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Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM: Room 165 [D14]

Presenter: Ashlyn L. McAdams

Faculty Sponsor: Jenny Vogel

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Business & Economics

ABSTRACT

This creative endeavor documents the development and launch of from ash., a small-batch sustainable clothing brand focused on upcycling and handmade production. The project asks a central question: how can a new fashion company operate responsibly while also remaining financially sustainable in an industry driven by fast production and overconsumption?

Through garment construction, material sourcing, branding, and market testing, I explore what it actually looks like to build a sustainability-centered business from the ground up. The process includes working with reclaimed textiles, experimenting with design techniques, calculating production costs, developing pricing strategies, creating a cohesive visual identity, and connecting with an audience through digital marketing and social platforms. Each stage required balancing creative vision with practical limitations such as time, budget, and scalability.

Rather than treating sustainability as a trend or marketing angle, this project examines the real trade-offs that come with trying to apply those values in practice. The result is both the foundation of a functioning brand and a critical reflection on the tension between ethics, accessibility, and profitability. By documenting design revisions, sourcing challenges, financial considerations, and audience feedback, this work highlights the complexities of small-scale ethical production and demonstrates how entrepreneurship can function as both creative expression and applied research.