After many quashed dreams last year, I decided that 2013 would be MY year. I forcibly predicted 2013 as the point on the timeline when Trinidadian creatives would come together and magically fit themselves with ease into the grooves of a blossoming fashion industry. Well perhaps you can call it goat mouth, but since the year begun, I have had nothing but amazing opportunities come my way!
Following my appearance in the Express Woman magazine, I started getting a flurry of phone-calls an emails from women not only wishing for a consultation, but of them expressing bountiful congratulations and support! Even my primary school teacher sent me an email to tell me how proud she is of me and extended her hopes for my prosperous future. I have now been asked to participate in so many pending projects. I want to take them all on! I am so happy to be doing this work.
The truth is though, that I am but one person. Sometimes I doubt myself. When the calls came rolling in, someone very close to me asked "You think you're that good?" You know what? YES I AM. I have been preparing my whole life for this. I have done everything I possibly could have to bring myself to this exact point. People don't put their trust in me because I say I'm able. They do it because I am. Sometimes we just have to do away with shame and people-pleasing and just be unapologetic for our awesomeness. If I don't believe in myself, why should anyone else?
This surge of confidence is not solely owed to my power sessions with Ms. Sacha Lalla- I would not know half of what I do if it weren't for Babatu Sparrow. Sparrow noticed me midst a crowd of less than enthusiastic students. He believed in me from Day one. He never let me get comfortable. He challenged me constantly. He gave me responsibilities with which I would have never trusted myself. In every essence f the word, he is my mentor in fashion. With him I observed first hand what is the true meaning of "dedication". His multi- talent when it comes to creativity is insurmountable. He not only taught me the process of style, fashion and the industry, but he was a friend when I needed advice. He was a brother when I needed a shoulder, and a drill master when I needed discipline. He opened up so many doors for me, and led me to meet so many influential people. He turned me into a workaholic like himself- And I wouldn't have it any other way. My internship as a mere assistant to this man, is a time to which I will always look.
I 100% recommend that if you want to get into this industry, you need to do an internship- an unpaid one at that. Do the 6am calls to set. Stay until 1am doing inventory. Work through the flu. Go fetch coffee even though they told you you wouldn't have to. Run up and down Frederic Street searching for last minute prop ideas when the shoot is in progress. Just do it.There will be moments when you want to give up and cry, but the fact that the only gain you have from the experience is knowledge, is a strange but moving force that invigorates you to push harder.
To Sparrow, you are fucking amazing. I never told you how much it meant to me that you took me on to work with you, despite my inexperience. Because of you, I am confident that I can take Trinidad fashion by storm. I would wish that you continue to inspire others, but I prefer to spend my wishes on things that aren't likely to come true naturally. Love and Respect <3
No comments:
Post a Comment