A Journey into Textiles—The Fabric of My Life
In the early days of my life, the world of textiles wasn't just something I observed—it was a world I was immersed in, thanks to my mother and aunts. My mother was the first to introduce me to the tactile joy of fabric. I was just seven years old when she taught me how to make my first apron. It wasn’t just a simple project; it was my first foray into the rich, textured world of fabrics. As my small hands worked with the cotton, I felt a connection to something greater than myself—a legacy of craftsmanship and care.
From that moment on, fabric wasn’t just material; it was a medium for expression. I moved on to café curtains, and then to stuffed animals, each project introducing me to different textures and colors. Cotton was a staple—its softness and durability a constant in my early creations. But it wasn’t just cotton. I also encountered denim, brocade, silk, and pure virgin wool—each with its own unique qualities and challenges. These fabrics were more than just materials; they were the threads that connected me to a world of creativity and tradition.
My aunts played a crucial role as well. In our family, understanding textiles was as essential as knowing how to carry oneself in society. They taught me not just how to dress, but how to appreciate the fabric that made up our clothes. They showed me how the right fabric could elevate an outfit, how texture and color could convey mood and status. Through them, I learned that dressing well was an art form, and that fabric was the canvas.
As I grew, so did my awareness of the shifting landscape of textiles. The marketplace began to change, and with it, the fabrics available to us. Where once there was pure cotton or virgin wool, now there are blends—combinations of materials that didn’t always match the quality of what I’d known. My eyes and hands, trained from years of experience, could easily discern the difference. I found myself increasingly drawn to the better-quality textiles, those that still held the weight and texture of the fabrics I grew up with.
This early immersion in the world of textiles shaped my approach to fashion and quality. It wasn’t just about what looked good, but about what felt right, what had substance. As I moved into the fields of Public Relations, Marketing, and Communications, my desire to convey the importance of quality only grew. I wanted to communicate not just the 5 W’s—who, what, where, when, why—but also the how: how a fabric feels, how it drapes, how it connects us to a legacy of craftsmanship and care.
My audience, I knew, would be those who felt the same pull towards quality, those who gravitate towards certain items without fully understanding why. Through my reflections, I hope to shed light on that ‘why’—to reveal the threads that connect us to the fabrics we wear and the deeper meanings they carry. This is the beginning of our journey into textiles—a journey that begins with the fabric of my life.