For as long as I can remember I have been working 14 plus hours days every day of the week. At my first job in the design world I used to work 50 + hours and ever since then I have not seen too many days off. Thats was back in 1999 and I have worked relentlessly since then, chasing a dream that sometimes appears uncatchable.
No matter how confident and full of hope we are sometimes doubt will rear it's ugly head and make you feel like giving up. That said here is a favorite by Ruth Gordon
"Never give up. And never, under any circumstances, face the facts."
One too many times we face the facts and the facts are usually a sad way of admitting defeat. If you believe in something then don't ever face the facts look at them and walk around them, when you stop to face them you are surrendering.
I haven't given up on my dreams, as a matter of fact I am living some of them already. I dreamt of being a designer, I am one now, dreamt of making a clothing collection, I have one now. Many times our dreams come true and we fail to celebrate, instead we focus on the parts that have not come to be.
It's been three years since I designed my very first T-Shirt, it has been a long hard journey of no sleep, no rest and hard work. I have sold some of my pieces through trunk sales, the website and from my studio but my line was not in stores until yesterday. A tiny ( but very cute) boutique on Newbury Street in Boston called "SooDee" now carries my t-shirts and sweatshirts. Although the full order for the store goes in on the 1st of April I placed a few items there yesterday afternoon.
I was at the boutique today and a girl and her mom walk in to shop, they were very friendly and warm. While her mom was looking at dresses the girl looked at my rack, grabbed a sweat jacket then yells "hey mom! look at this! It's so cute." "Try it on" her mom says. So she tries it on and says "I am getting it! It fits perfect, it was made for me". Now the whole time I was watching and listening from the other end of the store, I was playing fly on the wall haha. I was lucky enough to become friends with the owner of the Boutique so she has been letting me come by and learn the retail side of the fashion business by observing her store before my clothes when in. Now this has been priceless because I having been getting insight on how women shop, what catches their eye and how many times they sometimes come in and out before buying. Every shopper is different but there is a pattern I am learning to the way people shop and I have learnt so much just by playing fly in SooDee. It's crazy because some girls simply just come in to have a good laugh at some creative dresses or coats that they wouldn't wear, no intention of buying just doing a girly thing, it's interesting.
Anyways my point here is i sold my very first piece in an actual store, so today marks a milestone that i will never forget. I remember reading a book about FedeX, the book said that after spending millions buying planes and trucks and starting the business on the first day FedeX started they shipped about 8 packages. Imagine that! God knows how many they ship today. With that in perspective I am very grateful and excited for having officially entered the retail game today.
In life we sometimes look at what did not happen as opposed to what did, we look at what's outside as opposed to whats inside. If it's your birthday and only one person called, shouldn't we be happy and thank that person and rejoice that at least one person remembered. If you car is acting up be glad you have one, fix that hoop up and be happy you come and go as you please.
This is a new chapter in the journey of thousands miles, the journey of a million steps. I feel like I just started today because this is all so new and exciting, weeeeeeee! haha!
Seriously though i am glad I don't have it in me to give up, I would of never seen this day.
I am glad I never faced the facts: "the economy is so bad no one will pick up your line, you are a new designer you are too much of a risk, your prices are need adjusting, and so on..."
don't face the facts, turn your back on them and just keep trying to do what you initially wanted to do before the facts were a concern.
If you are in Boston visit SooDee for a peak at some Bless By Bless Couture.
293 Newbury Street, Boston, MA.
Here is the first BBB piece sold in a store.
hope! faith! love!
B
