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what had been hidden beneath the surface all along. That philosophy can be found throughout her collections. Among the featured pieces are designs inspired by navigation, including iolite gemstones historically associated with Viking voyagers. Long before modern instruments, sailors are believed to have used the stone to help locate the sun through overcast skies and uncertain weather. Carson was drawn to the gemstone long before learning its history, later discovering an unexpected connection to the themes already present throughout her work. Other pieces draw inspiration from fossilized shark teeth and megalodon relics uncovered along Florida’s coastline after powerful storms. These ancient remnants originated in oceans that existed millions of years before human history. For Carson, they serve as reminders that meaning is often revealed over time. Those discoveries would eventually inspire pieces that became central to her collections, including a fossilized megalodon necklace and the handcrafted chain couture dress Carson wore during the designer finale of her Miami Swim Week® – The Shows runway presentation. Together, they embodied many of the themes running throughout her work—navigation, transformation, endurance, and connection—and would become one of the defining images of her career. Yet the evolution of the Ashley Carson brand is also a story rooted in family history. Long before Carson began creating jewelry, several generations of her family worked in wearable forms of craftsmanship. Her great-grandfather worked as a tailor for Marshall Field’s flagship Chicago store during the Great Depression and made clothing for his family by hand. According to family stories, he intentionally chose not to teach any of his children the trade, hoping they would pursue opportunities beyond the sewing machine. Yet the creative impulse endured. Carson’s grandmother found her own path to sewing. Her mother carried that creative tradition forward as well, designing and creating many of her own garments—pieces shaped by her own sense of style and creativity. Carson eventually found her own medium in jewelry.