Starting Work on an accessory collection for an Italian Contest- due in 3 weeks yikes!

GOD HELP ME!

AND THE WINNER IS...

AND THE WINNER IS ….

By: Trisha Petrovich

Competition.  It brings out the best and worst in us.  From dramatic catfights on “Project Runway” to Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley duking it out on fight night in Las Vegas.   Sometimes it’s a necessary for us to get our hands a little dirty on the rise to the top. Often, competition is a matter of survival.  It seams that competition has become a natural part of today’s world.  We viciously compete for jobs, status, and the attention of the opposite sex.  Many sane people find the thought of competition overwhelming, and they place themselves in positions that requires them to be internally challenged, avoiding unnecessary conflicts whenever possible.

For example, my dear friend Julia.  Julia is at the top of her class in the Sociology Masters program at a Large Canadian University.  She is currently writing her theses and is a foundering member on the Committee of Canadian Genocide Scholars.  She is by far one of the most intelligent and hardworking individuals that I know.  Any time competition between her peers or faculty members rears its ugly head, she focuses on bettering herself and progressing in her own scholastic efforts.  She often tells me stories about fellow academics that openly engage in competitive behaviors, and I am consistently dumbfounded by her ability to walk away and challenge herself instead of them.  She is purely driven by her own measure of success, and never motivated by competition, and although I do not understand this, I greatly admire it. 

 I am the opposite of Julia.  I look for competition like a heat seeking missile.  Perhaps this is why I have chosen to be part of the extremely competitive world known as the fashion industry.  I often wonder if it is the field I have chosen that makes me competitive, or my naturally competitive nature that helped me choose my field.  Many cautioned me that “fashion is a very competitive industry”, which only made me more determined to be successful.

To say one is competitive does not mean that they always win, and sometimes competition can consume you to the point of losing focus on the task at hand.   During University I was selected to submit clothing designs to a competition, a competition that shall remain nameless.  I poured my heart and soul into my designs, and was certain that their innovation would surly secure my place as a top finalist.  I was wrong.  I didn’t even make it past the first cut.  I raged about this for months, desperately wishing I could destroy the competition, and so angry with myself for loosing.  But I got back up.  Only to be passed over for every award that was given out that year.  That one hurt.  But I kept going, assured that the world outside of University politics and competitions would be kinder to my talent.   Again, I was wrong.  Over the course of 4 months I applied for every single job I could.  I sent out “hail Mary” Cover letters in the hopes of just getting a call.  And I did. In fact I attended many interviews.  Possibly the worst interviews of my life.  I had lost my mojo. “BUT I ALWAYS GET THE JOB!!” I thought to myself.  “I NEVER stutter and sweat in interviews!  I KNOW all the right answers.”  It was clear to me at that point that something had eaten away at my confidence. I felt defeated. Fractured! Broken!   I waved a big white flag (and a certain finger) to the world and retreated to my small basement studio.  I was fortunate enough to get freelance technical design contracts from a wonderful company.  I worked quietly from home.  This was my way of avoiding the competition, rejection, and my unrequited love for Fashion.   I was crushed by the industry ,that I was so sure would embrace me.  I listened to a lot of Adele during this time, and often found myself face deep in a bag of cookies while singing “Rollin’ in the Deep”.  And when that stopped making my feel better, I ran!  All the way back to Winnipeg, Manitoba, my hometown.  My friends and family, and sometimes strangers, showered me with praise.  They were so proud of me for graduating from fashion school, being featured in Vancouver Fashion E-zine, for all of my designs they had seen on my Blog and various publications.  People I hadn’t seen for years told me that they followed my fashion blog, and how proud they were of me.  Even quoting things I had made reference to, and asking me where they could buy my designs. In a true testament to my competitive nature, I thought to myself “how could they be impressed by this?  I haven’t WON anything and I blew my interview for my favorite Canadian label!”  Then my older sister gave me five words that slapped me in the face: “You’re too hard on yourself!”  Perhaps the value I placed on competition had made me numb to my own success.  But I still wasn’t ready to climb out of the hole where Adele played on repeat.  

I few days before I was scheduled to return to Vancouver, I noticed in my facebook news feed that a girl from Winnipeg had won a modeling competition, and was selected to be the new “face” of Front Row Society, an accessory company out of Berlin.   I was so jealous I could have burst into flames.  “If only I had entered surly I would have won” Delusional competitive thoughts from someone on a two month cookie binge who has neither the height, body, nor experience to be a model.  Fueled my self loathing, I investigated the Front Row Society website, and discovered that they were hosting an international design challenge.  The winner would be displayed in an ethical fashion show during London Fashion Week, receive prize money and have their line of bags produced, entries were due in two days.    I closed my computer and sat there for a moment.  Recalling the feeling of rejection I had only a few months before.  Conflicted by my desire to compete, I consulted with an old friend. Mr. Jay-Z. We had been through so much together, and before Adele was in the picture, he helped pump me up in the most difficult of times.  It’s seemed only appropriate that I search for meaning in the 2003 Classic- 99 Problems.  And there it was “I got two choices- you'll pull over the car OR-Bounce on the devil, put the pedal to the floor” And although he was clearly talking about avoiding the police, I interpreted as “I can take this lying down, or I can compete”.  So that’s what I did.  I didn’t sleep for two days, rushing to finish my designs.  I managed to finish a few hours into the due date.   Exhausted, I pulled up the online submission form and pressed “Submit”.  But something was wrong.  I received a notice that submissions were closed.  “But HOW CAN THIS BE, I’M ON TIME !?!” And then it occurred to me that the company was out of Berlin, which is eight hours ahead.  The deadline had passed, and it was already the next day in Berlin.  That was it, it was over.  Once again, all of my hard work had amounted to nothing.  NO!  NOT THIS TIME.   In a panic I got contact information for the person in charge of the competition.  I emailed her inquiring about the submission cut off, and pleaded with her to allow me to submit.  I didn’t sleep that night either.  In the morning I opened my computer to she that she had replied.  Due to the time difference, she was going to accept my designs.  And then I waited.  And watched.  Until one day there it was, my designs had made it onto the short list of garments selected for the online voting stage.  As I watched my designs slowly surpass the other competitors in the online polls I felt cautiously proud.  For two weeks I watched the polls religiously, well ahead of the other designs.  Then on the day the online voting was to be closed, one of the other designs jumped past me by .02 of a point.  I was sunk.  “But wait” I said to myself “there is still a judges panel if I make it to the ethical fashion show during London Fashion Week”

I knew that feeling.  It was blind hope with a little sprinkle of desperation.  It’s the feeling every Oscar loser had the second after their name wasn’t called, hoping that there was a mistake, that the presenter said the wrong name.  I know that feeling. 

I decided to put the whole thing behind me, crawl back into my hole and move on.   When suddenly I got an email.  It was from Front Row Society.  They informed me that my designs would be displayed during London Fashion Week and voted on by a panel of judges.  And suddenly there was hope.  I certainly would not win the competition, but I was so happy to have made it that far.  All the way across the world.  It was a lovely feeling. 

I was doing my morning facebook patrol when I noticed something funny.  I had a new email from Front Row Society.  I opened it and read the following: Congratulations Trisha! FRS is proud to announce YOU are the winner of our “The World Around Us” design challenge with Toxic Beauty! Your design captured the attention of the judging panel at the London Fashion Week and we’re so glad their votes matched our choice. Well done!”

I continued to read on about what I had won, and all the places my design was going to be publicized.  I read about the video they were going to make about my story, the labels with my name as the designer, the coverage that this competition was going to receive. 

I closed my computer and sat there for a moment.

After listening to “Eye of the Tiger” on repeat for 3 hours, it dawned on me.  This is why I am a designer.  This is why I am a competitor.  This is what it feels like to win.  

So I'm at a bar for the first time in my life that reminds me of home. Im waiting for someone to offer me honey dill which by the way , no one in BC has. How hard is it to put mayo and dill in a food processor ?

And the winner is....

Hi Friends. I've entered a design contest and two of my designs made it through to the short list of designs that are being voted on. The prize is a showing at London Fashion Week and to have a bag collection Produced. This particular contest focusses on raising awareness of eco-concious textile production. I'm assuming if you are read this blog you know how awesome this would be for me. PLEASE take a few seconds to go online and score my designs- They are called "Toxic Beauty" and "What Are We Made Of" THANKS WISH ME LUCK! http://www.frontrowsociety.com/boutique/modules/contest/contest-detail.php?c_id=622&id=36

It's like a heatwave

In these tumultuously heated times, one can only anticipate how discomforting and unnecessary putting together an outfit can be. Sometimes, you just wanna throw on an old 'fruit of the loom' tank and flips flops and be done with it. But come on party people, we can do better than that. Here is my oh so gorgeous buddy Emily. I put together some of these outfits (did not take long mind you) keeping at the forefront, the fact that it is 49 degrees here in Toronto. They're breezy, lightweight pieces. And even just adding a flashy hat or a crochet sweater to an all too casual outfit can give life to your look without compromising anything. We all know the benefits to a hat on a sunny day, and the crochet can let good old oxygen dance on in, everyone wins!

till we meet again, 
Skye

Hey Stinky: Shave Your Arm Pits!

Thought of the day:  If you are one of those people who choose not to shave your arm pits, don't also be one of those people who refuse to wear deodorant !  JUST SAYIN'!

Okay I know we live in progressive times, when woman no longer need to fit into a sterotypical ideal of what the world wants them to be.  And I truly feel that this is a great time to be a Woman.  Glass cealings are being smashed every day by pioneers in fashion, science, politics and so on.  But in this progression I feel have we lost some gender rules that should be reinstated.  Like SHAVING YOUR GOD DAMN ARMPITS!   Out here on the West cost it seems to be widely acceptable to grow a bush under your arms, and that is something I can just not get down with. 

 Once upon a time in m life, I too rocked crochet tops and patcholli, listend to Janis Joplin and ate mushrooms for breakfast.  But I drew the line at excessive, stinky, unsighly body hair.  Here are a few woman that should also draw that line......

AND AS FOR ME:  I'M Back in Action!

IN OTHER NEWS, Yesterday I signed my first legal contract as a freelance designer.  I'm going to be creating Tech Packs for a company that develops collections for major labels- AND according to the contract- that's about all I can tell you.  I must say it was a little intimidating.  I defiantly translated some of the complex lingo in google.
I'm starting to feel like I might be one of the lucky ones.  Like I might be able to make this whole fashion thing work as a career.  The other day someone even described me as "Driven".  DRIVEN?  Really? ME?  I guess I never really saw myself that way.  When you have a clear picture of what you want out of life, you gravitate toward it with ease.  When that picture becomes foggy, like it has over the past year, it starts to feel like a struggle.  So, yeah, I guess you could say I'm driven. But mostly driven by the fact that I have absolutely NO back up plan if this doesn't work out.  Well I guess I could always give Medicine a shot!

A Big Huge Wiener and Back Lane Graffiti

Wow I can not believe how many people have viewed my blog in the last few days.  Pretty Cool! OH and THANK YOU!  

I stayed home sick from work today and I feel like a bag of trash.  That being said I can't really think of anything worthy to write, so look at these pics and I'll see you tomorrow!  

Honesty this could have read: "I love Kung-Fu"-Bruce Lee- and I still would have found some sort of meaning in it because it's from Bruce Lee.

A Little Back-Lane art.  This space was so small I don't know how people got back there to paint it.  Amazing.  

More Street Wisdom

 This Guy makes me feel Equally scared and happy.  And a little hungry.

This is taken through a giant hunk of metal sits on the corner of Granville and Georgia.  I'm not sure what it is, but I'm sure it's some sort of west coast expresionist art.  Hobo's like to sit on it. 

Does anyone remember Alex Mac?  It looks like the blob she used to turn into on that show!

For those of you living under a big giant rock.... When Vancouver lost the Stanley cup, all hell broke loose on this corner.  After the volunteers boarded up the giant shop windows.  People began writing messages of peace, love, and unity on the sheets of wood.  One clever person even wrote "First Riots-Now Graffiti??? Get it together Vancouver !!!!

This older lady is still keeping it gangster with a broken arm.  Although the botox doesn't allow you to see it- She's actually smiling right now!

Bad Tattoos and LOUIS VUITTON in the Streets of Vancouver

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NO NO TO CAMEL TOE

This post is not going to be deep, or smart, or enlightened.  This is a few thoughts on- YEP- CAMEL TOE! THAT'S RIGHT- THE DREADED CAMEL TOE.

This topic crossed my mind as I watched an attractive young lady cross the street wearing an interesting pair of trousers.  By interesting, I mean that it look as though her lady parts were eating the fly of her pants.   Not to long ago one of my male friends, who's opinion I respect very much, informed me that some camel toe is sexy.  He said that it is comparable to a girl seeing a "nicely formed outline" on a guy.                           HOLD UP- WHAT?????  Because I think it's more comparable to seeing a guy rocking a greasy mullet and beat up Brooks runners! Here is what is wrong with camel toe:

IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT!

HEY YOU!- YEAH YOU - LOOK AT MY EARRINGS! (Day 4)

Don't have much time today.  But check out these sweet earrings I made from recycled leather.  Just finished a little collection for a potential buyer out here.  I'll be sure to throw up some pics later on.

Thought Of the Day:  Leggings ARE pants.  I know this because I am currently wearing a jumper that is so short, that if I was not wearing leggings you would see my bum.  There for Leggings ARE pants!

Day 3

So yesterday was awesome.  I started doing some graphic design and today I will be taking to the streets to snap some pics of street fashion, for 51 Cities, a magazine I'm going to be contributing to.  "Street Fashion" is a strange thing in Vancouver.  For Women, you have the young that look old and the old that look young.  20 something girls with polyester novelty print blouses tucked into highwaisted (sometimes camel-toe accentuating) tope pants, with huge clip on bejeweled earrings.  And then the hip, wife of a business tycoon, type.  These ladies might be stoked about the way they look, but you would never be able to tell becuse the botox is ristricting all facial movment.  No Disrespect to Botox ( See you in a few years Mr. Botox Needle)   And then we have the men.  Oh the men.  Let me say this- I come from Winnipeg- where the only time you see this many men is suits, is if your standing outside of a courthouse!  And there is simply nothing better than a man in a well made suit.

I will be posting pics from my rainy day street adventures so stay tuned!

Peace- Thank You for sharing my day with me!