I haven't noticed that when the work load would pile up in my past experiences with fashion, tailoring, clothing in general that I would buckle under the stress. It took THIS initial experience to make me WANT to learn more. However, I have the tendency to rush into concepts and not develop them fully. This time around, I want to bury myself into the skills and perfect them and use them as efficiently as possible to further my education and the well-being of the House.
This week has been my first "drop in the ocean" as far as skills are concerned.
-Mac
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
"The Backstory"
I have recently secured an apprenticeship regarding Bespoke Tailoring in Toronto ON and I thought it would be fitting to explain exactly how I got to the point that I am now. I write these posts strictly because I wish someone had done the same for me five years ago!
First and foremost, I'm 23 years old, which is relatively old for an apprentice (at least that's what was I was told before meeting my future instructor). My entire high school "career" was geared toward psychology, but like most, especially if you are creative, it doesn't last long!
I pursued custom tailoring in my last year of high school (through Co-op) and received my crash course in hand stitching by a Master Tailor in Windsor ON. There I learned the basics, yet was never taught the higher-level ideals of cutting, among many other things. Tailors for the most part are few and far between and don't have the time to take minutes away from their work to answer the simplest questions. So I don't blame my past teacher for not having the time to explain pattern-making/block design. Yet, this is such a catch-22! If at least ONE tailor doesn't take the time to open his doors and spend the time to educate the future young tailors (of Canada), then all of their life's work is moot... and will disappear forever.
From there, I moved to London ON to study Fashion Design @ Fanshawe College. There are only two things I will say about that experience: 1.) Get prepared for MUCH work that you MAY think you'll never use again 2.) It was NOT for me.
Having found that it was a catastrophic mistake of going to London and wasting money on a program I would never commit to, I moved back to Windsor. It's important to know exactly where you stand with design and clothing and keep in mind: though "fashion design" programs are the most common ways to make your career in clothing, it's NOT the only way.
I stayed there for a year before moving to Toronto to actually FIND someone to help me on my way. I suppose it was delusion that thought that a new city would offer more opportunity. In some cases this was true, yet I found that there were simply more tailors who wouldn't want an apprentice.
Until! I randomly emailed TREND CUSTOM TAILORS and explained my situation and how I was driven to become what I always wanted to be. I received a telephone call 5 minutes later and here we are.
If you are just doing the leg work to find a tailor, remember that:
1.) If you don't find one right away, that's okay!
2.) It's difficult.
3.) You'll get discouraged.
4.) It's difficult.
The notion to keep in your mind while searching/working for a tailor for little or no pay is that the ideas, coaching and skills they will hand to you are worth more than money could ever buy!
-Mac
First and foremost, I'm 23 years old, which is relatively old for an apprentice (at least that's what was I was told before meeting my future instructor). My entire high school "career" was geared toward psychology, but like most, especially if you are creative, it doesn't last long!
I pursued custom tailoring in my last year of high school (through Co-op) and received my crash course in hand stitching by a Master Tailor in Windsor ON. There I learned the basics, yet was never taught the higher-level ideals of cutting, among many other things. Tailors for the most part are few and far between and don't have the time to take minutes away from their work to answer the simplest questions. So I don't blame my past teacher for not having the time to explain pattern-making/block design. Yet, this is such a catch-22! If at least ONE tailor doesn't take the time to open his doors and spend the time to educate the future young tailors (of Canada), then all of their life's work is moot... and will disappear forever.
From there, I moved to London ON to study Fashion Design @ Fanshawe College. There are only two things I will say about that experience: 1.) Get prepared for MUCH work that you MAY think you'll never use again 2.) It was NOT for me.
Having found that it was a catastrophic mistake of going to London and wasting money on a program I would never commit to, I moved back to Windsor. It's important to know exactly where you stand with design and clothing and keep in mind: though "fashion design" programs are the most common ways to make your career in clothing, it's NOT the only way.
I stayed there for a year before moving to Toronto to actually FIND someone to help me on my way. I suppose it was delusion that thought that a new city would offer more opportunity. In some cases this was true, yet I found that there were simply more tailors who wouldn't want an apprentice.
Until! I randomly emailed TREND CUSTOM TAILORS and explained my situation and how I was driven to become what I always wanted to be. I received a telephone call 5 minutes later and here we are.
If you are just doing the leg work to find a tailor, remember that:
1.) If you don't find one right away, that's okay!
2.) It's difficult.
3.) You'll get discouraged.
4.) It's difficult.
The notion to keep in your mind while searching/working for a tailor for little or no pay is that the ideas, coaching and skills they will hand to you are worth more than money could ever buy!
-Mac
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)