Friday, May 29, 2015

Evolving Fashion Through A Clothing Line: Promoting

Getting exposure further than the sun for a dollar stretched as far as a brickroad is every fashion designer’s dream.  Fortunately, with that in mind, any designer’s line can be made famous for a cheap cost by relying heavily on free promotions such as networking, talk shows, and wearing conversation-starter clothing. With these methods success doesn't have to mean gawking at that stunning Elie Saab gown for years with no apparent end due to one's lack of a refreshing pile of green money, the symbol of success.
If reaching one’s goals could be as simple as climbing a ladder, they would make it to the top much faster, and, amazingly enough, networking will provide a ladder made of people necessary to know in order to make a successful clothing line. Networking can be done by being around the people one aspires to be like or simply by the use of social media. Social media provides immediate exposure and an opportunity to interest a celebrity within your potential customers.  For example, on twitter it’s very common to know a friend who is followed by a verified user, which, of course, means their new follower is of importance. So as easily as they got attention, one can receive it almost effortlessly as well by simply hashtagging something general or currently trending that relates to one’s line in an appropriate way. With this method, not only is exposure gained, but also an opportunity to obtain a helpful friend. Because networking can be a runaround at times, being invited to a talk show is also a great way to get free publicity for one’s line.
Heart rushing, as the vivid colors pop through the screen, seeing oneself on the television is a mile marker toward success. As a matter of fact, national exposure by a television show that millions of people follow like it’s the bible can be a guaranteed way for an entrepreneur’s sales to luxuriate. Although one can't just show off their line before the long desired reveal, simply hyping up viewers can leave them itching with anticipation and open up a crevice for investors. A great way to do this is by relating the line to target customers and the well known faces associated with it. Customers love hearing about how they can look primped with little to no effort so giving them what they crave in a truthful manner guarantees exuberant sales. Another guaranteed way is associating risky designs with celebrities that have worn them to give the shy customer a sense of security. Making the audience comfortable in all ways triggers joy and desire for the upcoming line within the customer, which is a great way to have one's fashion line portrayed.
As a matter of fact, fashion is all about creating a fresh look filled with admiration, youth, and inspiration, but it's also a great conversation starter.      Therefor, instead of starting a conversation about cheap horribly stitched clothing from a local mall, one can promote their clothing line by simply wearing an outfit designed and styled fresh from their own sewing room. No matter which point one is in their journey toward being a successful designer, receiving a compliment on a work of art fastidiously constructed from home can trigger a seemingly superfluous blather of words explaining one garment. As a fashion designer that may sound wonderful, but in order to keep the bait reeling in one must remember to be intriguing while also being concise.  As a matter of fact, that's just enough time to get a potential buyer for the price of nothing, nada, aucan.
Although it's no secret that building a successful clothing line is neither effortless nor affordable, with the methods of free promotion such  as networking, being on talk shows, and wearing high fashion homemade clothing, one's dream of a thriving clothing is much more palpable in money and selling aspects of it.

Evolving Fashion Through A Clothing Line: Designing

Fashion is like the hands of a clock that always inevitably hit the same points but on a different date; Great trends are continuously revolving in fashion just with a different twist each time. Constantly roaming around in my mind, this fact latches on to every pattern, cut, and neckline that generates from my brain.

I defy the nonchalant image every little girl has of themselves designing a clothing line.

Paper hurling, I toss graceful erroneously stroked balls of thinly sliced wood relentlessly to the floor. Hit and misses are okay with sports, but when putting out a clothing line that’s a foreign experience. Therefore my pencil is a vein where passion streams from my body to my paper, but the swift movement of my hands aren’t blindly advancing along it. Every mark acts as a link in a meticulously planned theme. Fuchsia pocket here, fuchsia shirt there, fuchsia shoes over there.  Fuchsia, the joint that connects my ballroom gown with my jaunty dailylook, represents the transition from frilly colors that repel the blazing heat waves of the sun during June and July to the sinister dyes, similar to a cloudy day, that grasp wavelengths creating a toasty feeling in the crisp dry air of winter.
But wait, Exactly what do I want my customers to do with my clothing? Most definitely not just pair fuchsia with the basic colors, but I’m shooting for my customers to be rejuvenated with life as they freely color block. Finally, after tossing away numerous designs, I have found the perfect theme that will be held up by stepping stones, the objective for the theme.  Regardless of all the work put in already, I’m just the piece still at the start on position en through the Candyman’s sticky path. In order to get past this point, I transfer my designs to my computer by shifting minuscule pixels in a CAD (Computer assisted Design) Program. To be sent with the CAD, I carefully weave the sharp dainty needle of my sewing machine through each piece of fabric in order to bring my designs to life. In other words, the prototype, or the last step in designing a clothing line,  is complete.

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    Surrounded with wonderful designs and anxious customers, I am forced to crank  out the supply demanded from me. Therefore, every morning my employees walk in to me managing a room inundated with fabric before the first shifts even begin. Although the salty beams of sweat and tears of joy flow from my face, I am ecstatic to know my clothing line is on it’s way to success.

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Fall Fashion Sketch By Alexia Moore

Evolvinng Fashion Through a Clothing Line: Sketching


Perfect figures, elongated legs, and stunning outfits are a necessity for all types of fashion sketches whether it’s for a young, old, thick, or skinny person. Due to this, at a first glance fashion sketches can be mistaken as just a tool to spark a wave of inspiration for the designer and his use only, but in reality sketches can determine the success of one’s clothing line. The sketches do this by allowing others to see the full talent of the designer and provide a guide for those bringing the sketches to life.
   
As a matter of fact, starting a clothing line can be extremely hard without stunning sketches because investors will refuse to fund anyone who cannot sketch well. This is because, as Ms. Gipe said, they can’t truly see the vision they are funding. Unlike getting a small loan for a car, a designer of a clothing line has to get a large loan in order to start a business for manufacturing. Therefore, by having a polished sketch investors get an idea of the success to come or not to come.
         
Giving a manufacturer a design that is unclear is like a blind person playing a game of heads up, it just won’t work out. Because foreign manufacturers are cheaper, as an upcoming fashion designer many people seek that route, but unfortunately they are unable to travel back and forth to thoroughly explain their own vision. Therefore, it’s essential for the sketches sent to the manufacturer to show things from fabric patterns to fabric folds. Without being extremely meticulous with detailing while sketching, major gaps of misunderstanding can arise. This was really evident when Ms. Gipe said, “ I would have made you a pair of leggings,” during our interview because my vision included harem pants, which are  far from leggings,while she could clearly tell my intentions in the same more detailed sketch.
Perfect figures, elongated legs, and stunning outfits are a necessity for all types of fashion sketches whether it’s for a young, old, thick, or skinny person. Due to this, at a first glance fashion sketches can be mistaken as just a tool to spark a wave of inspiration for the designer and his use only, but in reality sketches can determine the success of one’s clothing line. The sketches do this by allowing others to see the full talent of the designer and provide a guide for those bringing the sketches to life.
   
As a matter of fact, starting a clothing line can be extremely hard without stunning sketches because investors will refuse to fund anyone who cannot sketch well. This is because, as Ms. Gipe said, they can’t truly see the vision they are funding. Unlike getting a small loan for a car, a designer of a clothing line has to get a large loan in order to start a business for manufacturing. Therefore, by having a polished sketch investors get an idea of the success to come or not to come.
         
Giving a manufacturer a design that is unclear is like a blind person playing a game of heads up, it 
just won’t work out. Because foreign manufacturers are cheaper, as an upcoming fashion designer many people seek that route, but unfortunately they are unable to travel back and forth to thoroughly explain their own vision. Therefore, it’s essential for the sketches sent to the manufacturer to show things from fabric patterns to fabric folds. Without being extremely meticulous with detailing while sketching, major gaps of misunderstanding can arise. This was really evident when Ms. Gipe said, “ I would have made you a pair of leggings,” during our interview because my vision included harem pants, which are  far from leggings,while she could clearly tell my intentions in the same more detailed sketch.



Thursday, May 21, 2015

My Reading Life.

1. Did I meet my reading goal?

                Although I didn't meet my goal of 16 books, I came pretty close with eight books and an enormous textbook that I completed. 

2. So, what does a girl like me read?
     
               Honestly, being forced to read just made me resent reading so much more, and despite that I  am actually very glad I was. As paradoxical as that may seem, if I hadn't been forced to read I would have never opened such wonderful books (listed below):
                  

  • Midwinter BLOOD by Marcus Sedgwick
  • The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
  • The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran
  • A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
  • He's Just Not That Into You by Liz Tuccillo and Greg Brehrendt 
  • The Room by Emma Donoghue 
  • The Canon by Natalie Angier
  • America's History
  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman (Abandoned, but it was a great book and I will be finishing it)
3. Which book was the sweetest?
                 
             The Devil Wears Prada  was my favorite book out of all ten books listed. Maybe it was simply because I hope to one day be consumed by the world of fashion and turn into the very mouth that ate me, or maybe it was the unexpected ending. Also besides those two factors, a nice cherry on top was Andrea getting free designer clothes. Although the events in the book were just fictional, I still felt a rush of joy and love as if I were the one actually receiving those precious garments.

4. Which book was the most brain busting?

              That would definitely have to be The Canon.  Although I loved learning interesting facts like why my hair seems to defy gravity after wearing my beautifully woven beanie, the process was a lot more challenging than most books I've read. To add the kerosene to the fire, Angier mixed in higher level vocabulary with technical scientific names for things such as heat.

5. What's my reading superpower?

              I've grown tremendously with my ability to spot the rhetorical devices authors use to put emphases on certain aspects that are clues to the overall theme.

6. What's my kryptonite? 

             I'm still very weak when I have to read quickly, so I definitely need to improve my reading speed to a much faster pace.

7. Did I need guidance during my reading journey?

             The reading conferences with my teacher were really helpful with making me aware of my areas that still needed improvement. Although I could give a prize winning summary of the books I was currently reading, when she asked me certain questions to see evidence of thinking as I read, my eyes opened up to what I needed to work on as I read because I couldn't answer all her questions correctly.

8. Who did I turn to as a support group during my reading journey?

             Being apart of a reading community filled with my AVID peers was really beneficial because, for the first, I was actually able to have an intellectual conversation with people just as into it as I was. Also with other readers, like myself, I could see another trusted perspective on the same or similar book topics and themes.

9.

                                    
He's Just Not That Into You book cover by Chelsea Dagger

Monday, March 2, 2015

I Believe

I believe judgement should be a second look,
though the first look can make it hard to do it again.
I believe it takes one generation to save the next.
I believe almond butter can save lives.
I believe I am a quiet voice in a loud world, which does not make me unheard, unimportant, or inactive.
I believe God loves us unconditionally, but if I kiss a girl I'm going to hell
I believe going to hell is eternal darkness
But with a flick of a switch darkness turns into light
I believe with true love the dark spots filled with pain and anguish in a normal person's heart might be healed.
Unfortunately, the pain I've endured will always stick around,
and so will the joyful memories.
I believe in Family, I believe in blood, I believe in loyalty,
but if you stick around long enough- Hey, Sister. Not because I am easily trusting,
but because I'm done pushing away good people.
I believe ambition is the key to success
I believe goals will increase my lifespan,
and maybe leaving high school sooner will save me.
When I break free, hopefully I'll break a leg, and break records that set new standards for "great."
I believe I am meant to be like Beyoncé, but greater.
Yeah I said it, and I meant it, but in my special way.
Wanting her body and her nose is playful wishing, unless
it's the reason our friends lie paralyzed on the floor next to pill bottles.
I believe confidence would have saved her.
I believe confidence is looking in the mirror and telling myself I am more than Beautiful.
I believe Beauty can happen on all faces even if it takes a second glance.
I believe we are all beautiful in our natural state.
God made us that way.
I believe in God, and if you give me a chance, I'll make your day if you need me. Do you need me?
Do you believe in being real?
I believe opening ourselves up to God can release every tear of despair
I believe God loves me. Not the 1/4 of me or the 9/10 I show my friends, but all of me, all at once.
My mom loves me like God loves me, and will never say goodbye, but that's good because I don't believe in those. Because I don't, when the day it's necessary comes, her heart will ache, and this will cause me pain. Sometimes a burning sensation. Sometimes my heart will throb.
I believe we should appreciate the ones that have stuck by us.
I believe it's hard to show full appreciation as an immature teenager.
I believe everyone who is living a happy life has an immature side.
I believe living life seriously is a mistake,
a mistake I'll never do again. As a matter of fact,
I believe the world should be like Adam and Eve before the sin.
Be Free.
I believe good designers invent, great designers innovate, and only if we spent more time caring for others, we wouldn't have to worry ourselves to sleep caring how others feel about us. 
We would realize our own greatness. 
I believe pugs, both white and black, can make Alexia the happiest girl in the world.
I believe hot dressing and peach cobbler, from Chandler, Texas, is the best meal one could dream of.
I believe in sunny days, funny ways, and dancing for no reason, I believe that someone loves me and they will rescue me from evil, and if you pat me right here, right here in this spot, you will find
close-minded open-mind trying to make sense of the world. 

Friday, February 13, 2015

Response to "As Life Was Five"

  Writing about certain situations in his life and others' life, Jimmy Santiago Baca, through poetry, gives his audience a taste of the culture that surrounded him as a child. In "As Life Was Five" he talks about his innocence being robbed from him in one moment. In one moment he was left with a scaring memory that changed his attitude completely, but eventually led him to a revelation.

 Unlike Baca, I learned about racism not through the way others were treated, but instead through the way I was treated. Although I have never been rejected because of the color of my skin like Baca's grandfather, constantly I receive comments from people of another ethnicity explaining how I'm not like the rest, or from fellow African Americans explaining how I speak white. Because I've dealt with this most of my life I have learned to embrace my differences, like Baca, and to rise six feet higher instead of being struck down two feet lower. Therefore, as I relate to the lines of  "As Life Was Five," some of the same emotions from my own experiences run through my veins.

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Maturing Slowly, but Surely
    Knowing that "[Baca's] heart [was] a wet-feathered bird growing but never able to crack out of the shell," takes me through the mental process of Baca up to "[his] behavior shattering." Step one I see Joy. Step two I see Confusion. Step three I see Comprehension. Finally, step four arrives arrives and we see Flames. Because Baca uses an intense metaphor portraying the heart as weak and uses the action verb, shattering, my emotions were ignited. Shattering was an interesting word choice because, by using that, Baca seemed to change so abruptly.  When glass shatters it is a very quick process, and because they hurt him so badly, I wanted him to  seek revenge. I didn't mind if he hurt innocent people, because like shattered glass, guilty or not guilty, if one grazes the mess they're going to get hurt.  This feeling took me back to a time where I was at the lowest point in my life. I allowed others' judgement to burden me, not only with racist insults, but also beauty and personality insults, and eventually I began to seclude myself away from the people who did me wrong. Showing them my dramatic shift in attitude, I soaked in satire while they sunk from guilt. Through the process of releasing comeuppances on everyone, I realized I wasn't helping myself by becoming the insults they threw at me. As "a song ...[makes] his heart into an eagle," I began to feel like I was finally making progress up a mountain and the weather was clearing up.  My jaw unclenched my grinding teeth. I started to stand up straighter. Now that I could clearly see that I had to embrace my differences in order to rise above, I felt like I was Baca transforming from a bird barely out the egg to a soaring eagle.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Painting emotions on Paper in the Form of Words...(Analysis)





Jimmy Santiago Baca had a very tough life at a young age and faced many challenges, and in his poem "A Daily Joy To be Alive" he reflects on  a lifestyle of trying to grasp one's inner-self by exploring different aspects of life on a daily basis. Baca expresses these ideas by using symbolism as seen in these lines, "I continually find myself in the ruins of new beginnings, uncoiling the rope of my life to descend ever deeper into unknown abysses, tying my heart into a knot." Baca uses the rope to represent a long journey of finding the words to express himself in a subject where there is so much to learn. To further express this struggle Baca uses "light wrestling with darkness, light radiating into darkness", a juxtaposition, to describe the turning point when he breaks free from the scuffle of discovering himself artistically  and  turns his thinking from negative to positive. All in all Baca uses this poem to show us, through symbolism and juxtaposition, the transition he makes from not knowing how to convey his emotions to suddenly breaking free into a clear view where he can see all the possible ways to present his thoughts to the world.





Wednesday, January 14, 2015

#One Little Word

#One Little Word

"I will succeed in anything I set my mind to"...

The quote above is nothing more than a statement, but we can turn it into so much more with a little bit of effort. If we are willing to do EVERYTHING it takes to achieve a goal, we can transform such an insignificant statement into the catalyst that drives us closer to success.  With AMBITION, we naturally pick up every other quality necessary to achieve success. Because ambition is "a strong desire to do or to achieve something", if we truly have ambition initiative, perseverance, and persistence will follow. I've experienced all the pain when there are barriers preventing me from success  and I've also experienced all the gratification after overcoming the barriers when I was only in middle school. Ever since I was un nina, I knew that learning spanish would give me an edge over my competition in any industry I chose to join. Therefor when I was in sixth grade I started a long complicated journey toward being bilingual. As a sixth grader with no friends or family in spanish I had to go through a long process of guessing the meanings of words and attempting to use them correctly. Of course being so young with an undeveloped brain, I made mistakes and even had to face criticism from native spanish speakers who laughed at my incorrect grammar and use of words. Because of my dedication I was able to become bilingual by the time I reached eighth grade.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Helping Myself by Helping Others

When I did community service for the first time I was filled with such a high that left me wanting to tell everyone around me about all the great deeds I accomplished even though it was really just one. Therefore, when I took The Six Human Needs Test I wasn't surprised to see that contribution, at 93%, by far out shot all the rest of my needs including growth at 79%. After seeing my results I began evaluating different aspects to see if my actions really were led by the need to contribute and grow.

After analyzing my reading life, I found that most of the books I have read turn out to be a quest. For example The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, Midwinter Blood by Murcus Sedgwick, and The Notebook  by Nicholas Sparks are all books that appear to have nothing in common, but in reality they share the same ambitious protagonist. Because of my urge to have growth in every area of my life I choose books that have a character willing to give up everything for what they desire. Once I find these books, although I'm really into them, I tend to read a lot slower because of my desire to become a better reader. In other words as I read each sentence find myself over analyzing each sentence for hidden messages to the point of my reading rate being cut in half. I face this problem especially when I'm reading books that involve a character doing their best to provide for the well being of another like in A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

The main character, Mariam, always ends up in a position of trying to please others and when she faces a personal loss she finds herself wanting to please the same person who treats her similar to that of a dog. Because of my need to contribute, like Mariam, I stretch myself in all different direction to please the ones I love and make life a little bit more decent for strangers. I even go as far as attempting to get my friends on board with community service and other events. Also I make the mistake of expecting the ones I love to want to contribute to my happiness like I desire to do for them.


Although growth and Contribution seem to always be a good thing, having those needs can lead to the disruption of a peaceful relationship. I found this out the hard way one year I when I went through all the trouble of throwing a surprise party for my friend although nothing was expected of me, but then when my birthday came around I made the mistake of expecting appreciation for what I did earlier and barely got a "Happy Birthday" the next day.