Meet Ashley Carter | Content Creator & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m originally from the small town of Mt. Olive, North Carolina, which most people know for its famous pickles or its university you can see from the highway; however, I know it as my hometown and the place that I’m grateful I was raised in. I grew up there because it is my mother’s hometown and we moved there shortly after I was born. Mt. Olive is one of those places where everyone knows everyone and there’s only one elementary school and one middle school. There are annual events like the Pickle Festival and the Christmas parade, which I loved going to as a child (…and still do when I can). I also loved some of the southern foods I grew up around like Eastern Style BBQ and Fried Fish Fridays at the local Piggly Wiggly. As I reflect on so much I love about my small town, I remember often feeling out of place as a child there too. I grew up having this big imagination that I felt I could not always express while being in a small town. I met people often who I felt at the time were closed minded when I was very much a free spirit. I loved the fashion I saw in magazines; however, I never saw people dressing like that in real life where I lived. I loved reading books and embracing the fantasy of it all. I had differing views from people around me and I felt like the best thing for me to do when I got old enough was to leave this place I grew up in. What I didn’t know at the time that I now know as an adult is that Mt. Olive helped shape me into the person I am today. It taught me the beauty of being kind and friendly to people. Learning to use my imagination while being a child there showed me how incredible reading is and allowed my mind and imagination to flourish. I also learned to thrift while there, which most people online know me for, because my mom used to sell her clothing at a local consignment store. I remember being in the single digits being in a consignment store and as I got older and learned about high fashion via magazines, I went back to that same consignment store to recreate the things I saw in those magazines. Honestly, Mt. Olive helped make me who I am and I’m grateful that with time and maturity I can see that clearly now.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m the creator of the online brand, FabEllis. I created FabEllis over 10 years ago during a time where I needed a place to share my creativity. I’d graduated from college in 2008 and was having trouble landing a job during that time. My dream job was to be a magazine editor; however, I ended up at a call center. While working at the call center, a friend suggested I start a blog to share my beauty and fashion tips. I didn’t know what blogging really was, but I did need a creative outlet so I started it and it has grown so much over the years. FabEllis is a space where I share encouragement for women to be their authentic selves, how I style thrifted items and inspiration for ways to re-wear items in your closet. Thrifting has always been a part of who I am and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to share it with my audience for so many years as well as the life lessons I’ve learned along the way. I’m proud of how FabEllis has grown over the years and I’m grateful for the times I didn’t give up on my brand. Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from having a blog and being on social media for so many years is to keep going, be open to learning new things, give yourself breaks when you need them (…it will be OK, trust me) and it’s OK to go in a different direction when you feel led. When I first started my brand, I only shared beauty and fashion; however, I felt led to start sharing more encouragement for women and I’m glad I did. I feel the biggest lesson I’ve learned overall is as long as you are being true and authentic to yourself and in your brand, you are doing it the right way!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I currently live in Greensboro, North Carolina, which has so many great, local places. If my bestie was coming to visit, we would definitely have to see a show at the Tanger Center or even catch a comedy show at The Comedy Zone. Eating at some of my favorite local restaurants like Scrambled, Pho Hien Vuong, and Lemon Indian Cuisine would definitely be on the list. We could also head over to Winston Salem to check out the art at the North Carolina Museum of Art at Winston Salem and spend a day thrifting at Mega Thrift. Plus, right across the street from Mega Thrift is one of my favorite places for a quick meal, Dairi-O.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shoutout my mother for introducing me to consignment stores, estate sales and the overall concept of thrifting. It has become so engrained in me and I absolutely know that she planted that seed in me at an early age.

Website: http://www.fabellis.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/iamfabellis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamfabellis

Other: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@iamfabellis