School

I just finished my third week as a fashion design student at Blanche Macdonald in downtown Vancouver. It’s really exciting and fun and keeping me very very busy. So it’s a nice test of how I adapt to that kind of schedule and pressure, since I intend to launch my clothing line after school = barter every grain of my time and energy for creative gratification. I’m surprised so far by how invigorating the dance is: between school and work, I have one day off, which, let’s face it, is really a homework cramming day. So I don’t really feel like I have a day off - I can recuperate a little on Wednesdays, but not stray too far or pause mentally and energetically. So it’s forced me to live much more in the present, not postponing things, not saving things for later. Because there isn’t a ‘later’ that will be less busy. 

We’re assembling our first muslins, learning the names of every garment part, brainstorming marketing and job-hunting adaptation to the technological zeitgeist, and yesterday we were visited by one of my favourite local designers Nicole Bridger. She is a super sharp and successful businesswoman who inspires without intimidating: she generously shares industry street smarts without being a downer about “how expensive” or “how competitive” it is. She just spreads the good juju and exemplifies its efficacy. Next week we’re visiting her production facility. I’m over the moon.