An Interview with Alyssa Washington
by Rosie S., 16
I sat down next to Alyssa behind the desk of Jagged Edge Boutique. I felt comfortable in the 800 square feet of retail space surrounding me. From my first year of high school through my senior year, I watched Jagged Edge develop from an online boutique to a fully-fledged storefront.
Started in the dining room of her mother’s house, Jagged Edge Boutique was birthed from a returned cruise ticket. “We were supposed to go on a cruise in 2020 to celebrate my graduation from Liberty University,” Alyssa explains. “I couldn’t go on the cruise because of the conflict with Covid. With my 800-dollar check from my reimbursed cruise ticket, I decided to start a business.” Alyssa explains how her support system, a network of her closest family and friends—especially her mom—breathed life into her company’s vision.
“I owe it all to my mom. When I was a teenager, I rolled my eyes at her. I was always saying, ‘Mom, you don’t know. You really don’t know.’ Now, my mom is my rock. Whenever I make a big decision within the store, she’s the first person I call.”
Alyssa staked a claim for her brick-and-mortar shop in the fall of 2020. Opening a storefront in Haddon Township, New Jersey, has been the catalyst for the materialization of Alyssa’s influence.
The first photoshoot Alyssa hosted was the beginning of a bigger future than she could’ve imagined. Accidentally iconic, each photo Alyssa snapped truly reflected her model’s identity. Alyssa never pressured her model to depict a specific image; she celebrated their individuality and encouraged them to lean into fearless authenticity.
Alyssa’s career path only began to involve entrepreneurship recently. Self-described as the rebel of her family, she notes the different careers, such as social work and child care, that she considered. “I have the piece of paper. I have a backup plan in case none of this works out.” Pragmatic to the core, Alyssa can be intrepid while still being realistic.
“My senior year of high school, I put myself through so much stress. I researched so many Universities and landed at Camden County Community College. From there, I transferred to Liberty University, where I received my BFA in social work.”
“It’s a backup plan. Social Work is a vast field. I could work in the White House, or I could work in a school, which I did for a while. As Jagged Edge grew, I transitioned away from the school and took on the Boutique full-time. Those first days were brutal. It was exhausting to work a full-time job and start a small business. Eventually, I came to a head. I chose to step away from working at the school to focus solely on Jagged Edge.”
Alyssa’s vision for the boutique encompasses more than just clothing; her goal is to reach into the heart of her community.
“The broader vision has always been outreach within my neighborhood. I would rather have teenage girls come in here, try on clothes and take pictures in the fitting room, than be somewhere else, getting into trouble. I think that kids and young adults need a place to be who they are without being told to go somewhere else. There isn’t anywhere else for them to go.”
As a business owner, Alyssa views her customers with a holistic sense of value.
“Even when someone doesn’t have the means to buy—a like, share, or follow is valuable as well.”
Jagged Edge has evolved beyond clothing. Friendship and memories radiate from the 800 square feet within the walls of Jagged Edge. As a young woman and a small business owner, Alyssa has instilled assurance through outward self-expression within her community.
When I leave Jagged Edge, one extra item is always tucked into my bag: the confidence to be fearlessly authentic.
Pennsauken, New Jersey
Bridge Ink 