They are right when they tell you that the fashion industry is not everyone’s cup of tea. They are right when they tell you that not everyone succeeds here. They are right when they tell you that you need to be “one of them” to be able to make it. What do they really mean by “one of them?” And why do I need to be like somebody to succeed in a field that I am passionate about ?
The fashion industry is a brutal place. Now, while I talk about the fashion industry, I would like to, side-by-side, refer to the world of advertising, as well, because the cut-throat competition is real. The fashion industry is a haven, sure. But it comes with serious hard work and determination. It does not take too long before we realize that talent could mean so much less, when you cannot market your product or when you do not have the network to grow. While talent and skill is imperative, having the ability to thrive in a world full of competition and dynamism is equally important.
Remember being in your design class and seeing a “friend” copy your pattern or trying to buy the same fabric as you? Remember being in your advertising class and seeing a group member take credit for your work? Remember being in your photography class and seeing a classmate copy your concept? These are the situations that one has to regularly face in the fashion, advertising and mainly, in the creative world, one too many times. I remember being told, ”You give them what they give you.” But how much does that help?
Sure, I am a competitive person. Yes, I love to win. Of course, I want to be the best at what I do. But, does that mean that I grow without any regards to the people around me? Does that mean that I sidestep them? Does that mean that I overstep my boundaries and instead of focusing on my work, go an extra mile to ruin theirs? Does that mean that I have to be mean, too?
I refuse to be mean. As much as I love the heat of a contest, I refuse to be a mean girl in a mean world. I refuse to be “the” mean girl in a mean world. That is not how I want to be identified. That is not a legacy I want to leave behind. I believe that a person can truly exist with the help of a few important ingredients; and those ingredients are talent, skill, patience, hard work, consistency, determination, ethics, kindness, and love. Lots and lots of kindness, love and gratitude towards those who are around us, because they either help us grow, or teach us a few of the most important lessons in life. I feel that gratitude is such a big element in life. One can have it all, but nothing, if they aren’t grateful for their journey and the people who have helped them get there.
No, I do not want to steal your designs. No, I do not want to butter my employer up so that he picks me. No, I do not want to give in to favoritism. No, I do not want to take credit for your work. And most importantly, no, I do not want to live with unkindness. It is important to hold your own when you are working in an environment that can be so negative and unhealthy at times; an environment that feeds on others’ weaknesses and failures. Facing reality, I do not expect to make life-long friends in this industry, but I do intend to leave a positive impact on each life I touch here.
At the end of the day, we all have a choice to make. While choosing to be mean might seem like the easier way to go, or maybe even the better road to take, it might prove to be different when you look back at it five years from now. We are setting an example here; an example to not only the future generation, but an example for our future selves. I choose to take the high road. I choose to be a kind girl in a mean world.
