"When you start these kinds of journeys, it's like you know what is important to you, but you don't necessarily know where you are going. But you know that if you make decisions based on the things that matter to you, wherever you end up is where you needed to go." ~Bjarke Ingels
I normally begin my week with a quote of the day. Bjarke's words, however, are my quote of the year. I have recently been thinking more about my practice since starting RESPONSIVE TEXTILES. How do I work? Why do I work? What does my work say? Am I fulfilling what I set out to do when I began my brand? Have my objectives changed?
Through these reflections, I have realized a glaring problem. Too much of my practice has been spent within the constraints, either traditional or imagined, of what I thought was expected of a fashion label and fashion designer. And in worrying about fulfilling these self-inflicted expectations, I have become my own worst hinderance. Luckily, a new year is upon me, my 27th to be exact. And with Bjarke's words ringing in my ears, my resolution is to fold this box that I have put both my business and myself. Light it aflame, and scatter the ashes into the wind. This box does not apply anymore because it never really applied. RSPNSV TXTLS is not this typical large, fast-fashion label, and I am not the traditionally trained fashion designer (click here and scroll to the bottom for a little backstory). Rather than regard my small business size as a handicap, I will embrace the freedom it enables me as a creative. Rather than worry about producing full collections every season, I will focus on smaller, more honed in series of work. I am setting off in a more genuine direction with RESPONSIVE TEXTILES. And just as Bjarke wisely remarked, though I am not sure exactly where I am going, but I know that letting go of these false notions is the first right step. I am excited to see where this more authentic path takes my work! Cheers to 27!
x Kristine of RESPONSIVE TEXTILES