Halfway Through NYFW, a Sustainable One
Let’s raise a fact that might be a little bit uncomfortable to some of you: not everyone is or is ever going to be an A-list talent. It’s ok, though!
Fashion is a social phenomenon, as well as a mediatic discourse translated into a communal currency. Usually the more affluent a person is, the greater the chances to afford a functional and aesthetically pleasing wardrobe is as well. We can all work our outfits out with what we have, but having a comfortable disposable income is one of the favorite assets that one can present themselves in the fashion industry. Fashion media professionals rarely make more than $80K, which creates a challenge to live at ease in cities like New York, Los Angeles, etc. Their golden currency comes in other ways, though. Some fashion media professionals have the chance to work for media conglomerates that take care of their social image, by giving them prestige and easy access to many entrances and doors in the industry, something that other media talents may never benefit from. Even though I’ve got an extensive list of articles and media connections, I still consider myself one of these talents in the last category. I do freelance, I have means to get by, but I can’t say I’m an A-list, VIP, nor do I feel treated or respected by other peers in this chaotic battlefield made appearances, superficial encounters, and so forth.
We had an intimate gathering at Byas & Leon in Brooklyn for our DIY Moodboard Box event on 9/6. Check out our next events!
But I cracked the code: I do me, unapologetically. It does pay off. In six years being actively exposed to NYFW I can affirm that this season has so far been the most liberating one to me. Not only I felt tangible freedom in scouting, selecting, and attending only shows, parties, and events I really cared about with no pressure or social anxiety, but I also could feel for the very first time a visible sense of community coming to fruition with the team at FOTB and the wonderful supporters of our work. Forever grateful. This season of NYFW has been so far the most sustainable experience ever, not only because majority of our coverage focused on sustainability-oriented brands, but also it has been exquisitely and effortlessly dedicated to meeting new designers, talents, and potential fresh FOTB readers.
A young American-Philippine talent, Nadi from Amihan
As the founder and Editor-In-Chief of a small publication, I constantly find myself in the midst of emotions and feelings when it comes to accepting compliments or having to justify my credentials to enter in certain rooms. In case you don’t know, due to bad timing many times in my life I found myself close to potential pivotal opportunities in the fashion media industry. Whether it was time-consuming paperwork related to immigration that couldn’t be solved as fast as possible or the lack of resources and connections to the industry, I felt many times left alone to my destiny, trying to figure out how to make the most out of my passion for fashion and turn it into a career. Because I didn’t have a clique, a mentor, not I was part of any “It Girl” club, I started showing up for myself. Whether it was out of pettiness or the stereotypical determination of an immigrant woman of color, I began carving a corner in the fashion media continuum. Did I feel cut out? Yes, so I made my way in. Was I noticed? Yes, by a selected few. Will I keep going forward? Surely and steadily, especially when the results are coming in.
This action, once a solo-project, kept attracting more and more people. I knew I wasn’t (I couldn’t!) be alone in an industry that can give you so much and belittle that much as well. FOTB was born out of a necessity, the one of pushing forward a movement focused on making media professionals feel safe, appreciated, and special through their labour of love and passion for fashion, art, beauty, design, music, and other cultural intersections. Your dedicated, educated, and open-minded presence gets you into the A-list, nothing less. An ode to social sustainability, mental wellness, and a healthy self-esteem.
It’s all about the connections and intentions. Sure, I may not be a trendy femme-presenting editor backed up by a colossal media conglomerate, but I do know that my kindness speaks volumes in a loud room full of noisy people. My voice is unique, just list the works of the designers in front of me. So does anyone’s voice that exudes empathy and grace towards the art and value of fashion. Yes, especially my soft voice with an Italian accent, which sometimes seems like the only thing that people remember of me.
