Welcome to ANOTHER VARSITY DESIGN, a captivating fashion newsletter that accompanies me on an immersive exploration of the intricacies of the fashion industry, encompassing both the vibrant community and the dynamic corporate landscape. As I navigate this exhilarating journey, my aim is to share my discoveries, shedding light on valuable insights and offering a helping hand to individuals yearning to make their mark in the realm of fashion. Join me as I delve deep into the industry's inner workings, armed with a passion to empower and inspire those who aspire to build their dreams within the ever-evolving world of fashion.
About Me
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I've always looked up to the fashion scenes in Paris, New York, and Los Angeles. I've yearned for a fashion culture that could rival those cities right here in my own backyard. Back then, I had just a handful of friends who shared my passion for the same styles, trends, and brands. It was a small community, with only about five people I could truly connect with (or as I like to call it, the "Purists vs. Tourists" dynamic). Surprisingly, a lot of what I've learned about fashion came from scrolling through Instagram.
It all started in 2014 when I began following Christina Paik, a fashion artist, photographer and stylist. Through her work, I was introduced to a whole new world of fashion. Around the same time, Virgil Abloh launched his fashion label, Off-White, previously known as Pyrex Vision. Virgil's transparency and willingness to share his knowledge on scaling a small fashion business to a global phenomenon, especially through something as simple as t-shirts, shattered the barriers of entry into the fashion industry. I'd be remiss not to mention the impact of A$AP Mob, Kanye West, Matthew Williams, Heron Preston, Don C, and Jerry Lorenzo during that time, as they also played a crucial role in changing the game.
As I started following fashion trends beyond the Bay Area, I discovered brands like Rick Owens, Maison Margiela, Comme Des Garcons, Issey Miyake, Needles, Kapital, Stone Island, Phoebe Philo's Celine, Raf Simons, visvim, Y-3, and many others. It wasn't until 2017 that I could finally afford pieces from these brands, and I felt elated to finally be able to style myself in the brands I had always admired. However, I was quite shy about sharing my fashion journey on social media and didn't make an effort to build a stronger fashion community here. I kept a low profile until 2022 when everything changed.
In July 2022, I unexpectedly crossed paths with Jaanai Jones, Global Denim Designer at Levi’s, during the opening party of Bottega Veneta's new San Francisco location. It all began with a simple compliment on his one-of-a-kind custom corduroy shorts, which ignited a profound conversation about the global fashion landscape and the unique pulse of the Bay Area. Jaanai, having recently relocated from New York to San Francisco for his new role at Levi's after working at Ralph Lauren (fun fact: there's even a Ralph Lauren Denim Trucker Jacket named after him), proved to be a remarkable source of inspiration and wisdom.
Since that encounter, Jaanai and I have forged an incredible friendship, marked by shared experiences and invaluable insights into the fashion industry. Thanks to his guidance, I had the opportunity to attend the 2022 S/S NY Fashion Week, an awe-inspiring event that further fueled my passion and solidified my resolve. Jaanai exemplified the power of chasing after our dreams and taught me that if I yearned for something, I simply needed to seize it.
This encounter has ignited a transformative journey for me, where I find myself deeply immersed in this dynamic process, pursuing my aspirations with enthusiasm and an unwavering love for the fashion world.
Before I began writing and working on fashion projects, I spent six years in the tech industry until I was unexpectedly laid off. It turned out to be both the best and worst thing that happened to me. But this unexpected turn of events led me on a journey to explore and uncover the true essence of fashion in the Bay Area—both its inside and out, and the incredible emerging talent within.
Disclaimer: I don't claim to know everything, and I'm still learning. Everything I've shared in my articles is my opinion. Fashion is an art, and not everyone may see it the same way, and that's cool. I also understand that fashion can be expensive and some do the best they can with the clothing pieces they already have (this is me too). Ultimately, as long as someone feels comfortable in the clothes they wear, that's what matters most.
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