By Jeannie Petrus
Overall, the look was effortless chic with a twist of color.
A white Twin Sister dress that fit Gabby Godfrey like a glove. It was the first photo shoot created by the then 17-year-old aspiring model from Natchitoches that would be the foundation of a portfolio for a hopeful future career in modeling and fashion design.
Halfway into the photo shoot, the photographer, Jess Roberts, suggested wearing a colorful headband that Gabby had packed in her bag that day. It was the headband her grandmother, Ginny Carbo of Alexandria, had purchased for her as a Christmas gift in a local boutique.
Oh, that headband.
It was that headband that catapulted Gabby onto an exciting and…totally unexpected…path to fulfilling her dream of becoming a model.
“After receiving the photo gallery from Jess, I immediately chose my favorites and posted them on Instagram; tagging all of the designers of each piece I wore,” said Gabby. “I received hundreds of likes and comments, many of which asked about the headband. They loved the photos, but LOVED the headband and wanted to know where I got it.”
Gabby could have just told everyone it was purchased at a small boutique in Alexandria, but she wanted to know more. She began researching the company that made it and was blown away by what she discovered.
Alivia, a company started by Jovana Mullins in 2018, turns artwork, created by individuals with disabilities, into inspiring fashion apparel.
It was this headband piece that began with artwork created by an individual with a disability participating in art therapy. Alivia pays each artist for the use of his/her artwork, and then 10 percent of every purchase is donated to their associated nonprofit art therapy program. Also, each garment includes a scannable tag which credits the artist responsible for the design. Jovana then uses her own expertise and inspiration to create the fashion apparel.
Gabby was touched to learn the origin of the headband she wore, and it was not long before she was honored to receive a response from Jovana.
“We would love to work with you,” read the response.
At the time, Gabby was a senior at St. Mary’s Catholic School, leading a busy life with classes, extracurricular activities and leadership roles at school and in the community. It was hard for her to break away from her studies and school activities.
But as soon as Gabby graduated from high school in May of 2024, she was invited by Jovanna to come to New York for a photo shoot to model the Alivia brand and to meet some of the talented creators behind the designs.
During planning, it was discovered that Gabby and Jovana had a mutual family friend, Peyton Tillman, founder of and designer for the New York clothing company, Taylor Tillman. Jovana and Peyton worked together to coordinate a combined photo shoot for Alivia and Taylor Tillman in Greenwich Village in New York City.
“Having the opportunity to work with Jovana and Peyton was an experience I will never forget. Their overall mission and passion to give back through fashion was very inspirational, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity and guidance that they have given me.
“I also had the privilege to meet Charlotte and Victoria,” said Gabby; “two absolutely beautiful girls who inspired the prints for the dresses I modeled that day. Victoria was fun, very kind, and focused; Charlotte was outgoing and full of personality. I instantly fell in love with both of them.”
Since the recent photo shoot in New York, Gabby continues to work with Jovana, helping to bring awareness to the mission of Alivia. Jovana, who was impressed that Gabby researched the Alivia brand, shares a passion for not just doing what she loves, but doing it with a purpose.
“I love the story behind Alivia and how it showcases the talents of artists with disabilities,” she said. “If I am going to have modeling opportunities, I would love to continue in the direction of doing so for a cause, or for brands that give back to the community.
For now, Gabby is holding on to the lucky Alivia headband she wore in that first photo shoot. She has brought it along on every photo shoot in the last two years.
Some of her modeling and work experience includes attending the Coco Rocha Model Camp in New York, and the Mad Hatter’s Luncheon and Style Show in Lafayette, which benefitted Acadiana Symphony Orchestra music education programs. She also modeled for Ames Layne and Zepp Air at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Natchitoches Regional Airport, which along with Lynn Sanders Art and Alivia, were featured in the Fall 2023 edition of LOLA Magazine.
In December of 2023, she modeled for the Church Street Inn in Natchitoches, and Jovana sent Gabby several items from Alivia to incorporate in a holiday photo shoot that took place at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans.
In the fall, Gabby plans to attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and pursue a degree in Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising. Gabby also continues to work with Simone Foreman of Images Model & Talent Agency in Lafayette. She is hoping that her schedule will allow her to intern for Alivia in New York next summer, and to attend the European Model Showcase in Paris. In the future, she aspires to create and design her own fashion apparel and accessories, similar to Alivia.
“It is surreal to think about how all of this came together from wearing a unique headband in my first portfolio photo shoot,” she said.
That Alivia headband.
