Connecting The Dots
- Julze Anne Dela Victoria
- Sep 22, 2016
- 4 min read
-Steve Jobs
That line is something I always go back to whenever I discover something new about myself. Indeed, I never thought of specifically pursuing the field of sustainable fashion when I was a little girl. Though I was always sure to answer "fashion designer" when Titos and Titas asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, looking back lead me to reminisce how my curiosities and grievances connected to my life purpose.
First dot. I love art. As far as I can remember, I have been hooked up with art since I was 4 years old. From the performing arts (ballet, jazz, hip-hop, acting, voice, tap, piano class, you name it!), to sports (for me, it's an art as much as it's a science) and the actual art classes of drawing and painting, art has been my extra-curricular since I was a little girl. I believe it was my first love, dancing specifically, and it was because of this love that lead me to be interested in the fields related to it, such as beauty and fashion. As a dancer, learning how to do your own make-up during shows and recitals becomes a necessity. Internalizing the character of the dance also becomes easier when you're in your costume. From there, I was amazed at the autonomy I had to transform myself for the audience, making sure my presence on stage was bold enough to express the emotion of the dance. I felt at home on stage because the empowerment excited me, along with the challenge of engaging the audience. My home on the courts is another story. Even if volleyball required more rigorous, man-like movements, parents and teammates still noticed the girly hints I got from ballet. One of my closest teammate and friend, Ysa, even described my movements to have 'finesse.' The art of sports, on the other hand, opened the door for me to practice important values like hard work, discipline and camaraderie.
Second dot. Environment Frustrations. Away from the stage, I was either at home or at school and both of these environments enabled me to realize that I had a heart for the environment. It was a gradual build-up of affection because it was only in college that I was truly able to articulate my personal advocacy. If I remember correctly, it started when I was in first grade when our teacher explained the effects of nuclear bombs (that was the time of the US-Iraq War). I remember feeling so scared because she explained how the bombs were so dangerous that we would die in a matter of seconds from inhaling the fumes. As I grew up, the more I learned about air pollution and global warming. As I grew up, the more I learned about illegal logging and waste. As I grew up, the more it made me feel alarmed and desperate to do something to save it.
Third dot. People first. I have always wanted to help other people. One of the first, most significant memories I have was when my family and I hosted a party in the local orphanage as a way to celebrate my 8th birthday. I remember not wanting to do it at first because I just wanted a bike, but after the party, I remember wanting to do it more often because I felt so happy to see the joy on everyone's faces. Getting to know people eye to eye was a lesson I learned from Princess Diana, one of my inspirations in life. Like her, I volunteered for various organizations which really enabled me to understand different stories and deeply see the value of "the other."
Fourth dot. Social Entrepreneurship. There's a great quote by Mark Twain saying, "The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you knew why." Discovering this field is truly one of the best feelings I have had in my life so far because indeed, I felt like this was my why. I figured it was where I could integrate every part of my life without wasting a single aspect of it- my passion, my degree, my advocacy- and be able to create shared value for the people I will serve. After hustling with an identity crisis back in college, I'm hustling to build myself up (more) for this field I want to dedicate my life in. I'm glad I already graduated from the calculative side of it, so the hustle now begins with the creative side of it, particularly creating sustainable zero-waste garments.
Dot. Dot. Dot. It is challenging as it sounds fulfilling, but learning sustainable methods of producing garments are becoming a thing for me. It's weird that I'm going along this blindly- merely following zero-waste pioneers in the industry, watching tutorial videos, and learning about fashion sustainability among others- but, surely determined to practice creating sustainable zero-waste garments. I know practice, hard work and commitment is what it takes and hopefully, it would not be long until I could create my very own sophisticated zero-waste fashion brand.
Maxi Dress from White House Black Market
Location: Lake Michigan Beach at The Inn at the Homestead, Glen Arbor, Michigan
Comentários