why fashion matters

http://www.style.com/video/guest-directors/guest-directors/1896809785/the-deep-end/29831951001

This is a really interesting video clip on why fashion matters, that I completely agree with. Clothes are a reflection of society and its philosophies - why should we not put more thought into them? In a matter of a few seconds, you can communicate your lifestyle, your values, and how you regard yourself - why not use that visual impact consciously and wisely?

and what is WITH all these 'spiritual' people who claim not to care about clothes because they're not important? unless you're removed from society, living in a monastery, ashram, or forest, excuse me, your clothes DO matter because the rest of us have to look at them! please have mercy!

So that's my little rant for today...

fighting doubt

The above image is from a runway shot from a show by Manish Arora, a really popular Indian designer. I love the colours...

This is really fun...to map the construction of a dream from the ground up. I wish I could have the Slumdog soundtrack playing when you come to the site, because that movie and its music really captures how I feel about chasing this dream. Scrappy underdog defying the odds (i.e. all the circumstances, obstacles, and 'voices of reason' in my way). Truly, it's not such a crazy dream, and i need to find people who can really see that.

I think, with a little more elbow grease, i'll pull through the end of this course okay. there have been a few moments when i was like, "what am I doing here???? this is crazy!" It's just REALLY important for me to finish! looking back, I can't believe how I started out with just a little flicker in my soul that I decided to pursue against all obvious reasoning. it may not be much of an accomplishment, but i now know how to sew and have discovered that this really isn't impossible. As for the bigger picture, here are some quotes from people in the industry that really back up my vision. Take that, naysayers.

"India is one of the few countries left on this planet with a distinct fashion identity," says IMG Fashion's Mallis, who was a celebrity judge last season on the Bravo network hit show "Project Runway." "The country is modernizing as fast as it can, and it's remarkable that women in saris and men in kurtas blend so well with evening gowns and suits. In the rest of the world, it seems like all the men are in blue jackets," says Mallis, who spent a week in Mumbai for Lakme Fashion Week earlier this month.

Suze Yalof Schwartz, Glamour magazine's executive fashion editor at large, agrees that "Slumdog" may jump-start an interest in Indian aesthetics. She points to the growing popularity of designers of Indian heritage, such as Rachel Roy (who is half Indian) and Naeem Khan, whose "clothes just pop - never have they been hotter than right now.""I'm proud of that heritage," says Bibhu Mohapatra, who was raised in Orissa, India, educated at FIT and was design director at J. Mendel. Last month he debuted his first eponymous collection, which hits stores this fall.Hints of India emerge in subtle ways in Mohapatra's designs. A glorious chiffon strapless looks simple from the front but cascades in dramatic, sari-like drapes in back. An über-luxe coat and dress are made from peacock feathers, hand-loomed and woven in an ancient Indian technique.American awareness of Indian culture is growing, notes Mohapatra. "In fashion, film, art...," he says, moving his hands like a spinning wheel. "It's a big storm that's brewing."

crunch time

so i'm getting close to the final deadline...feeling the stress. why is this so nerve-wracking for me? anyway, happy to report i got a complicated sample done today...four more to go. plus the skirt and top. the skirt is in pieces now (top image), waiting to be put together (side seam pockets are so complicated!!!) and the material for the top (bottom image) is waiting to be cut. i think it's serendipitous that for my final assignment i found this great kurti (tunic) pattern and this very Indian fabric that just encapsulates how I feel about the country. ironically, another woman in the same course bought the same fabric and a similar pattern. which i will just take as reinforcement of my good taste :)

take a peek at my garments-to-be! and root for me, will you???

the beginning

So I thought I'd begin to chronicle this crazy dream I'm chasing...I went to school for English and Religion and am now working in nonprofit...but want to be a fashion designer. 'Tis the era for crazy dreams, apparently. Everyone's talking about following your passion and how you don't have to go to school for a million years to pursue an interest...so I thought I'd say FU to all my sensible relatives and friends and just see where this goes. I'm finishing up a part-time garment construction course...which has been quite the ride. I want to blog this for all the people with wisps of dreams - if I can do this, maybe others can too.

The course finishes in two weeks and I'm lagging a bit behind the class. I bought material for my final assignment (a top), and it's the proverbial carrot dangling before me to motivate me to finish. It's yellow-pink-peach tie-die shot through with tiny silver stripes. Sounds very hippie-dippie but I assure you it's lovely. And I'm sewing a tunic top with tiny Indian-esque trim. Exactly the sort of garments I want to end up designing. This is exciting, really. Now I just hope I can complete my samples (waistband, curved hem, straight hem) and skirt.