Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Snyder.
Hi Ashley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My creative journey began in a clear plastic bin the size of a bathtub, filled with shiny polyester costumes and wigs. My cousins and I would pull out these treasures, creating characters, writing plays, and performing our “Tony-worthy” productions for family.
In middle school, I joined the ensemble of The Music Man and Oklahoma!, but by high school, peer pressure steered me away from theatre. I funneled my creativity into thrifting instead, hunting for vintage pieces to wear to indie concerts. Birthing my love for vintage fashion.
In undergrad, my passion exploded. As a film student, I dove into classic cinema—from Buster Keaton to Diane Keaton—mesmerized by how fashion shaped storytelling. Though I explored the technical side of filmmaking, I always circled back to visuals and character. I became the go-to for costume, production design, and hair & makeup on student films—sometimes all at once! I also kept performing, including my favorite role as a cult leader in a capstone project.
After graduation, I moved to Austin with my best friend (shoutout to Rebecca Clark!) and worked in retail while job hunting—100+ applications, zero offers. THEN randomly on set as a background actor in a film starring Alejandro Rose-Garcia (Shakey Graves). my spark was reignited. I quit my job, dove into freelancing, and picked up a seasonal role as a costume shop manager at a popular immersive haunt. That job carried me—until COVID hit.
With gigs dried up, I returned home to Utah to reset. During that quiet time, I decided to pursue costume design seriously. While waiting on grad school applications, I worked as a theatre dresser, assisting with quick changes and connecting with designers. For the first time in a while, I felt whole again—just like I did performing with my cousins.
Eventually, I landed at CalArts, where I was finally able to dive fully into the world of design. It felt surreal to study theatre history, explore how costumes build character, and yes—I GOT TO PLAY WITH PUPPETS! I designed costumes for plays, dance shows, stop-motion films, and immersive horror experiences, growing in both creativity and confidence.
Since graduating, I’ve built a life balancing work in theatre, opera, film, and new media—finally doing what I love, in all the ways I dreamed of as a kid with a costume bin.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced has honestly been myself. I’ve spent countless nights wrestling with anxious thoughts—stories I tell myself that aren’t based in truth. But then, I’ll have these grounding moments with loved ones or collaborators, where I feel truly seen and valued. It’s a full-body feeling, like a light turns back on. In those moments, I remember my worth, and it helps me push past the noise in my head. I don’t think this inner battle will ever fully disappear, but I’m hopeful it gets easier to manage each time I confront it.
Of course, the pandemic was another huge hurdle. I had real momentum—I was set to work at South by Southwest, which felt like a breakthrough, and there were early talks of designing for an indie film starring a well-known actor. Then Covid hit, and everything stopped. All the opportunities I had lined up disappeared overnight. But in hindsight, that moment of loss forced me to pivot—and adaptability is such a crucial trait for any designer. That pivot eventually led me to grad school in LA, so who’s to say where I’d be if everything had gone according to the original plan?
And I’m not alone in navigating this next big challenge: finding work post-graduation. I finished my MFA in 2024, and anyone tuned into the film industry in LA knows how tough it’s been. Finding steady, fulfilling projects feels like searching for water in a desert. But thankfully, new media platforms like vertical series have started to open doors for emerging designers like me. They offer a space to grow, experiment, and keep building a portfolio.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in storytelling through costume design—and sometimes, performance art. Whether I’m working in film, theatre, opera, or dance, each medium brings its own kind of joy and creative challenge, and I’m grateful to move fluidly between them.
As a non-binary, queer artist, I’m especially passionate about designing for queer stories and collaborating with other queer creatives. There’s something incredibly powerful about building visual worlds that reflect the nuance, strength, and beauty of our communities.
Stylistically, I’m most drawn to world-building and historical research. While contemporary styling has its place, I thrive when I get to dive deep into context and create something immersive—something that transports.
One of my proudest projects was designing costumes for Heracles, an ancient Greek tragedy, directed by Hunter Mahmoud Abal. We reimagined the story in a post-WWII setting, drawing inspiration from the American Dream to create a sense of eerie distortion. For Megara’s costume, I designed a dress inspired by Dior’s iconic New Look—constructed from an off-green taffeta and layered with black mesh. It gave her an unsettling, ghostlike elegance that foreshadowed her tragic fate. That piece was a culmination of extensive research, conceptual storytelling, and technical experimentation—and it represents the kind of richly layered work I love to do.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how LA is always buzzing with creative energy. You can go anywhere here and you’ll likely bump into other creatives, inspiring one another.
I’m also a huge foody and love all the delicious, diverse eats!
I don’t love that I spend so much time in my car and whenever I get where I’m going it’s always an ache to find parking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleykaesnyder.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleykaecostumes?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-kae-snyder-b16485133/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10860744/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Image Credits
Angel Origgi
Max Harper
Elisabetta “Fox” Piantoni
Alejandro Caminos, Cad Apostol, and Jim Doyle
Rachel Lambright
