Hi, I’m Ava Figlar, a Fashion and Retail Studies major at The Ohio State University, with minors in Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Integrative Approaches to Health & Wellness. Originally from Pennsylvania, I’ve loved fashion for as long as I can remember.

My passion started young—at a small fashion camp, I won a toilet paper dress competition, and in high school, I earned two Parsons Paris certificates in fashion branding and luxury business. In my senior year, I interned as a fashion consultant at The Exquisite Bride, and after my freshman year of college, I worked with Runway of Dreams, promoting adaptive fashion. I also curated my own jewelry collection, "The Affirmations Collection," while interning for Millie the Label.

At OSU, I’ve explored creative sustainability, designing with paper bags and aluminum cans and showcasing three repurposed looks at the 2024 Students for Sustainable Fashion show. My own experience with hyperhidrosis made me deeply aware of the challenges of sweat marks in professional settings, inspiring me to create Ava’s Armour—a brand focused on moisture-wicking businesswear to help women feel confident at work.

I first pitched a version of this idea, SweatTech, in my Entrepreneur & Innovator Scholars course during my first year, where it won Class Favorite. In fall of my second year, I developed the concept further and pitched Ava’s Armour in the Best of Student Startups (BOSS) competition.

Through blog storytelling, I’m sharing my journey—because fashion should be just as functional as it is expressive. Let’s build something innovative, sustainable, and empowering together!