MY STORY: Life can get pretty stressful. But it will all resolve with time. This recently happened to me when I was assigned to complete an entire garment from start to finish in less than a week in addition to taking on more responsibilities at work. I'm still working through changes at work but I finished my final project yesterday and couldn't be happier with how the garment turned out. After going through the process of draping, making the first paper pattern, cutting and sewing a prototype, changing the fit on the garment and pattern, to cutting and sewing the final product, I am amazed by how much I learned and how much I was able to do in such a small timeframe. The final product ended up fitting me perfectly and it feels so rewarding!
Here's what I learned, am still learning, and constantly need to remind myself: Often times during hardships, I wonder why this is all happening. There are so many emotions, feelings, stressors, etc. In the long run when I look back at these situations, these periods of time that I hated in that moment was actually a blessing in disguise. I can see that these experiences have stretched me to grow and learn so much more than I would have if I stayed comfortable. Through all the struggles, I am impressed by how I can surpass even the most difficult of situations. Not to say I did this alone because I didn't. It was all within God's plan. He placed wonderful, amazing, and supportive friends in my life. After going through all of this, I feel a sense of peace and pure joy.
BELVELE'S STORY: Monica Rojas is the founder of Belvele, an online platform that offers clothing from small businesses that align with her motto of keeping design, craftsmanship, and sustainability in mind. Monica developed her passion for sustainable fashion when the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed in 2013. Seeing that there weren't many offerings of sustainable, minimalist clothing, she decided to use her background in retail management, visual merchandising, and buying to start Belvele. Monica picks investment pieces that aren't about trends but instead wearable years after purchasing them. I love that each item listed on Belvele has a description of the fit, material, and what makes the garment sustainable. The photos of the garments are also taken on friends of Belvele in the streets of San Francisco so you can see what they'd look like on you rather than a model. As you know, I love learning the stories behind brands. Belvele has a page of the brands they offer with each of their stories. I was able to learn about brands I already knew and discover new brands and their stories!