Interview with Ashlee Holland of "Love, Ashlee Rose" Boutique

Audicus sat down with Ashlee Holland, founder of the "Love, Ashlee Rose" boutique. Ashlee was born deaf and has used her art skills and business savvy to launch an online business that creates beautiful apparel and accessories that promote hearing loss and deaf awareness. Ashlee's designs center around acceptance of hearing devices and hearing loss. Ashlee also donates a portion of the proceeds from her clothing sales to schools of deaf education. Read the full interview below and check out her shop here!

Can you tell me a little about yourself, your life and family?

Certainly! First off, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share with others a little about myself and my business. I was born profoundly deaf to a hearing family in a small town in Vermont. My hearing loss was diagnosed at age 10 months. After extensive research and seeing many specialists, my parents chose an oral approach. I wore large hearing aids and worked with a teacher of the deaf for speech and language development three times a week. When I was in high school, I chose and was approved for a cochlear implant. In college, I took ASL classes. I have experienced many barriers to education, but I believe it made me more determined. In 2009, I became a single mother to a hearing daughter. She is my biggest blessing! My family has been very supportive and encouraging through my life and in my business. They are my biggest cheerleaders. [caption id="attachment_9704" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Get this design here[/caption]

Can you share what your own experience with hearing loss has been and how it informed your work?

It is a daily challenge every day with my hearing loss. I have learned to compensate in many ways. I studied Art and Graphic Design in College. It was my hearing loss that has inspired my designs. I recognize that people with a hearing loss have choices. Today, hearing aids have improved, cochlear implants are common. and sign language is an international language. Children are now diagnosed at birth due to laws implemented. I want my designs to be used for dialogue regarding hearing loss. Deaf and hard of hearing awareness and education is my goal.

What have you learned working as an aide at an oral approach deaf school and how has that informed your work online and the causes you support?

I enjoy being a teacher aide working with the hardest workers: the students. It brings me memories of my childhood, and it's very comforting to be with the children as we wear the same pair of shoes. I understand what they are going through. I may not understand what the parents go through, but I understand the parenting since I am a mother as well. We want the best for our children. This led me to create shirts for families to support their individual journey.

The t-shirts you design are so positive; what inspired the collection and what has the response been?

My job, my daughter, and family have been a huge influence on who I am and inspired me to start