, etc?
My name is Symone Ariella Booker. I am from sunny Southern California (born and raised). I ran track and cross country all 4 years while I was in college, running was my thing! I’ve always been into crafting and I love writing (sending letters/cards, journaling, practicing calligraphy). I absolutely love the color yellow (yellow houses, cars, shoes, shirts, flowers, stickers, markers, anything) and the sun is probably my favorite symbol!
Tell me a bit about your business!
Ariella’s Designs is an e-commerce site that specializes in customizing tanks, tees, and sweatshirts for the customer. The customer brings the vision and I do my best to bring it to reality and make it into a custom shirt! I essentially allow my customers to become their own fashion designer, giving them the opportunity to design their one of a kind shirt.
Everyone has a story to tell and a message that really resonates with them, and my goal is to help bring that message to the surface!
Wow- I love this so much! What a cool way to look at fashion and all that it can be!
So, at what point did you decide you wanted to have your own business?
Ever since I was younger, I dreamed of having my own business. But it wasn’t until a few weeks after I finished my last quarter of college that I saw starting my business as a reality. Once I really began to envision it and the impact I could make, I went for it and put the plan into motion. (Timeframe: December 2017 was my last quarter in college and I launched Ariella’s Designs in April 2018)
What’s your favorite tee you’ve made?
Hmm, it’s a bit hard for me to decide since the shirts I’ve made were all for different purposes and each has a special meaning. But with that being said, I think my favorite is a shirt I made my friend for her birthday. This shirt is probably my favorite because it challenged me to go outside my comfort zone and print with different colors.
What is your hope with this business?
My hope is to uplift people and to make clothing less of just fashion statements, but positive statements as well. I think that clothing can be used to spread messages, bring awareness to issues, shine light, speak to someone, encourage, inspire, empower and so much more. I hope that I’ll be able to help people speak their messages and use their creativity. I hope that the shirts created will be able to start conversations and just brighten people’s days. I also hope that my business is able to stand as an influence and encourage people to be joyful, kind, uplifting and to give back as they feel moved to.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11 —
Girl, I love your mission so much! It is so inspiring to see someone wanting to continue to bring positive messages and uplifting statements to the surface. And you’re so right… the shirts can start a conversation. I wore the shirt you gave me the other day and I had so many compliments and so many people asking me about my shirt and why I chose my statement. It was fun getting to talk with them about kindness and how that is a part of my mission as I influence others.
I noticed that when people buy a shirt from you 10% of the proceeds go to charity water. What made you decided to send a percentage to a charity and why did you choose that particular charity.
I’ve always loved to give and donate to charities and causes, from volunteering my time and resources to giving financial support. During my college years, I considered multiple times working for a charity or possibly even starting my own. But one day I came across charity: water and I just connected to their mission like I never have before. I donated to their cause as often as I could, but I wanted to do more. So when I decided to start Ariella’s Designs, it was an easy decision for me to commit to donating to their cause and to shine light on what they do. I was inspired to donate 10% from each purchase due to what the bible says about tithing and being a cheerful giver. And I chose to support charity: water simply because I love their mission — to give everyone access to clean water.
With every purchase made, we promise to donate a percentage of the proceeds to help those in need.
We are currently running a campaign to support the mission at charity: water —
charity: water — Approximately every $30 donated will give 1 person access to clean water.
Do you know how much you’ve raised to help charity water?
Since my launch in April, about $400 has been raised. It’s not a whole lot but it’s encouraging to me to know that the impact will grow as my business does.
How much time does it take you to create some of your shirts?
The entire process from the designing stage to a completed shirt can take about 2 hours if I am customizing a design for someone. If I am making a shirt based on a design that I already have in mind, it takes me about 30 minutes to complete the shirt.
Is this your full-time gig, or do you have a full-time job and this is your side hustle?
I’m committed full time to Ariella’s Designs and have been working from my savings earned in college.
That is awesome… I can see you already going places with your company. So maybe someday soon you’ll be full time! What is your goal for your company?
My goal with Ariella’s Designs is to simply bring light into the world and to spread some love and encouragement. I hope to make people feel empowered by the message on their shirt, whether it be as simple as a smiley face or a sweet phrase as “spread kindness like buttercream.” What we put on can have an effect on our mood, our outlook on the day and our interaction with other people. And my goal is to create clothing that only promotes a form of encouragement. So that when you catch a glimpse of your shirt, you can smile and be reminded of it’s encouraging message. 
If people wanted to order some shirts or designs from you, where would they go to do this?
They can visit my website and shop the already designed items or they can shoot me an email at symone@ariellasdesigns.com to contact me about their vision for a custom shirt. They also have the option to shop from my Instagram account (which will direct them back to my website) and they can DM me if they’d like!
I love looking at the shirts you’ve designed on your instagram… It’s so fun! What is some advice you have for a girl trying to start her own business or get something started?
Don’t be paralyzed by fear of not knowing everything! If you waited until you knew everything there is to know, you’d never stop waiting. You’re going to learn as you go, everyone does! And learn from the mistakes of others so that you don’t have to make the same ones. Go to your local library and pick up books on successful people (they don’t even have to be in the same business that you’re going in; some of my favorites are the stories on Chick-fil-A, Toms shoes, Magnolia Story and Walmart).
And Don’t Give Up! It’s going to be hard and at times it may feel as if you’re getting nowhere, but just keep your faith and remind yourself of why you started. Rome wasn’t built in a day and nor should your business be. I like this quote from Warren Buffet that reads “No matter how great the talent or efforts, some things just take time. You can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.” You need to give yourself and your business the opportunity to develop, so that when it is time for you to grow you’re ready for it.
Fun questions to get to know you more:
Favorite fast food restaurant?
Not sure if this qualifies as a fast food restaurant but I love Mod Pizza!
Favorite Starbucks coffee drink
I’m not much of a coffee drinker, but I do love Starbucks’ seasonal hot chocolates and Chai tea lattes!
Yum! Their Chai Tea Lattes are AMAZING! What is your favorite thing to do to unwind?
I love to sit on the couch and watch a few of my favorite shows — current favorites include Seinfeld, Golden Girls, and Fixer Upper reruns!
Any other advice you’d like to give the readers?
Don’t live in your comfort zones. If you’re never uncomfortable, you never grow and stay right where you are. It’s okay to make mistakes and try new things. One of my favorite quotes from Michael Jordan reads, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”
So I encourage you to think outside the box, try something different, and to challenge yourself to something new; you may be surprised by what you’re able to do!
Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you and promote your business! I always love these posts to get to know some boss babes better and to be an encouragement to you. But you have been such an encouragement to me as I have reflected on your answers to the above questions. Thank you so much for using something as small as a shirt to make amazing impacts in others lives, not only through donating to charity water, but by inspiring others to be kind, bright, and positive! You’re awesome , girl!
Definitely check out this gals Instagram, and see all her cute designs. Get your custom shirt to impact others TODAY!
Thanks for stopping by and as always,
Be Kind and Stay fashionable,
Erin Ruscel
