3: A Very Important Source (Also referred to as my bible)

Although my mentorship has been one of my best sources, I can say that my bible has come in a very close second. The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion is one of the greatest books I've ever picked up and I'm not just saying that because I feel like I have to. This book has given me insight on a world that I thought I knew and could have sworn I was familiar , but really didn't know a lot about. This book is a resource for those trying to break into the industry, but have no idea where to get started. It talks about how to be a fashion designer, stylist, model, photographer, etc. It was unlike a lot of my other research because it was enjoyable. Researching isn't always the most entertaining thing to do, but I actually looked forward to cracking this book open. One of the greatest things it taught me was that one does not attend a specific school or follow a certain study, because the possibilities on how to make it big in fashion are pretty much endless. One does not just emerge just ready to be employed. There are common threads of advice and this book serves as a road map for younger people such as myself. The book is a practical reference guide that teaches things like; how to build a portfolio, how to dress for an interview, and how to land the internship of your, uh, dreams. Well, not necessarily the internship of your dreams, but cut the book some slack, it isn't a miracle worker. You have to start somewhere! Referring now to my title, this book was my bible. I thank my parents for having given this to me for Christmas because I don't know where I would have gotten a great majority of my research without it. This is why this book is now my bible. I praise this book for having all the answers I've needed and more.

Exit Interview Questions

1) What is your essential question?  What is the best answer to your question and why?

What is the best way for a fashion designer to achieve a spot in LA Fashion Week?

My best answer is interning because that's where connections are made. It's important to know in the fashion industry that it isn't always what you know, but rather, who you know. If you intern, you're being given the chance to meet others that work in the industry and sometimes if you're fortunate, you'll even meet other designers. Experience as an intern can teach someone things that cannot be learned in design school. It is so critical because it’s all trial and error and it’s first hand experience that someone gains in the process. Interning could help someone become exposed to all levels of the company and become familiar with the processes that are made to achieve creating a fashion line. If you are fortunate enough to intern for anyone, it’s a once in a lifetime experience to be able to work for a designer, even if it means fetching the fashion designer’s cup of coffee in the morning and running around the office making copies of the fitting schedule for this month. In the long run, it pays off. They’ll be quick to remember you and the things you do for them and if they're content with the things you do, they'll move you up gradually.

(2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

I spent lots of hours with my research and my mentorship. I came to the realization from the very beginning that interning was one of the more obvious answers to my EQ. However, just because it was an easy/apparent answer, didn't mean that I couldn't go about it in a smart way. I kept searching for answers through research, but after talking to Pittman about it for a bit, she told me it was okay to state interning as my answer. Little by little, I found more research that helped to back my first and best answer up. 

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

One of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to overcome was finding time to see my mentor because she works the same hours I attend school. It was difficult for me in the very beginning, and even now, to find days where I’m available. However, though difficult, it is not impossible! It has especially been hard having to keep my mentorship there. A lot of people would give anything to have my job. Therefore, I could easily be replaced. I’m also the youngest intern/worker there. I wouldn’t say it was necessarily harder on me, because I would like to think that I’m just as strong-willed and motivated as everyone else in that building, but at times, it has proven difficult to be taken seriously. However, I clearly am working well! I've proven to them that I have strong desire to work in that industry and I have dedication above all else.

Also, it took me a long time to get approved by the offices/company to even work there because of my age and lack of experience. So I was actually told to lie and say that my mentor, Mary Vilchis and I were related and that I would only be there a couple of times. Eventually we'd let it slip that she indeed wasn't my mom and fortunately by that point, they'd already learned my work ethics and decided to keep me there. 

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Fashion is my first significant source and it was my 30th piece of research. This was the book where I got my three answers. My three answers included; interning, sewing/sketching, and knowing how business works/working in retail. In the book, it states that interning was important because it's the best way to ensure success. It also told me the best place to intern is with a smaller label, because you'll become exposed to several levels of the company. You become familiar with the customers, the inspiration behind the designs, and other background of the business. I know of this because this is what I've done so far and what I've achieved with my mentorship. My second significant source was my mentor, Mary Vilchis. She is David Meister's assistant. David Meister is a well-known American fashion designer that is best recognized for his gowns/dresses. My mentor said that when interning, you can learn to view the trends and the industry from the perspective of high-end designers. So using myself as an example,wWorking as an intern, I'm always around clothes. I touch them, see them, try them on, and see others try them on. I pick things up by osmosis. If I'm fortunate enough, they'll keep me around. I start from the bottom of the chain and as time progress, I make my way to the top.

(5) What is your product and why?

My product is what I made for my first independent component. I learned how to sew. So for product presentation, I have something to physically show. I created several articles of clothing. There's a correlation between the component and my essential question because sewing was a part of one of my answers. Although it was a tedious task to sit there for hours and work with my hands, it was a satisfying feeling at the end because of what I had to show for it.  Whereas, before I started this project, I had never picked up a sewing needle. I have this new appreciation for seamstresses that are hired by fashion designers and designers who make their own clothes. With my product, I can go on and say I'm more experienced than a number of other people my age that want to one day enter the fashion industry. 

2: A Day At The Office

The last time I'd gone to do mentorship house, I was asked to "bag dresses", meaning I just had to put dresses in these fancy bags that would later be picked up and shipped out to stores. Believe me, it isn't as easy as it sounds. I bagged a total of 200 dresses/gowns and it took me a total of three and a half hours to do just that. So you can just imagine how tedious the task is. At the time, it didn't seem like a great task to do, but since I'm only allowed to do so much at the office, I wasn't going to complain. I'm not even going to lie, my arms were killing me the rest of the day and the day that followed. However, I was told just today by my mentor that these dresses were some of the ones I'd bagged. My fingers made contact with dresses/gowns worth more than my closet. Of course I was incredibly careful and I already knew that these weren't cheap, but these were expensive. Since they're from the signature collection, they're worth quite a pretty penny.

 Today, we also got some new fabric samples in. There weren't many, but I felt like a child opening up gifts on Christmas morning. Although it was just a box of scraps of fabrics, these were new possible fabrics that would be used for the next collection they would be working on. As much as I would love to post some of the example fabrics, I can't because they're "in the works" and I'm very limited on what I can and cannot post.

We also watched an ad for something for the website and me along with everyone else in the office spent more than fifteen minutes trying to guess whether or not "slenderizing" was a word. Indeed, it is a real word. After I confirmed that it was a real word, I was offered a donut. I was incredibly excited about that donut (and the cool cow print napkin they sat it on), so I posted a picture of it. 

All in all, today was a rather eventful day and I was incredibly proud of myself because I spent a great deal of it communicating 

with those in the office and I'm not typically one to speak. I was even 

congratulated for my work ethics today because I was socializing 

and I finished double the amount of work I typically do in less time.

2014 Interview

1.  Who did you interview and what house are they in?
Lizzeth Acuna, East House

2.  What ideas do you have for your senior project and why?
"For my senior project I'm planning on doing it on either karate or cake decorating. The reason why I want to do it on karate because I'm a black belt and I'm pretty sure I'm knowledgeable enough to even be able to pull off the project. I also have a mentor for this already. I'm also considering on doing my project on cake decorating/ baking because I'm not too terrible at it and I know a few people that could mentor me." 

This immediately got me thinking that she could/should go see Rene's presentation and/or JD's. Rene's because he's doing Karate and JD because he's doing Pastry Arts and both of those express similarities/are identical to what she has in mind for her own project. 
3.  What do you plan to do for your summer 10 hour mentorship experience?

"For my summer mentorship hours I'm planning on going to my karate class and simply teaching the class. I've already spoken with the teacher and he's okay with it. Also, worst case scenario, I can just go assist a cake decorating instructor while they're teaching class. "

4.  What do you hope to see or expect to see in watching the 2013 2-hour presentations?
"Well, I just hope to get some ideas for my senior project because to be perfectly honest I really haven't given it much thought yet. Also, I'm just hoping to see what type of things I could do for my own senior presentation." 

5.  What questions do you have that I can answer about senior year or senior project?

"Well, one question I've always had about senior year is how hard is it to survive it? Also, are there any pointers on how to survive because I'm really worried because there come times when my middle name is procrastination." 

To which I responded with, "Senior year was one of the toughest years for me simply because senior year is all on you. You may have help from teachers and mentors, but besides that, it's a one man show. By that I mean, you pretty much set aside major group projects (which is weird and something we're clearly not used to here at iPoly.) However, just meet the deadlines and you'll be fine. Unfortunately, I myself am a huge procrastinator and that's a majority of the reason I spent so much of this year stressing out. If I could give any tips, I'd say just make sure whatever you end up choosing as your topic, make sure you love it and you're passionate about it. Keep up with research and don't be afraid to talk to your mentor because they're there to help and everything should come pretty naturally and easily. Hope that helps!"

Blog 22: Final 3-Column Chart

Click here to view my 3-Column Chart!

1: Mentorship

As of right now, I have a total of 34 hours completed (not including the ten hours I did this summer) and my mentorship/internship with David Meister will soon be ending. I'm incredibly happy with what I've completed so far. I've had the opportunity to work with plenty of incredible people that I wouldn't have known otherwise and for that, I am grateful. Although this experience is in a sense, supposed to be seen as work, I consider this just doing something I love. It seems with every time I go in, I'm trusted more and more. Who else would trust an eighteen-year-old high school student with gowns that costs more than my closet individually?

Anyway, here's a really recent photo of some of the newest gowns added to the David Meister collection. These are dresses that are going to be used for celebrities for upcoming events. This is also the same rack that once held dresses that were worn to the Oscars just a few months ago. At this current moment, I'm not sure where these dresses are going to be worn to, but I'm certain I'll be told soon.

Now this photo is just about 1/4 of the binders that hold designs. This is typically my "usual". The task I'm asked to do most often is look through, file, and just organize these binders in a specific order. These binders contain cost sheets. Cost sheets are sheets in which show the design and how much the design is worth and how much it'll cost to put together. Cost sheets are important because when someone needs to look back at a design/sketch or details that went into making it, they look at the cost sheets. They're put in alphabetical and numerical order.Whenever one cost sheet is out of place, I'm typically to blame. 

Independent Component 2

Literal:

(a)  I, Arista De la Riva, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.

(b) The source that helped me complete my independent component was my grandmother, Aurora De la Riva. She taught me how to sew and she taught me .
(c) Log for 30 hours. Click here.
(d) I sewed/made several articles of clothing (I may even wear one for my 2-hour presentation) throughout my Independent Component. 

Interpretive:

From the very start of this component I had one goal in mind: to create a "spring/summer" fashion collection with my grandmother. I, along with some help from her, created three articles of clothing that had a significant theme to follow. I represented this collection with brighter and more fun fabrics. I created a color blocking dress, a fun printed dress, and even a beach cover up (something to wear over a bathing suit at the beach). It is stated in Fashion Now, "The reason Fashion Week is so important is because it's a chance for labels to showcase their new collections, for example Fashion Week in LA takes place in March and the collections usually consist of a spring/summer vibe." My essential question also happens to relate to Fashion Week and I feel my 30 hours completed represent what a designer needs to have in order to attend Fashion Week. In the end, I created three things I'm proud of and wouldn't mind wearing (which I didn't think was possible). 

Applied:

The IC helped me realize/come across a better answer. If it isn't too late, I definitely would like to change my answer My EQ is, What is the best way for a fashion designer to achieve a spot in LA Fashion Week? My answers are currently: interning, having a background in business and working in retail. I might want to consider changing "having a background in business" to "knowing how to bring a design to life" or something along those lines. I do believe that knowing how to sew is critical because you could have the most creative mind in the world and have a bunch of clever ideas, but if you can't create these images you have, you have nothing. So, though it may be important to be able to sketch a design, it is just as important, if not more important to know how to physically create the product.