My name is Ava Kim, I'm a creative and business-minded professional with experience across fashion, merchandising, and the entertainment industry. I’m originally from Astoria and Portland, Oregon, and I spent my early years balancing small-town life with time on the Oregon coast—and even a season working on a fishing boat in Alaska.
My first exposure to design came in high school, where I created costumes for my dance team and creating merchandise to sell at games. My love for fashion also came from my mom, who dreamed of working in the industry and shared her passion with me during our evenings watching Project Runway together.
Growing up in a small town where individuality wasn’t always accepted, I turned to fashion as a way to express myself. That desire to stand out and be true to who I am sparked a lifelong appreciation for self-expression through style. Motivated to leave my hometown and start building my future, I dual-enrolled in high school and college courses, which allowed me to graduate high school early. Now, I’m also graduating early from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a degree in Fashion Business Management and a minor in Economics. My interest in economics partly comes from my family’s experiences in South Korea and my own firsthand understanding of financial challenges. These experiences continue to inspire my long-term career goals.
I’ve held roles that blend retail, fashion, and entertainment. I started as a sales associate at Madewell, where I admired the brand’s connection with J.Crew and gained valuable experience in customer engagement and merchandising. Later, I joined Bravado, the merchandising arm of Universal Music Group, where I worked on projects for artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Conan Gray, and Taylor Swift. I also worked for a small European agency that focused on emerging designers—doing buying and planning—which really shaped my interest in pursuing that path within the industry.
Outside of fashion and business, I’m passionate about photography, music, and film. I’m especially interested in working more deeply within the entertainment industry. Looking ahead, I hope to launch my own consulting agency to support smaller, sustainable fashion brands, and eventually start a tea business. Drawing from my diverse background and global perspective, I’m committed to blending creativity and commerce to make a lasting impact in both fashion and entertainment.
