From Socks to Seamstress: My Journey in Fashion
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My journey into the world of fashion began during the long, sun-soaked summer holidays in Detroit. My stepmother, a creative soul, taught me the basics of sewing. We would spend hours together, and my creativity ran wild as I cut up countless socks to make dresses for my dolls. This was my first taste of transforming fabric into something entirely new, and it ignited a passion that would shape my future.
When I turned ten, my mother gave me the gift that would change everything—a sewing machine. With it, I explored my burgeoning talent, creating all sorts of prototypes. One of my early creations was a towel that rolled out into a head pillow with a special compartment for wet swimwear. These early projects were my playground, where I honed my skills and discovered the joy of bringing my ideas to life.
High school was a turning point, things were getting serious. I enrolled in fashion classes and quickly secured a co-op placement at Response by Glynis Dupuis. This experience immersed me in the bustling Queen West Fashion District, where I ran errands for notions and helped ship outfits to clients. The district's vibrant energy and high-end designs captivated me, particularly a James Perse dress with a knit top and a crape box pleat skirt. Unable to afford it, I challenged myself to recreate it. Glynis’s feedback on my version, particularly her advice on focusing on the interior finishing of garments, was invaluable and something I carry with me to this day.
My time with Glynis solidified my desire to pursue fashion. I designed my prom dress and sought guidance from Berdella Scott, a master seamstress based on Queen West at the time. Between fetching notions on Queen West, Berdella taught me to use industrial sewing machines and re-thread industrial overlock machines. This period was a balancing act of learning, working two jobs, and traveling from Scarborough to Downtown Toronto every Tuesday from 5-6. It was exhausting but exhilarating.
Upon graduating from high school, I nervously applied to George Brown College. The sewing test was daunting, but my experiences on Queen West had prepared me well. Getting accepted marked the beginning of a new chapter, filled with opportunities to deepen my knowledge and refine my skills.
Looking back, my journey from those summer holidays in Detroit to studying fashion at George Brown is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Each step, from cutting up socks to mastering industrial machines, has been a building block in my career. Fashion is not just my profession; it's my lifelong passion, one that continues to evolve with every stitch.
When I turned ten, my mother gave me the gift that would change everything—a sewing machine. With it, I explored my burgeoning talent, creating all sorts of prototypes. One of my early creations was a towel that rolled out into a head pillow with a special compartment for wet swimwear. These early projects were my playground, where I honed my skills and discovered the joy of bringing my ideas to life.
High school was a turning point, things were getting serious. I enrolled in fashion classes and quickly secured a co-op placement at Response by Glynis Dupuis. This experience immersed me in the bustling Queen West Fashion District, where I ran errands for notions and helped ship outfits to clients. The district's vibrant energy and high-end designs captivated me, particularly a James Perse dress with a knit top and a crape box pleat skirt. Unable to afford it, I challenged myself to recreate it. Glynis’s feedback on my version, particularly her advice on focusing on the interior finishing of garments, was invaluable and something I carry with me to this day.
My time with Glynis solidified my desire to pursue fashion. I designed my prom dress and sought guidance from Berdella Scott, a master seamstress based on Queen West at the time. Between fetching notions on Queen West, Berdella taught me to use industrial sewing machines and re-thread industrial overlock machines. This period was a balancing act of learning, working two jobs, and traveling from Scarborough to Downtown Toronto every Tuesday from 5-6. It was exhausting but exhilarating.
Upon graduating from high school, I nervously applied to George Brown College. The sewing test was daunting, but my experiences on Queen West had prepared me well. Getting accepted marked the beginning of a new chapter, filled with opportunities to deepen my knowledge and refine my skills.
Looking back, my journey from those summer holidays in Detroit to studying fashion at George Brown is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Each step, from cutting up socks to mastering industrial machines, has been a building block in my career. Fashion is not just my profession; it's my lifelong passion, one that continues to evolve with every stitch.