During the first week of August, I got an email from the Dressline designer at Tahari saying that she was looking for an assistant and I was recommended by 2 women. One woman was the one I interned for in the knitswear team. The other was one that I helped out from time to time. If the knitwear team didn't have stuff for me to do, I'd go by her office area and ask her assistant if she needed help. I honestly didn't even know she noticed me. I was so humbled that she recommended me. So the designer asked me to come in that day. I rushed home, got dressed, grabbed my portfolio and went. The interview went great. She mentioned that she loved my artwork and told me that I came highly recommended. I was, again, amazed that this. So things went great and they kind of offered me the job. We spent a night working out details and I officially accepted the position of assistant designer the next morning at 9am. They asked me to start right away. Like, at 10am.
It's been a few months and there's been so many changes. The designer that hired me was moved to another team and a new design director was hired after me. Lindsay, the other assistant that was hired the same day as me, and I have been working like there's no tomorrow. We've been in on Saturday. Our average day ends at 7pm. Its been nothing short of insane. Our next collection is due in about a week and the pressure is on. Not only is this Lindsay and my first collection with Tahari but its also the design director's first collection with the company. We're all feeling the pressure. Its been a transition working the way we do now. Usually, there's a design director, a designer and assistant designers. We don't have a designer. So Lindsay and I have been working our duties and supporting the design director as best we can. Most days, we rush around like crazy, inhale lunch at our desks, go home at night with work on our brains, fall asleep and start the same thing next day. Its amazing, though, how Lindsay and I mesh. She's 20. I'm 29. I was a bit nervous about her work ethic, her commitment and her maturity when we first started. Boy, was I over-worrying. She is insanely hard-working. Her perspective on life as a 20 year old is different and is refreshing at times, in comparison to mine. We work so well together. She deals with my crazy like a pro. I'm so crazy about her and don't think I could have done this without her.
Since we started, we've had to hire interns. This was weird for me because I was an intern, like, yesterday. I was amazed at how people treat internships. One intern came to the interview in jeans and a low cut top. People would email me, I would reply and they wouldn't reply. Linds and I were so hungry for more as interns, we were amazed that everyone isn't like us. We lost one intern already because she thought she could be flexible with her days and she was always late with no reason and had to leave early. She also had a bad attitude. The truth is, interns do grubby stuff sometimes. Linds and I still do grubby stuff. Fashion is not glamourous. You have to love it. She clearly had misguided ideas about interning. She said she felt she plateaued at the company after 3 weeks. Linds and I could not get over that statement. We lucked out with our other intern, though. She is amazeballs. We hired another girl on Friday and she seems very enthusiastic.
On Friday, we were moved into a temporary office space until a new office is built for us, so we can be with the design director. But I wish that new office never gets finished. We've been put into the conference room and it is amazeballs. We work on a glass table. The lighting is so amazing and one wall is made of glass with a ridic view of Bryant Park. We are obsessed with the new office space and cannot believe our good luck. It makes such a difference working with a view and seeing some green.
I've also been working 2 jobs. I'm at my old job part-time because I'm entry-level at Tahari and couldn't demand a comfortable salary. I actually agreed to start with less than I was making at my old job. With no fashion experience, though, this is understandable and expected. In order to make ends meet, I work nights and weekends at AHRC. I am past burnt out and don't see how I can do this for another year or so but G-d is good. I try to take Sundays off and rest but every Saturday, I feel the burn out intensely. I miss my friends and my significant other. Sometimes, when I hang out with him, I feel like I should be home, catching up on sleep or spending time with Gangsta or cleaning. I've taken to having my laundry done because I don't have the time. I always wanted to do my own laundry. G-d is good, though. I can't see 2 steps in front of me but He has shown me that He has things worked out for me. I just forget to trust and I worry.
It's a bit mind-blowing, though, that my dream is coming true. 3 years ago, I was told I wasn't accepted into FIT and I thought that was it for me. Now, I'm working as a part of a design team, making clothes.
Sometimes, I take a step back and am just amazed by it all.
Never give up on your dreams. It'll come, through hard work and perseverance.