Allison grew up in Missouri—arguably home to some of the best flea markets, thrift stores, and swap meets in the country. She visited them regularly with her grandmother, and eventually developed an eye for treasures from the past. To this day, vintage styles, colors, patterns, and silhouettes heavily influence her designs.

To advance her sewing abilities and learn the business side of fashion, she attended and graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in fashion merchandising and design. Since graduating, she has worked on fashion styling and costume design for magazine photo shoots and a feature film, and she also showcases her work in local art shows and museum exhibitions.

Knowing the fashion industry tends to be a huge burden on the environment, Allison focuses on using recycled items in her designs when possible. (Her latest creation involved weaving 630ft of recycled cording to make a 15lb waist cape.)