Being in a land far from home, where each day brings new challenges and surprises, it is hard to imagine not taking that first step. When you embark on the unknown it’s always somewhat scary, but the exhilarating feeling you get from trying is well worth it.
When I decided to come to Shanghai, I didn’t know what to expect. But getting over the fear of coming and plunging headfirst into the life of what I have dreamed about was inevitable. In this business, you learn to be fearless real fast.
A couple of things that I have learned so far – you have to be very organized and precise with your designs. Your patterns must be production ready and you must consider all the elements of your garments, from the buttons to the fusing to the yield of each piece. When sourcing your materials, you must be willing to do the legwork and comparison shop. There are tons of places around the world to source great fabrics and the exposure will give you inspiration for future collections as well. There are also lots of trade shows to visit; the choices are endless.
And remember to have fun! Fashion is about creative expression and what you want to show to the world. Make it your own!
Until next time ~ feel it live it believe it
g
Gloria is an alumna of Coco Fashion Design Centre and is currently in Shanghai working on her collection – tissh by gloria lee.
