Designer In The Making

Do you remember the first outfit you ever wore? Do you remember how it felt against your skin? Any fabric that graces your skin and makes you feel great in it. Clothes are like an extra layer of skin, an avenue of expression. A way you express the inside out: what you want to have, what you love, what you want to be.

I don’t remember my first outfit but I do remember my first favorite outfit. It was a yellow jumpsuit with a rainbow belt that was sewn in. I was probably 6 years of age and I wore that outfit until I outgrew it. To this day, I still have a special affinity for jumpsuits.

My earliest memory of wanting to do something with fabric was when I was 8 years old. I was

the girl written about above, in love with my Barbie doll’s dresses. I thought it would be fun to make dresses for my doll. I was intrigued with the idea of designing something lovely and bringing it to life.

I loved watching the Miss World pageant so I could see the beautiful evening wear the contestants wore. Afterwards, I would design my own and color them in with my pencils, imagining my creations in the spotlight.

I used to become so frustrated when some of my childhood friends would draw feet under their gowns. Surely they had seen the elegance of a floor-length gown! But then, I was inspired to draw high heel shoes to match my imaginary gowns.

Fashion design has always been in my DNA but it took a few decades for my dream to become manifest. It began with painting and once I began to imagine my paintings splayed across dresses and scarves, there was no going back.

I'm honored to share my passion with you and I hope as you wear your very own masterpiece, it inspires you to follow your own dreams.