I always find myself flattered to be asked this question. It usually comes from a family member or friend who knows me really well, and they genuinely want to know what I have been up to. My mind usually jumps to the most obvious answer which is the last thing I fixed or altered. Right before getting to college, I took the zipper out of a hand-me-down sequin top, and added ribbon ties at the back so that it would fit me better. I also turned a long blue cocktail dress into a short one, and I am in the process of adding sequins to the bodice. What started off as a too-big dress from Target turned into a properly fitting dress that I am bedazzling. 

Before these little projects, the last thing I sewed was a maroon-colored satin dress that I actually got to walk down the runway in. A local museum was hosting a teen fashion show, so I applied, and they accepted my design. I spent days at the beginning of the summer perfecting my design so I could show it off to my friends and family. It was one of the coolest experiences ever to be able to make my own design from start to finish and strut it down the catwalk. I also spent a lot of time during my senior year of high school creating a fashion portfolio to submit to a few schools. I basically made about five original pieces and photographed them in the span on Thanksgiving break in my senior year. It was the fastest I have ever designed and sewed, but it was so worth it. Even though I didn’t end up pursuing fashion as a major, it was a really good exercise for me to build a portfolio. I even won a Scholastic Art award for my portfolio as a whole which was an amazing recognition to receive. It really solidified design as a future option for me. 

Normally when people ask me this question, they are asking about my actual passion for fashion design and want to know if I have continued with it. I started sewing around eight years old, and took fashion design classes for years after that. I even got to walk those designs down the catwalk at a very young age. Just picture a little ten-year-old diva outfitted in a reversible flamingo-patterned dress and that about sums up how glamorous I was. Throughout the years, I invited people to come see my designs, but after middle school and Covid, I became less interested in sewing. Many people around me find it surprising or interesting that I do fashion design, so they are always very curious to know if I am still pursuing it. I find myself pleasantly surprised when I get asked this question. Not just because I like that people know that about me and associate me with fashion, but because it forces me to consider how I can incorporate more sewing in my life. It makes me wonder how I could be doing more. Every time somebody asks me this question, especially if I haven’t sewed for a while, it makes me think I should get back to the drawing board and work on new designs. I often get really busy with school, and I am forced to put my passion on the backburner temporarily. Between my schoolwork and extracurriculars (besides fashion), it is often impossible to make time for it. Even as I am sitting here writing this right now, I realized that a few weeks ago I had planned to make time to sketch some designs, but that never happened. By asking this question, it pushes me to analyze my life and think about the things I really want to be doing, such as fashion design. Sometimes even in answering their questions about my latest designs, I begin to think of new ones as the conversation continues. Once I get that first spark of inspiration, it’s impossible to put it out. In a way, the question answers itself because it immediately gives me new ideas to tell my loved ones about the next time they ask. “What are you making next?” you might ask. Well, my hope is to finally find time for that sketching and get to work on my Halloween costume. Hopefully next time somebody asks after my sewing progress, I have pictures of a new costume to show them. I hope that as I get asked this question throughout the rest of my life, my designs will get better and better, and I will have more and more time to do what I love.