Getting the Hang of it

Being a designer was supposed to be a pipe dream, I resigned myself to it,  I didn't think I had the ability to become one. In fact, I still don't think I really am one quite yet, but what I do know, is I like to make clothes, I like creating and I enjoy it. And really wish I had more time to devote to it.

I don't want to be cliche and talk about how it all began from my childhood, but it sort of did. Embarrassingly I was one of those kids, who kinda shot upwards as well as significantly outwards, something I must ashamedly admit to.  Anyway clothes were hard to fit, as well as other issues, of making them look nice, without looking like I was walking around in a sack or a tent. Either cuts are not particularly flattering, let me tell you!

Anyway, long story short, I wanted to make clothes that would look good on me, I found Empire line cut dresses are great, etc etc. And so set out to make stuff for myself. On top of all this, my mother was a great seamstress, a bad teacher, often got shouted at for getting a stitch wrong. But I persevered to learn how to cut well, how to join seams together and make a well made garment, hand stitch complex embroidery and sequins. My sister on the other hand, a little sick of my mums clearly unsympathetic and impatient teaching gave up learning from her. I carried on. 

I made lots of mistakes when trying to learn on my own, my mother taught me the basics, helping me get a steady sewing hand with the sewing machine. But I wanted to go further, unfortunately, my GCSE's and A'levels got in the way. On top of that, coming from a Pakistani parents, who emigrated to Britain with only one desire, to raise a brood of lawyers and doctors, possibly a teacher, and the icing on the cake would have been a brain-surgeon.

the very hint of any one of these children spelling the words fashion designer was a BIG no no! I did try to approach the subject, muttered it very fast when the issue of what to do after GCSE'S came up, my mother smiled as you would at a mentally ill patient, while my fathers sudden selective hearing became evident. And my older siblings, a little sympathetic but also deservedly so mocking. Maybe I would have been the same, if he other came up with a hair brained idea. No, in fact I would have been the same, I think the banter I got, was mild in comparison to what I could have dished out. 

So fast forwarding some more, I completed a joint honors degree in English/History with the intent of becoming a journalist or if not a teacher, neither quite panned out, as expected. It has to be noted, the teaching option......the kids from the film 'Village of the Damned' began to looked like a better option to face. I decided to take on work as a office worker and still am working as one. During which personal issues arose and briefly my career towards writing was put on hold, it became obvious that, the only enjoyment that I had for the few years since graduation was sewing and making something. I bought books, that taught me how to measure and tailor, how to perfect and create couture standard clothing, I entered a fashion show, in which I came third out of 8 competitors. (A massive confidence boost). The best thing that one of the judges was a top three finalist from the 'Project Catwalk' TV series. 

So what am I doing now? Well recession has hit bad, and finding work has been a killer, I have somehow ended up with one foot in trying to maintain temporary cover as an office worker, mundane, maybe but it pays the bills, and the other in making and sewing clothes and products to sell online. Not being able to commit to either job, I cant sew as many orders, because of the lack of time due to my day job. So. what next then? Without attempting to sound immodest, but I am good at being creative, clearly the design side is something I can be a success at. So here is my journey, I would like to achieve designing and creating as my main career path. But how to go about it and make it a reality, without leaving myself penniless is a thought that clouds a firm decision in taking that as a career option!