COLOURS OF FASHION DESIGN

Resilience in the face of uncertainty

By Nkemdinum Eqwuenu

To embark on any path requires a sense of purpose and vision. My journey in design began with an interest in visual arts which ventured into sewing and fashion design. After school I gained experience in custom design for clients for special occasion wear as well as working within the costume industry for film and music videos. The best way to gain experience I’ve found, is to determine what your strengths are and to take risks. Sometimes the best way to begin anything is to start with what you have on hand and learn as you go. You may not have all the tools, experience or connections when embarking on your journey but with determination a clear vision and plan anything is possible. Creativity happens when you have the least amount of resources which forces one to be innovative with what is on hand.

Model: Rene Jaidi • Photographer/Creative Director: Michelle Aristocrat

I’ve found that continuous education in business has helped in navigating the industry and can allow one to develop and implement these skills.

As a designer the best way to strengthen your skills in illustration, pattern making and sewing is to simply practice consistently. It is also a great advantage to understand technical specifications in order to delegate tasks once your company begins to grow and you have to begin wearing many hats. If you are just starting out, it is very important to just have fun and be as expressive and creative as possible especially with all the amazing tools we have available like the internet and social media. With platforms such as Instagram and Depop, I’m seeing countless young creatives making their way and trying things. Regardless of where you are on your journey, having the spirit of resilience in the face of uncertainty can keep you going even if you think there is no way forward especially during these times.

There are multiple resources available on-line today that provide valuable information about the current state of the industry as well as some education to help along the way. Some of my favourite publications and organizations on-line for fashion include: Apparel Entrepreneurship, which teaches new fashion upstarts a great and practical way to make your brand solid and viable. I.D. Magazine is a cutting edge publication that talks about what is happening in the underground world of fashion with an emphasis on the new. They also feature short films, videos on YouTube to inspire and have discussions around issues like sustainability and youth culture. Social Media Channels such as Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok have allowed so many people to cultivate their own voice, style and brand in an unobstructed way with no middleman or corporation. These channels are allowing an entire generation to create their own worlds and possibilities are endless with the right amount of dedication, hard work and spirit of collaboration. A few of my other favourite organizations include Harlem Fashion Row, which puts a spotlight on designers of colour who may not have had the same opportunities due to many systemic issues. Fashion Group International is a global platform with chapters worldwide that allow fashion professions to congregate and meet. Fashion Revolution and Slow Factory educate the general public as well as industry insiders on what sustainability is and why it is an important issue to tackle at this time. The last of my favourite organizations deals with Intersectional environmentalism run by Green Girl Leah and educates people about how oppression and unethical business models cause environmental injustice.

My top 3 tips on how to navigate the fashion industry!

01

Reach out to people/ organizations in fashion through platforms like YouTube, Patreon and workshops by industry leaders to learn new skills.

02

Learn how to make your creative practice a business by simply taking small risks and how to budget for projects and/or collections.

03

Build up your resilience by not taking rejection to heart but see it as a way to foster growth.