Once Upon a Dream and More

I like to work with my hands. I am not saying that I am good with them, but I do not think that matters a lot. It is something that slows down time and forces me to be mentally present, a luxury that I consider precious in a world that needs me to keep up with its fast pace. Let me to tell you a story about the one passion that has been with me since my earliest memory, one that I know will follow me till the end of time.

Once upon a time, a little girl spent her time watching every fashion show and reading every fashion magazine she could lay her eyes on. She wanted to be a part of that world, making those beautiful clothes come to life through her hands. Born in a third-world country that only valued careers in Law, Medicine, and Engineering, an interest in fashion was nothing more than a pipedream. But what does a 5-year-old know about pipedreams?

The 5-year-old begging for sewing classes was told, "it is just a hobby, and it will pass."

The 12-year-old hoping that time would have made a difference, was told, "There is no time, and I know you will not follow through. Just study and stay on top of your class".

The 16-year-old, now a college freshman, was told, "it is not a good choice for a career. Study a different major, and when you are older, you can go back to school on your own dime." 11 years and different varieties of no, but still the same pipedream.

The 19-year-old girl, graduating with a bachelor's in Chemical Engineering, was gifted a sewing machine. Finally, there was a little light in the tunnel, a beautiful treasure to play with. Finally, the journey could start. She searched for jobs in her field, and with her spare time, she learned what each button did, practiced how to control the pedals, obsessively watched YouTube tutorials, and made her first creation, a mini skirt made from recycled fabric that was way too short for anyone. It was not the best skirt, but the feeling of happiness and content is something she will never forget. She finally did it. She finally made something.

Time passed by, and a year later, she was using every spare change for classes at a small shop in Downtown Dallas. She was always trying to make something with the patterns in the stores, always sketching things she saw in her head and saving them for the future when she could sew, always enjoying every moment. Now this pipedream had become a necessary escape from reality. A flight that she craves more with age, even in the present.

The pandemic was a time of nothing but anxiety, and I took the leap of faith and registered at an actual college. I loved learning how to properly use a machine, how to finish a garment, how to install zippers, things that I just could not pick up from the internet. Every day I drove to class, I always did a little dance in my car, sometimes hopping to class, and always having the cheesiest smile under my mask. It was always the highlight of my week to learn something new about sewing. I was finally taking proper classes, and it only took 18 years.

Two months ago, I made these beautiful Linen shorts in the absolute softest linen. This was the first item I ever made from start to finish that fits like It should. I used the same machine I was gifted, and every time I moved my scissors through fabric, it felt like my fairy godmother had finally waved her wand, and time paused for me to live and enjoy the moment.

My creativity is inspired by things I come across going through life daily like the color of a car, a stranger’s scarf, a sunset. I also live for street style outfits on Pinterest. Sometimes I am inspired but places I need to go and the exact dress I would love to wear but can’t find online. It starts with a color, or tiny detail, and blossoms into a gorgeous outfit on my sketchbook.

I still do not know how to make patterns, but I have joined a cheaper online university with loads and loads of videos as it is a more affordable option than college. I am able to sew once or twice a month with my schedule, and I always look forward to it. My pipedream remains strong, and I hope to eventually be a part of the fashion world, providing sustainable options to consumers.

There is not yet a happy ending to this story, and I do not know that there will ever be one, but I have grown from a 5-year-old making embroidery on Handkerchiefs to a 23-year-old making Linen shorts.

I might be a jack of all trades, but this is the one trade I hope I will master, and I will live every day looking forward to what my tools and I will make next.