By Yasaman Ayati
It Is Always the Right Time to Follow Your Passion!
Recently I had the most incredible opportunity to speak to Natalie Walsh the founder of FLY about female empowerment. We sat down and spoke about how she started her fashion journey in the midst of COVID and how she aims to inspire women from all different backgrounds through her colourful and elegant designs.
During the pandemic, Natalie was inspired to create a brand that fostered both inclusivity and empowerment. Growing up wrestling with body confidence, a universal experience we as women (or most women) may share, allowed Natalie to recognise the profound impact clothing can have on one’s perception of themselves. Therefore, Natalie kicked off her brand creating a wardrobe that emulates class, elegance and modesty whilst being in line with the most modern Western trends, creating capsule piece’s that celebrate all women. The designs at FLY cater to a wide spectrum of body types, ranging from size 8UK to size 20UK. Whilst the size range is impressive, Natalie is still committed to expanding her range in the coming year to ensure inclusivity across her brand. The central ethos of FLY is to create a safe haven for all women to feel valued and confident by offering flattering designs to instil a sense of empowerment in, not just her clientele but, the women in her daily life through fashion.
Throughout the interview, I was blown away by Natalie’s focus and determination. Being a teacher by day and fashion designer by night she explained how she was able to start her brand as a full-time teacher. Natalie’s determination to pursue fashion encouraged her to enroll in a fashion design course as well as seeking guidance from a mentor in America. Throughout her journey she has elevated her fashion designs and honed her social media skills. Whilst there have been obstacles throughout her entrepreneurial journey, the profound impact of positive feedback and the ability to empower women is a reminder as to why she started FLY in the first place.
When discussing the realm of women empowerment, Natalie champions a golden rule: just go for it! With an infectious zeal for life, she encourages friends and family to embrace every opportunity that promises joy and fulfillment. Whether that is saying yes to new adventures or diving headfirst into new opportunity, truly, “What’s the worst that could happen?” There will be inevitable obstacles but as she explains,”tomorrow’s another day, and the sky’s not falling.”
Her own journey as a fashion novice to savvy designer exemplifies the mantra that it is truly never too late to start. When conversing about the self-imposed/societal limitations placed on women, Natalie echoed the significance of shattering these stereotypes with a ‘can do’ mindset, and with the right mentality you can push through success at any given stage in your life. Despite the universal fear of failure, Natalie views risk as a catalyst for growth by transforming fear into motivation and recognising that we are often our own greatest obstacle. Through her brand, she seeks not only to inspire people to follow their passions, but to also encourage experimentation with color and style. For Natalie fashion transcends mere fabric, it is a tool used for self-expression, and has the ability to instill confidence and bravery. Who knew experimenting with fashion could be so empowering?
The concept of a strong women is integral to female empowerment, though it should always be remembered that there is no right or wrong, and strength can be expressed in all different forms. One can be quiet filled with determination and one can be loud with bold actions, strength is the purpose and strive one has to make a positive change. Natalie offers a simple, yet powerful perspective: “a strong woman is really somebody who will go after what they want and…wants to make an impact.” The essence of strength is believing in yourself and trusting in your ability to have a positive impact. There is nothing stronger than believing in your individuality and allowing yourself to shine, reminding yourself that there is truly no limit to what you can achieve.
On one final note on empowerment, Natalie beautifully reminds us that our time on this Earth is limited. As a result, we should aim to pursue our passions and remember that it is always the right time to follow your passions.
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