Gail Friend of Mesa on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Gail Friend shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Gail, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
One of my core values is integrity. I always strive to do the right thing. Its super important for a successful business to be someone whose word means something and they can trust your brand. I want to do my best to be sustainable, deliver on time and bring excellent value to my customers.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Gail Friend. I have been a creative my entire life. About 10 years ago I branched out and started sewing. I had an opportunity to be part of a fashion show for new designers. Before that I was creating blinged competition bikinis for women competing in physical fitness compositions. I was wanting to try making a ball gown. I fell in love with that and that’s when Gail Friend Designs was born. I loved creating gowns and special occasions dresses for women to celebrate their special occasions. I have done several fashion shows. I was part of a team that created our own show and have been in Phoenix Fashion Week twice and had the honor of being invited to be in a show during Milan Fashion Week in Italy in fall of 2022. My brand has always been inspired by nature, flowers, color and whimsy. My tag line is “creating for the Other World where magic lives.” Since this time I have retired from my career as a virtual executive assistant and have downsized. Since creating ball gowns requires lots of space for all of that fabric, I have started a new endeavor called Enchanted Carpetbag. Its in the very new stages of designing patterns and setting up a website. I will have a variety of zip pouches, totes, whimsical style handbags and large tapestry carpetbags. (think Mary Poppins) I am also an illustrator and have designed a few commercial projects, like a CD cover and have illustrated a childrens book for a local author.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
As a child I came into this world with a few physical limitations so I was never out doing the daredevil things kids did. The first time I tried a cartwheel I broke an arm. I really did not mind sitting on the side lines and watching everyone, and I had lots of friends, but I found out I loved art. Drawing, painting and writing stories. I like creating magical worlds with lots of fun characters. I never felt like I was missing out, I loved my world. It must have been around high school when I slowly forgot that world. I did the teenage things, got a car, got a job, etc. Got married young, had two beautiful daughters, all the “right” things. Life happened as it does for us all. I don’t need to go into the details, you all know what I mean. For me, I think life goes full circle and I found my way back to being creative. It is my everything. Its my true self that was always there underneath. I do keep one foot in the real world, but I also keep one in a world of creativity. I sew gowns and have fantasy inspired photo shoots. I write children stories and illustrate. I even make teddy bears! Especially right now, the world is hard and appears will be getting harder, so I never let go of creating for the Other World where magic lives again.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her that even though you were a little different, I had hip dysplasia and was dyslexic, I am very proud of you for instinctively knowing just because you may not be like the other kids in some ways you did not isolate or feel sorry for yourself. You leaned into your unique talents that have stayed with us for a lifetime. Even though there were a few adversity, we learned how to excel anyway and that lesson has helped me in my life to never be the victim, but the hero.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
This is very important to me. No matter where you come from, what color your skin, your sexual orientation, religion, no matter who you are, we are all valuable, important and have every right to be here. If people would travel or study about different cultures and its people, traditions, food and art, I believe there would be a lot fewer problems in this world.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Boy this one hits close to home. I will be 67 in October. I find myself thinking about this often. I’m trying not to, but the older you get the more mortal you begin to feel. I find myself questioning why I am making all this stuff. where is it going when I die. Will it end up in a landfill? But I look for ways to reframe it. I see so many people, actors, politicians, business owners and even artists my age and older doing it all and being very successful. So I need to stop worrying about where my work ends up, I guess that isn’t any of my business. I need to appreciate that I have lots more ideas to share. Lots more fun to have and the time to do, totally guilt free. This is the good part of life and I dont want to miss any of it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gail.friend.designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gailfrienddesigns/
• Other: https://gailfrienddesigns.pixieset.com/

  https://www.instagram.com/gailfriendstudio/

Image Credits
Emanuel Smith Photography