Internship experience

Being an intern for Eden Dawn, a multi-talented style editor for the Portland Monthly Magazine, has been nothing less than fabulous. She introduced me to a lot of great people who are well known for their respectable duties in the local fashion industry. Eden has been an inspiration as well as a person full of great knowledge that appeals to my career direction. When she gives advice or critique, its always constructive.

Back in the beginning of October, the Emerging Designer’s competition went underway as 5 unique designers showcased their collections on the runway. Alicia Wood, owner and designer of Ms. Wood’s Kimono Boutique (available currently on Etsy) gained the most votes from the audience and the judges that night.

And then came the photo shoot. I, for the first time, was behind the scenes shooting the editorial spread of the elegant collection of kimonos, wide-sleeved trench coats, and handmade wooden platform shoes and jewelry. 


The January fashion spread in the magazine is something I am proud to place in my portfolio, and inspires me to do more. It would be my pleasure to continue the internship even after I’m contractually finished with my hours. It’s been a continuous learning experience with a great, clever woman who is open for my ideas and is easy to get along with.

A new job

Starting a new job at a clothing store has brought to me a sense of renewal in the journey to my career. Once again, I know the feeling of excitement about my direction in my career and am motivated to learn more. As a sales associate, I am expected to know each of the sections (a total of 7) that make up the store and what clothes pertain to each of them as well as so many other things. Keep in mind, this is a fairly big store (maybe 350,000 square feet). My first day was on a Saturday, which is one of the busiest days. Not only had I never worked in retail before, I had also not been trained on my first day simply because it was a Saturday. That’s a pretty normal thing in my work history though, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. I just asked a lot of questions and learned how to do everything through my co-workers.

Recently I have reflected on all of my past experiences in other jobs, good and bad. Obviously, there is no such thing as the perfect job. I realize now that it’s not necessarily how well you do at your job (though that is just about as important), it’s about being able to connect with others efficiently for the same common goal. Of course there’s going to be miscommunication, but when we make connections with people that share the same dream as us, it certainly makes the workplace more enjoyable. I look forward to my job and that brightens my day.

Creativity

Sometimes creativity doesn’t come easy for me. I have to work for it because it certainly won’t pop out of nowhere if I’m sitting around doing nothing. I use a few different techniques to start up my creative juices:

Browsing art galleries

One of my favorites is the art gallery inside of upper playground that changes every few weeks

Looking at blogs

One of my favorites is  Booooooom.com because it has such a large archive of art, projects, design, film, music and more. It's a hotbed of creativity and I love to immurse myself in it.

Taking photos

One of my favorites photos I've taken was on the shoreline at a luau in Oahu, Hawaii. It was such a simple picture, but the combination of the bright yellow in the plumeria and the soft neutral colors in the table and the ocean makes for an ethereal picture, reminding me that beauty is all around us.

Reading

One of my favorite books is  Be Here Now by Ram Dass. This book has changed my life and I haven't even finished it yet. This isn't any old book where you read it cover to cover, acknowledge the lessons from the story, and put it on the shelf to probably never be read again. This book takes time, understanding, and the process of looking inward towards our true selves. 

Memorable experience

One of the most memorable and positive educational experiences I’ve had was during the time I was a part of the Fashion Event Production class last winter and spring. The whole purpose of the class was to plan and produce The Art Institute’s annual fashion show. That year, the concept of the show was “A Feast for the Eyes”

I had the privilege of creating the template for the press kit as well as interviewing designers for their biographies in the program. Overall, the learning experience didn’t just end at the fashion show. I made some great connections with others and most importantly learned about all the time and effort that goes into a fashion show. There is so much more to it than I thought and still think, so I can’t wait to learn more.

My Mentor

The topic of today is on someone who has been a mentor for me my whole life and is the biggest pusher for my success and happiness aside from myself. She is my mother. Not only has she always been there for me, she continues to remind me of my strengths and keeps me going when times are tough. Without saying anything, she can brighten up my day and bring me a sense of tranquility with one of her huge bear hugs. I know that if I ever needed anything, she would be there for me. What else is there to ask for but a parent who will do whatever it takes to help when you simply just can’t do it all on your own?

My mother is the one who convinced me to go to Art School. She was the one who took me on that first initial tour of the campus and encouraged me to follow my heart. When I first registered at The Art Institute of Portland in the fall of 2009, I had no idea what to expect. What's more I had no idea exactly what I wanted to do with my bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing. The Art Institute of Portland certainly isn’t the cheapest school to go to, and my family is by no means wealthy. This, of course, made me doubtful when I began at school. My mind was full of anxiety thinking about all of the student loans waiting for me to pay off once I graduated. I second-guessed my capabilities to succeed in the fashion industry.

It’s great knowing my mom is there to remind me that at the end of the day, if I’m doing what feels right in my heart and what I know I’m passionate about, the rest will work itself out. There are no words to explain the gratitude I have for this wonderful woman I so thankfully get to call my mom.