When we are young, the world is full of possibilities. The universe is teeming with decisions that lead to millions of distinct human experiences. From the moment we wake up in the morning to the time we drift off to sleep, we are confronted with the decision of whether we are going to life a selfish or selfless existence. With real distinction between these choices, each opinion and action we make threads together to create the overwhelmingly and technicolor experience known as life.
We are questioned, “What do YOU want to be?”
We are asked to grow up, entrusted with our own fates. Each our own an artist, carving and casting our futures with sweat and tears. From the satisfying feeling of an initial success, to the crippling pain of a first defeat, The Odyssey’s conversation with entrepreneur and fashion designer, Carrie Hammer allowed for us to explore the essence of what it means to inspire. Illustrating the definition of perseverance, Carrie’s clear determination to invigorate a positive feminine role model within our ever-expanding universe is astonishing. Contrasted against other modern fashion icons, Carrie has revitalized the “status quo”, flaunting a new perspective unlike anything we’ve ever seen before on the runway. Recognized for her message of‘Role Models Not Runway Models’, Carrie has helped to empower millions women from all walks of life. Named in 2015 to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Hammer shattered records in February 2014 with her debut runway show by including powerhouse women from CEOs and entrepreneurs, to the first runway model in a wheelchair at New York Fashion Week.
Yet, this exists as but a singular chapter in the budding professional life of Carrie Hammer. Beginning her fashion career by making the decisions to pursue her own set of interests, fashion was always a subconscious passion of Carrie’s, “I wasn’t like other girls my age, I asked for a sewing machine for Christmas. In 3rd grade I was pursuing needlepoint and in 6th and 7th grade staging fashions shows. Subconsciously [fashion] was always apart of me”. Formerly pursuing a career as an advertising sales executive, she famously always heard the phrase “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”. Discovering a limited selection in empowering women’s professional attire, Carrie refused to be stifled by her fashion dilemma – choosing to rather devise a solution for not only herself but also all professional women. Embracing her artistic sprit, Carrie set off on a fashion venture to what would come to be known as Carrie Hammer. Switching her career at 26, in the summer of 2012 Carrie made the life changing decision to enroll in Parson’s of Paris – a decision of which she has never once looked back.
Proving that nothing is entirely set in stone, Carrie’s career transformation pays homage to our primordial ancestors. Part of humanity is accepting constant evolution, with our early to late 20s existing as an especially murky period of our lives. Defining oneself is a difficult task, and much like other stories, Carrier’s began during her collegiate days, specifically at UCLA. Determined to attend UCLA, in her application process Carrie says, “UCLA was without a doubt my first and only choice” In fact, she specifically remembers in high school her counselor asked her to write down her top three choices for schools, recommending that she select other universities “just incase”. However, adamant in her pursuit of UCLA, Carrie says “there never was any other option for me, I was determined. I wrote down “1. UCLA, 2. UCLA, 3.UCLA”. Needless to say, UCLA, to me, was the quintessential college experience. I was from San Diego, which is close but still far enough away. I was extremely involved with my sorority as the social chair of Theta, I loved all the football games and basketball games. I also loved college because it gave me the ability to get involved with a ton of different things. From economics to women studies, one of my most memorable classes was the history of the American motion picture. I absolutely took advantage of the college and soaked up every single second of it”.
When asked about any particularly memorable story from college, Carrie says that “I’ll never forget when my school was in the top 4 for basketball. It was my freshman year and UCLA was scheduled to host the Championship game. Now, my friends and I really wanted to sit front row - since when you’re a student, the seats in the student section are some of the best in the house. While some people pay thousands of dollars to sit front row, when I was a freshman I was like ‘I’m going to sleep outside and wait in line all night to get seats for these UCLA basketball tickets!’ – it was such a crazy idea but it worked and on top of everything else we won the championship game too!”.
While Carrie no doubt had an unforgettable college experience, she also persevered and was adamantly committed to her future success. UCLA provided her the ample opportunity to exist as a valuable leader in her Greek community. Entrusted with the responsibility to manage her sorority’s social agenda, she conquered huge budgets and undertook even larger liabilities. When it comes to being in charge Carrie says, “I love being my own boss, setting my own time table”. However, the skills required to be a boss take time and practice to hone. Acquiring a leadership position, especially in sororities is a huge undertaking”. Carrie compares her Greek life experience to that of running a business, “Greek life definitely helped to prepare me for the professional world”. In fact, Greek life did more than provide Carrie friendships that have lasted a lifetime, it additionally contributed to her growth and professional network. Carrie says, “I’ve actually helped to get three Thetas jobs as a result of my success. Job searching is a great way to reach out to alumni and I encourage any young person to utilize their networks when they graduate. You can’t know the extent of the connections you’re making in college, you can use them as a resource after graduation”.
Met with moderate shock, Carrie’s friends and family didn’t know exactly how to react. In retrospect, Carrie explains the astonishment of her peers to her sudden career change,“My mom might have actually puked…I was doing so well with my advertising career. I was making great money and on an amazing career trajectory. However, it just wasn’t me, it wasn’t fulfilling”. Just like that, without a moment of hesitation, Carrie then began her career in fashion. When asked about her first days a designer, one of the most important lessons that Carrie learned was failure.
Almost everyone wants to be successful in life and for this reason; one must fail before achieving success. From our infantile first steps, much like the rest of life, we spend it wobbling and falling. From time to time, we all get a little down, however we have to stumble before we make great strides. As an entrepreneur, Carrie welcome failure, saying that “you are going to encounter 99% No’s before you get 1 yes. The key to positivity in the face of defeat is your attitude. Take on any challenge with the mindset that it’s going to be “yes”. I know a lot of people that get frustrated and don’t make it past the 1-2 years of a start up, their problem lies in the fact that they can’t handle the rejection”.
In a city that Carrie describes as “full of energy”, Carrie and her fellow New Yorkers “always seem like they want to do something great. I don’t know what I want to do here, but I know that this city is exactly where I need to be”. Compared to a real life Carrie Bradshaw, Carrie Hammer actually now owns the URL therealcarrie.com and as expected lives within five blocks from Bradshaw’s famous stoop. Flaunting her own personal “Carrie” necklace, Carrie is about as genuine as people can get. Geared with an endless supply of Purell in her purse, an emergency tube of red and a compact hair brush – Carrie seems prepared for whatever life is willing to throw at her.Naming her favorite dress pattern the “Jean” after her mother, much like any other New Yorker she’s got her quirks as well. Perhaps paying homage to her former college glory days, believe it or not Carrie it’s a morning person. Her daily ritual consists of hitting snooze on average about 5 times and then attempts to mediate for about five minutes everyday. She rolls out of bed and sprawls her clothes around her room in hurricane like manner as she attempts to decide on an outfit for the day. She is die-hard night owl and finds that her most creative time of the day is during the wee hours of morning.
Still in shock of her own success, Carrie is extremely humble in regards to her success. When asked, “Is your business what you thought it would be?” she responded saying, “I continue to have big dreams, I never thought being in fashion week or aspiring drastic social change would occur so this quickly. My rational for becoming a large brand isn’t at all selfish pursuit. I wan tot be a success it’s because it’s through that I will be able to cause social change. Change is an idea that I really want to press upon”. Carrie’s efforts have no doubt caused change, for instance her ability to inspire confidence within the life of Karen Crespo. Born much like you and me, Karen’s sudden contraction of bacterial meningitis changed her life over night. From living her life as a normal girl to become a quadruple amputee, Karen reached out to the designer in an email saying, “I was so thrilled and moved that a designer welcomed someone with a disability on the runway. I have a passion for fashion so I hope one day I will get to show the world “Why can’t people with disabilities, people like me, be beautiful and model.” – It is moments life these that have changed Carrie’s life, messages of inspiration and empowerment are the fire that ignites Carrie’s passion. Moments like these are what Carrie describes as “sky opening up moments, where not only has she had the ability to receive “good press” but more importantly she “has the ability to changing lives and perspectives”. Starting from ground zero with limited contacts and several yards of fabric, it was only after a couple months, this is what Carrie describes this as her first eureka moment.
Instigating moral change in a rigid fashion industry, at the end of the day, Fashion is about serving a customer – no matter who they are. Desiring to lead by example, Carrie admires business likes Aerie who she believes are doing “the right thing by portraying realistic and wholesome fashion”, she says “the best business is the type of business that does good for the world”. As far as advice goes, Carrie says the professional world shouldn’t inspire fear, rather determination. In order to break into an industry you must be your own advocate you have to “Get over the gap. Getting over your own ego. Realize that “if I fail, I’ll look dumb” and accept your screw ups. I promise you that you will fail more than you success at first, therefore just get over the fear of “screw ups” because no matter what you do, you will”.
With her business rapidly expanding, this year Carrie will be holding her New York Fashion Week runway show for her namesake brand on February 12, 2015, at 10am, at the Lightbox in Manhattan.In fact, this year’s role model includes Jamie Brewer, actress and disability activist from the smash hit series American Horror Story. Brewer, who happens to have Down syndrome, believes in Carries clothes as she believes all women need to know that they are beautiful. Challenging commonplace beauty standards, in a sometimes-bleak world, humanity no doubt needs more people like Carrie.
