Alex's Story

The shadows that shaped my story

Mystic Blue was born from years spent working inside mental health units and the wider health and social care sector, places where I saw people fighting battles the world never sees. I’ve sat with individuals in their darkest moments, listened to stories that were never told out loud before, and witnessed just how powerful it can be when someone finally feels safe enough to speak, to breathe, to simply be.

Over time, I realised something important:
everyone deserves a place where they are heard without judgement, no matter their diagnosis, past, or story.
A place where community, creativity, and connection can start to rebuild what life has broken down.

But Mystic Blue didn’t just come from my work.
It came from me.

I’ve struggled with anxiety and other personal challenges that, at times, led me into unwise or unsafe decisions that cost me more than I like to admit. I reached burnout, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I felt lost, overwhelmed, and unsure of who I even was anymore.

But support saved me.
Friendship saved me.
A love that refused to give up on me helped me stand again.

My journey hasn’t been simple. It’s included trauma, abuse, and years of trying to make sense of myself and my place in the world. But healing came slowly, reconnecting with family, creating my own chosen family, learning to love myself again, and building a life that felt safe and meaningful.

And somewhere inside all of that, Mystic Blue started forming.
A space shaped by real experiences, real pain, real growth.
A space where art, stories, and expression can meet community, support, and understanding.

That’s how the Bordesley Hollow Collection came to life, a creative world built on survival, resilience, and the belief that no one should ever feel alone in their struggles. Through Mystic Blue, I want people to step into a place where their voices matter, where their shadows are welcome, and where their stories can be honoured.

Because I’ve seen what isolation does.
I’ve lived it.
And I promised myself I’d create something that sits on the other side of that, something safe, expressive, and full of love.