NYC-based collector & curator of beads & FOUNDER OF the Jewelry brand, Don’t Let Disco.

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Join us as we chat about wearable stories, finding inspiration within art and design, advice for starting a brand, and more.

Before we start, for those who don’t know you, share with us what you do and where you’re based!  

My name is Ashley, and  I consider myself a collector and curator of beads. I created Don't Let Disco as a medium to tell stories with beads and create pieces that make people feel. Specifically, that allows people to hold on to life's fuzzy and feel good moments by enabling them to wear the moments on their wrists or around their necks, always.

Your brand name is this incredibly clever pun on, “don’t let this go.” Can you share with us a little bit of background on how you came to this name and what it means to you (and maybe even what you hope it means for others)?

Thank you! Don't Let Disco is meant to be a celebration of the good times, the good vibes, those fleeting moments that life gives us. The moments we don't want to let go of. The way a special someone smells/ed, a summer berry or a shooting star in a dark summer night's sky. Many of life's best moments are fleeting moments. Some artists depict those moments through paintings or photographs and some even bottle them to create intoxicating fragrances. At DLD, we string them up to tell little wearable stories. And they aren't always my stories. Each wearer has a reason why one piece or another moves them.

A client once told me that her mother had recently passed and to honor her mother's vibrant style and personality, she decided to take home the Hella Playful necklace which includes a murano glass lego, a little duck, pearls and a star. She noted that while she didn't personally wear a lot of color, her mother did and had always encouraged her to do so.

For her, selecting the Hella Playful necklace was an ode to her late mother and would serve as an everyday reminder to not take anything too seriously and to enjoy every bit life has to offer. After all, we're not here for a long time...so let's have a damn good time!

Before starting your brand, was there always a love for jewelry and more so, accessories? 

Omg yesss! In almost every baby photo I'm in bracelets and dragging around a purse. I would say that handbags/purses are my second obsession with jewelry.  A couple years ago, I was home for the holidays and looked back at my senior yearbook quote. Although, embarrassing...at least I'm consistent. 

I quoted “I admit it’s tempting to wish for the perfect boss, or the perfect parent, or the perfect outfit, but the best anyone of us can do is not quit. Play the hand we’ve been given, and accessorize the outfit we’ve got” - Carrie Bradshaw

All of your pieces are incredible, but we have to ask—do you have a favorite?

That is so hard but I'd probably say the legos. For me legos symbolize the endless possibility to build and create and I think that's an important reminder to walk through life with.

When you’re sitting down to design a new piece, can you share a little bit about what that process looks like from start to finish?

People are often shocked to hear this but I never layout designs ahead of time. I simply start beading and I feel where the beads want to go. If they want to live as a bracelet or tell a longer story as a necklace. This is why no two pieces are ever quite the same.

I have a 15+ year old bead collection that we pull from. We take apart vintage and sometimes antique pieces and reimagine them or incorporate them into our designs. So each piece we design really is unique!

It seems that more often than not, we find inspiration from and in the weirdest ways. Has there been anything or anyone recently that’s been inspiring you?

Art and design are a MAJOR part of where I draw inspiration from. Prior to starting DLD I worked in fine art and spent almost 5 years working at Sotheby's Auction House. It was an absolute dream to be surrounded by such rare and extraordinary art and objects on a daily basis. While I don't miss working in corporate, I do miss that perk. Now, I surround myself with my art books and auction catalogs but I also find inspiration in people. I LOVE people watching, and the way people wear the things they love and how they love those things makes it their personal style.

In your mind, what does the Don’t Let Disco customer look like?

For me it is less about what they look like and more about how they move in this world. The Don't Let Disco client most certainly has a sense of humor. They love art and culture and the way the two influence each other. They appreciate craftsmanship, have an independent identity and a strong appreciation for creativity.

For those looking to start a brand, what would be the one piece of advice you’d share with them?

Take risks and digest the thoughts and opinions of others with a maldon salt flake.

Before we let you *almost* go, where can we find more of you?!  

You can find us on Instagram and TikTok @dontletdisco and if you'd like to shop, we're at www.dontletdisco.com

Let’s Get Deep 

What’s your theme song?

Make That Move - Shalamar

Night In or Night Out

Can't appreciate one without the other!

When do you feel most you?

Snuggling with my cat Quincy!

What’s something you’re obsessed with right now?

Scents/fragrances.

Call or Text?

Voice notes!

When was the last time you cried?

Yesterday, on my flight back from Miami whilst watching Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

When’s the last time you laughed?

I try to do this once a day!

Current favorite follow on social media?
Tracy Wan on TikTok @Invisblestories

I absolutely love the way she talks about and appreciates scents. Her voice is also very melodic to listen to, definitely worth checking out!

Lastly, what’s one thing you would tell your 16-year-old self?

Everything in life is temporary and this too shall pass.

Find more of Ashley & Don’t Let Disco here:

TikTok: @dontletdisco

Insta: @dontletdisco

Listen to Ashley’s Playlist: Here