I recently had the opportunity to serve as the inspiration for a student contest in visual design. The event was PAVE's (Planning and Visual Education Partnership) annual fundraiser where the money raised goes to students in design related programs across the world. When asked to design a tote as a giveaway "swag bag" at the end of the evening, I was thrilled. Never one to pass on a play on words, I adopted the "PAVE YOUR OWN WAY" message to honor the organization as well as my own philosophy on design.
At the end of an incredible evening spent meeting students from all over the world and being inspired by their designs (not to mention the incredible food and drink at Cipriani's on Wall Street), I found myself in a cab looking at this bag I had designed over Melissa's shoulder. It was at that moment that I realized a few things...I never dreamed I would be on a reality competition show and I certainly never thought I would win one. I did, however, dream that I would show at New York Fashion Week and I certainly dreamed that I would sell my collection at a retailer like Saks Fifth Avenue. Those dreams have come true.
During the past few months, I have been up to my eyeballs in production and many of my days are spent learning how to develop bar codes for the tickets that will hang on my garments and making sure that hangers, garment bags and shipping boxes all meet regulation. I am in the thick of the business side of fashion and it's tough. The greatest challenge is saving a bit of energy to design for the fall of 2013. However, in the back of the cab the other night, I took my own message to heart. I am paving my own way - one step at a time. And I am grateful. Grateful to be in a position to celebrate the designers of tomorrow, grateful for the opportunity to learn and face the challenges ahead of me and grateful to have the platform to design - in my own way.
At the end of an incredible evening spent meeting students from all over the world and being inspired by their designs (not to mention the incredible food and drink at Cipriani's on Wall Street), I found myself in a cab looking at this bag I had designed over Melissa's shoulder. It was at that moment that I realized a few things...I never dreamed I would be on a reality competition show and I certainly never thought I would win one. I did, however, dream that I would show at New York Fashion Week and I certainly dreamed that I would sell my collection at a retailer like Saks Fifth Avenue. Those dreams have come true.
During the past few months, I have been up to my eyeballs in production and many of my days are spent learning how to develop bar codes for the tickets that will hang on my garments and making sure that hangers, garment bags and shipping boxes all meet regulation. I am in the thick of the business side of fashion and it's tough. The greatest challenge is saving a bit of energy to design for the fall of 2013. However, in the back of the cab the other night, I took my own message to heart. I am paving my own way - one step at a time. And I am grateful. Grateful to be in a position to celebrate the designers of tomorrow, grateful for the opportunity to learn and face the challenges ahead of me and grateful to have the platform to design - in my own way.
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