For most students, balancing academics, sports, and art projects is enough. But for Ojai Valley School Freshman Asher Combs, creativity takes on an entirely different form.
“I’ve worked for a few designers,” Ash said. “But this year was the first time I did New York Fashion Week with a designer. I make clothes mostly by myself in a studio I have at home.”
His style? “Mostly avant-garde,” he explained. “I’ve always liked making stuff. That’s kind of always been part of who I am.”
That drive to create doesn’t stop at fashion. Ash is also a member of OVS’s robotics team, where his love for design and engineering intersect. Balancing his passions and finding the perfect weight between them all comes easily for Ash.
“It’s not exclusive to fashion,” he said. “Making stuff goes pretty well with robotics.”
Ash was born in Arizona but grew up in Los Angeles, where his passion for design first took shape. While his parents weren’t necessarily pushing him toward creative work when he was younger, he found his own path toward it.
“They weren’t super into putting me into that kind of stuff,” he said. “But I’ve always found ways to do what I love.”
When asked about the future, Ash doesn’t box himself into one field. “I know I want to go into a field where I can create stuff,” he said. “Whether that’s engineering, biotech, fashion, or even painting. I’m passionate about all of those.”
He admits that pursuing fashion full-time can be tough, and life at OVS presents its own challenges for a designer.
“It’s difficult to pursue any creative hobby when you’re busy and living at school,” Ash said. “I can only really make clothes on the weekend because I don’t have a sewing machine here.”
Still, that hasn’t stopped his creativity from finding ways to thrive.
“I spend a lot of my art classes sketching designs for clothes I’m going to make,” he said. “So even if I can’t sew, I can still create.”