You may ask why am I writing this piece, or what inspired me. Well, I must share an observation: there are some people out there who claim themselves as fashion enthusiasts, but do not understand fashion itself. There are people who like this just because it sounds expensive or it's a well-known brand. They don't understand how much thought and work went into every piece of garment that is on the rack of your favorite department store or boutique. All that matters is the label, the name and the price.
Being an aspiring designer isn't easy, let alone being a young designer. I still lack the technical skills and the experience in the industry. I can only translate my design from inspiration to thought to illustration, and it stops there. I don't know how to pattern, how to sew, how to select the right materials. But the thing that I have are the knowledge about who's who in the industry, the creative soul, the ability to translate designs decently on paper.
My point here is that people should respect designers, young, old or a legend because of the caliber of work and thought that went into creating pieces to sell. Designers go through the same process everytime they create a design: inspiration, thought, illustration, pattern-making, sample-making, fitting and execution of the final design. If I miss some steps, please pardon me but these are what I think are the basic process in design. Designers have a varying technique when it comes to looking and grasping a certain inspiration. They have different ways or aesthetics when translating that inspiration to thought or idea. Some translate things in a dark and heavy manner and some interpret is as light and flowy. And the process of putting that idea on paper as a sketch and as a flat sketch truly requires skill because this will be the basis of the final design. Patterns will be cut like the stencil of jigsaw pieces that will compose the garment. Samples will be made to test if the design is feasible and if it looks good enough to be produced. Fittings will be done to make sure that the proportions are perfect and for any alterations. After all that are done, the final garment will be made with all the right measurements and alterations in mind. Of course the right materials are needed to have a really good design. You may have a very beautiful design but if you do not know what kind of material you are going to use, there is a bigger chance of you failing to execute your vision perfectly.
It doesn't end there. They have to create multiple designs that are cohesive and organize a show to present the garments. After the show, they have to look for buyers who would buy the design and want it to be manufactured in many pieces to be sold in department stores, boutiques, shops. But sometimes, if the designer has a lot of investors they can mass produce it and sell them in their own stores.
Some people do not understand or know this process. All they care about is the tag or the label. Is it expensive? Does is look expensive? Who's the designer? Is he/she famous? Is he/she well-known? These questions are all bullshit. You don't have to look at those things when buying clothes. The fit, comfort and proportion is important. It my be made by an unknown/ upcoming designer but it can still look good and in-fashion. You also have to understand that designers have different aesthetics which means they have different styles and techniques in their design. They have a woman/ a character in mind whose all these clothes from that collection belongs to. It is not just a design idea but an idea of a full character with personality. It doesn't mean that if you don't like the style of the designer it means that he/she is boring and his work is ugly or cheap. It is an insult not only to the designer but to the people who work around him and to the fashion industry. Sometimes, your style and the way you dress doesn't work for you, maybe because of ignorance or because you are posing to be a fashionista.
You don't need to have a closet full of clothes or tons of signature goods to be a fashion enthusiast. You just need to stay true to yourself and have enough knowledge to make your wardrobe work for you. You have to have style and taste.
All I am asking is for you to respect designers because what they go through isn't easy. They don't live for the money or the fame, but for artistic fulfillment and their passion to create. Respect designers because it takes a lot of skill and hardwork to become one. It takes a lot of motivation to continue and lot of inspiration to construct an awesome piece.
Where did I get all this drama? Well I heard someone say today "I don't like it cuz it's just M*** J*****." Really? JUST? All I know, he is a great designer and the creative director of one of your favorite brands. He is named one of TIME Magazine's "Most Influential People in the World", known as the U.S. leader in fashion trends, and won CFDA's award for accessory design in 1998, 2003 and 2005, for menswear in 2002, and the international award for his work at Louis Vuitton in 2009. He also won the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year award for 2010. And you have the nerve to call him "JUST M*** J*****" Not just because you own some Louis Vuitton and some Chanel and a little bit of Gucci that you can talk like that. You should be ashamed of yourself for insulting someone who's achieved so much and more than you did. It's not always about the name, the price and the fame of the brand.
We are not talking about titles and awards here, but if someone can insult someone who has achieved that much, what more for those designers who are beginning their careers and those who achieved less than what has been mentioned.
Respect for Designers
You have put into words what I know is true. I have lived with the ups and downs of the design world as a bystander, the heartaches and the ecstasy. The glory when a piece gets acclamation and the agony when it is overlooked, yet, I also witnessed the birth of a piece that never made it to the "ignorant" buyer, a creation that
ReplyDeletecame to life that even if no one else adored it, the satisfaction of the creation process was enough.
I do not know how much longer you can hold back this passion of yours, but there is no need to hold it back. In your off hours after school work is done, buy proper design paper and pencils, find a desk, play with fabric, buy a good pair of scissors here ($40) some remnants, put together a sewing box. Just play. Or you might be just like Ate May who lets others do the work and just create. Much love to you dearest Michael, you will get there, just be patient, you have all the time in the world !!!!