Ashley Jennett
“Being a woman means holding contradictions with grace. It’s carrying both strength and tenderness, rage and compassion. It’s building life out of the scraps, speaking truth when it’s costly, and finding power in connection instead of control. To me, being a woman means belonging to a lineage of resilience — and adding my voice to that story.”
At the intersection of creativity, connection, and compassion lies The Bee & The Fox - an eco-friendly, community-minded clothing company founded in 2014 by Ashley Jennett and her friend Janet. Over a decade ago, from Ashley’s garage, the two began creating sustainably sourced t-shirts with positive, meaningful messages for kids. Since then, The Bee & The Fox has expanded both its product line and creative messaging, sporting a vibrant California aesthetic with a bold, socially conscious voice.
Today, the company offers not only tees but also accessories, homeware, photography, and prints for all age groups. For Ashley, the brand’s original philosophy of community and empathy remains a through-line in the creative process; her guiding principle is simple: if the message feels right, it makes the cut. While the look nods to the 1970s, the messages speak powerfully to today’s moment - championing human rights, climate justice, inclusivity, self-compassion, and more. The Bee & The Fox is more than a brand - it’s a movement, with every tee amplifying the call for justice, equality, and individuality. Behind it all is Ashley - a nurse, mother of three, artist, advocate, storyteller, and accidental entrepreneur. This is her story.
Please introduce yourself.
A: Hey! I’m Ashley — a mother of three boys and the founder of The Bee & The Fox. At my core, I’m a storyteller. Whether through t-shirts, photography, or writing, I’m always searching for ways to connect us more deeply to ourselves and to each other.
Tell us the story of The Bee & The Fox – what inspired you to create it, and how has it evolved into what it is today?
A: The Bee & The Fox started in 2014 out of my garage with four simple designs and my kids as models. At the time, I was a nurse, a new mom, and someone who couldn’t find tees that felt both meaningful and well made. What began as a side project with my best friend, Janet, slowly grew into a community. Over time, it’s evolved from just t-shirts into a platform for storytelling, connection, and advocacy — but it’s always been about more than clothes. It’s about identity, belonging, and finding your people.
At the heart of it all, what is the mission behind your brand?
A: To use fashion as a medium for connection. To create designs that act like love notes, affirmations, or rallying cries — messages people need, want to wear, and feel proud to stand behind. At its heart, The Bee & The Fox is about building community, honoring selfhood, and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard.
Many of your products carry powerful, timely messages about human rights and feminism. What drives those messages, and how do you decide what to spotlight?
A: The designs come directly from lived experience — my own and those of the people around me. Motherhood, feminism, divorce, healing, politics, identity — all of it filters into the work. Sometimes a tee is born from something deeply personal I need to remind myself of; sometimes it’s a response to a cultural moment that calls for solidarity. The driving force is always integrity: if the message feels true to me, it belongs.
What do you think women’s voices are uniquely bringing to the conversation right now?
A: Honesty. Women are pulling back the curtain on how much of our lives have been shaped by patriarchy, silence, and sacrifice — and they’re refusing to carry it alone anymore. Women’s voices are bringing both vulnerability and power, showing that strength and softness aren’t opposites but partners.
Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur, or was it something that unfolded unexpectedly?
A: Completely unexpected. I didn’t set out to start a business — I set out to make a few tees I couldn’t find anywhere else. I had no grand plan, no investors, no blueprint. It unfolded piece by piece, mistake by mistake, and has grown into what it is today.
You’re a mother, a business owner, and a nurse – how do you find balance between these roles, and in what ways have they shaped your path?
A: Balance is a myth. My life has never felt balanced — and I think that’s a trick question anyway. It’s like asking how to find grounding in a groundless world. Most of my inner work has been less about chasing balance and more about surrendering to the fact that it doesn’t really exist. I’m scattered by nature, and most days feel like I’m juggling glass balls I can’t afford to drop. For me, “balance” looks less like weighing everything equally and more like flowing with the ebbs, trusting the shifts, and leaning into what needs me most in the moment. It may sound a little hippy-dippy — but honestly, it’s just ADHD. [laughs]
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to women and girls dreaming of launching their own brand?
A: Start before you’re ready, and don’t wait for perfect. Most of the best things in life are born from “I don’t know, but let’s try.” You’ll learn along the way. And make sure what you’re building is rooted in your values — because that’s what will carry you through when things get hard.
What’s next for you – and what are your hopes for The Bee & The Fox?
A: I try not to plan too far ahead — I’ve learned that clarity often comes in hindsight. What I do know is that I want to keep creating from a place of truth, to keep growing a community where people feel seen, and to keep designing collections that meet the moment. My hope is simple: that The Bee & The Fox continues to be a source of connection, courage, and joy for the people who find it.
Finally, what does being a woman mean to you?
A: Being a woman means holding contradictions with grace. It’s carrying both strength and tenderness, rage and compassion. It’s building life out of the scraps, speaking truth when it’s costly, and finding power in connection instead of control. To me, being a woman means belonging to a lineage of resilience — and adding my voice to that story.