#studytournyc

First of all, this semester itself has been an eye-opener. Living and interning in New York, visiting all these great brands, and learning as much as I can about the industry has shown me so much about where I think my future may be headed, or at least given my ideas about things I wouldn’t have otherwise considered. With Ellery Homestyles, this was again the case as we were given a better understanding of what goes into producing things ranging from throw pillows for your bedroom to the living room drapes. It was really great to hear about the process and how design and product development interact, and learning how similar it is to what we do in fashion. At my internship at Pink Chicken, I’ve had several projects where I either recolored old prints or used parts of existing ones to create new prints, and seeing how this applies in other industries has pushed me to consider that Print Design could certainly be a career I’d enjoy. I got most excited on our tour when we saw the children’s bedding section of course, so I know that my direction towards the children’s market certainly is the right one! As I’m finishing up my semester here and taking away as much as I can, I’m looking forward to seeing where I’m headed in my future and I’m so thankful for experiences like the tour of Ellery Homestyles that really help me to pinpoint what peaks my interest most!

Visiting art galleries is always something I enjoy, and the Chelsea art galleries were no exception! I saw at least five or so galleries, including the Comme des Garcons store which I would certainly consider a gallery of its own. Actually, let’s start where we ended, at the beautiful experience that was entering the world of Rei Kawakubo. The store has this really unusual metal pathway leading up to an egg-shaped glass door that pushes either way, with track lights in the floor. It’s all very space-agey and I was excited from the time I entered to see what the rest of the store would be. Now, for anyone who was lucky enough like me to visit her exhibit while it was at the Met, I would compare it to that set-up, with large curved sections that almost interrupt the space as you walk through, almost feeling like you’re hunting for the clothes and accessories in a maze. The clothes themselves were obviously incredible, and combined with the architecture and merchandising of the store, the whole location was a well-crafted burst of Rei’s vision. Before this, it was only a further lead-up of talent as we enjoyed visiting the surrounding Chelsea galleries. I wish I remembered the artists, but luckily the exhibits are up for the next month or so, so if you’re in the area I would highly recommend dropping by because they are amazing! For each of the five, I’ll try and describe a sneak peek of my favorite piece or what stood out to me: colorful forests, Dr. Seuss realized, furniture goals, lights in the night, and a celebration of dark skin. The colorful forests were a collection of different tree silhouettes as a forest in a range of color palettes, from pink and orange with black trees to blue and green with yellow trees, and several others. They had the same texture of crayons in a way, and this gallery was certainly at the top of my list. After this was a mix of science with colorful test tubes (see picture) and an installation of a thin paper-like membrane that stretched out and across the window with attached little balls and triangular shapes, which was my favorite of everything we saw, and certainly as I said felt like Dr. Seuss realized. Next, there was this gallery with all sorts of different furniture like tables and chairs that were incredibly crafted and were something I could only hope to furnish my future home, if I had that kind of coin, that is. “Lights Up the Night” was an entire gallery that I had noticed on their list online and was so excited to see, and the piece I remember was a photo of lights flashing in the night that was really beautiful, but the rest of the pieces didn’t really relate to the theme or were not as exciting, in my opinion. Lastly, another at the top of my list, was a celebration of dark skin, with various photographs of a main woman, which I’m pretty sure was the artist and a few other individuals with very dark complexions, dressed in different accessories and garments reminiscent of African cultures in powerful poses or affronting gazes. It was really powerful and exciting to see such strength in only a photograph. Overall, the Chelsea galleries and the Rei Kawakubo store were amazing and I would love to visit again!

However, it also makes me wonder why this can’t exist in another city like Columbus, where I’d like to end up ultimately. It definitely has reminded me how important sustainability practices are to me, and now gives me more ideas and opens the possibilities to how I could work to bring what I like about the places I’ve visited in New York and bring them with me wherever I end up. But let’s cross our fingers, because I really hope it’s Columbus!

There are a few times, before you enter the industry that you hope to have for the future, where you meet someone so similar to you in terms of personality, motivations, and goals that it makes you wonder if you’ll end up as successful as them or having pursued the same path. In a lot of ways, I felt this as we met Jamie Koff, founder and owner of Fabric to Finish, a “New York City-based company specializing in global product development and production management for the independent and emerging designer” (http://fabric2finish.com/about-us/). Jamie spent most of the time regaling her career history and how it had all led to this point. It was really interesting to hear how in several cases, she’d come back in contact with the same people she’d met sometimes years before, a perfect example of why you should always leave connections positive and how important networking is. Again, it was really great to hear about her adventures and how things, looking back, fell into place, but I wish she had told us more about her business. Fabric to Finish is a company that targets a need that was previously unaddressed in that it helps independent designers with their fabric needs and more to help get them started or to be more successful. Before Jamie started the business, this didn’t really exist, so it’s impressive that she recognized the need and pursued it. In this way, I relate a lot to Jamie especially because that’s what I hope to accomplish in my future. There are so many other fashion brands and companies out there already, so I know that when I hope to start my own, it has to be different and not just another women’s brand or some mumbo jumbo like that. I think this visit really just pushed me even more to consider my place in fashion specifically as it pertains to potentially owning my own business, and the steps it might take to get there. I’m looking forward to finding out, and with Jamie’s story in mind, I feel like I’m one step closer!

To put it simply, she is brave and I hope someday and I can be just like her.

What a lovely weekend it was! I hope it blesses all of you too as it did me. It all started with a visit from Dame Lori, a soul styler and powerhouse of a woman. From the moment she walked into the room, the energy was lifted! She told us a little about her career history and how she found her path, from working at a fabulous thrift store to owning her own business aimed at empowering her clients using fashion, hence the soul-styling. She explained how she felt fashion was her calling in life and the more spiritual aspects of fashion that I don’t think many people consider. It was a really heartfelt lecture, and it made me consider once again something I have so many times before in the past year or so and that’s my place in fashion. I personally feel a responsibility to make fashion a loving and caring industry whether that’s in my own brand someday or fighting for workers’ rights and protection of their dignity, I’m not sure yet. But I do know that she reminded me again of how fashion should make people feel special and cared for, and not just the people wearing the clothes but everyone in the process from conception to purchase of the garment. Going forward, I will continue to consider how I can make fashion better and more like the way The Dame sees it, because I think we all should all see it at least a little bit in the bright way she does. This might be a challenge, but when have I ever been one to let that hold me back?

Normally, after a guest lecture during our Friday Study Tour Sessions, I would have a lot to offer, but this past time I think I may wasn’t connecting as much with what was being said. Image consultant Elizabeth Tritsch joined us and told us about her many career changes over the years, from stylist to loans to flight attendant and back again, and it was all really interesting. It was nice to hear how she traced her journey and was always passionate about fashion and where it led her, but I just had a hard time at the end of it all connecting with her mindset. She spoke about establishing your career first and foremost and focusing on yourself and that as you grow, and to never feel stuck or like you can’t go after something new. This was all relatable until I asked her opinion on having a family and she said you can have one after your career if you like because by then, you can afford it as well as quality child care. I think that was what ended up striking me was the idea of child care. This post is a little bit more personal than some others have been I think, so it’s only fair I share a little dash of Conocu insight with you today. I am a HUGE family person, and want more than anything to be a wife and mommy. So so very badly. The idea of someone else taking care of my children just didn’t sit right, and neither did the off-handed joke she made about her first-marriage and it just being a practice run. I understood where she was coming from I guess, but it’s just so far from what I want for myself that it made me realize I couldn’t see myself pursuing fashion in the same manner she had. If something seemed like it would get in the way of that, I more than likely would not pursue it. With that said, that’s one of so many reasons why I’m glad I came to New York this semester, because it continues to help me figure out where I feel I fit in fashion and why my idea of what I’d like to do is so different from many of my peers. I think going forward, I just continue to learn more about myself through others and their journeys, and I’m so happy you’re all here along for the ride!

Okay, okay, no this isn’t about a significant other, but it’s about something almost as exciting as that... dream career confirmations! Let me explain: this summer, I came up with this idea to remodel an RV and start up a children’s wear business online that would travel the Midwest to sell these clothes during the summer months, visiting art fairs or just stopping where legal to reach all different kinds of markets. On Friday, we visited Caravan Style Studio and were blessed by the presence of Claudine DeSola, who is now basically my idol. Her mind for sustainability and business, as well as innovation and staying creative in a career that can be draining and overwhelming was so inspiring. And guess what she did before Caravan Style Studio, a place where celebrities and others can come for special events and get everything from hair to outfit done? She ran Caravan, an RV THAT TRAVELED AND SOLD CLOTHES? Boy, was this day made for asking her all kinds of questions about what I’d like to pursue. The visit really made me more sure of what I hope to do, and she also had some great ideas I hadn’t thought of that I’ll definitely keep in mind going forward, like reselling past collections’ garments that customers bring in for a discount on their next purchase. Genius! And resourceful... this woman really is my idol. I’m so fortunate to have met her, and keep in contact with her in the future!