I’m an optimist. It has served me well over the course of my life and for the most part I’ve watched even the most distressing situations happily resolve. I had a rocky childhood, so I expect flying monkeys and bad witches as they go with the territory of a life well lived.
Making something out of nothing is never easy. We just got delivery of our latest production of Ocean SF signature jackets. It was a difficult six weeks full of countless obstacles. My background is in banking and technology. The garment industry is not tech. Tech is full of engineers and people who do what they say they will do. Banking is full of accountants and MBA’s and they follow very specific guidelines and procedures. The fashion industry is full of creative people who do things in their own way and on their own schedule. This was a steep learning curve for me and not one that I enjoyed. Plus, it was also ridiculously costly. I’ll write more about this in my next book on the topic of building a brand.
Fortunately, my business partner is a man of equanimity. He’s a glass half full sort of person and he has taken all of this with his typical brand of unperturbed calmness and self-confident assurance. I am on the other hand a perfectionist and stress over every stray thread on each and every jacket. I guess this is what makes a good partnership. As the designer every thing matters to me, and I want the end product to look exactly like the vision that is in my mind, and I mean exactly.
In technology it is typical to expect every shipment to be exact. If there are flaws they are fixed and the software can be downloaded again or reshipped. Clothing is a different beast. A sewn garment can’t be un-sewn. Additionally, this is my company, not a company I am working for. As an entrepreneur it’s best to expect flying monkeys and bad witches as nothing worth doing comes easy. Our next production run is moving to San Fransisco where I can stand over the seamsters while they sew. I can’t wait.
Love and blessings to all.
Sydney 