Collection with Shein

Hello Everyone,

It has been a minute since I’ve talked to you all. I’ve been very busy. I’ve had some good and bad days, but I have to say everything is getting better. To catch you all up, I’ve had several interviews with local magazines, and I’ve been freelancing again (working on two projects). I was also commissioned to create artwork for afghans. They are still selling.

So, the reason for this post. Yesterday, I received the best news ever! My collection for Shein X was live! I had been working on this collection with them since May, and I’m so excited that it is available for you all to purchase. Here is the link: https://us.shein.com/designer/10000178.

I was scrolling through Facebook earlier today and saw the Shein-sponsored ad on my feed. I was so happy when I saw this in the feed

I’ve been getting great reviews on it, and people have been purchasing. I really hope you all love this collection as much as I loved creating it. I’m so happy about this accomplishment.

Until Next Time!

Cartier and Islamic Art

Hello All,

On Thursday (September 8) , I took my class to the Dallas Museum of Art to see the Cartier and Islamic Art exhibition. As a lover of art and jewelry, this caught my attention. In addition, I’m also inspired by the art and patterns of other cultures, so I really wanted to see this exhibition.

I was very impressed with this exhibition. The jewelry was beautiful, the artwork and garments were gorgeous, and I loved how they showed the concepts of each piece. Here are some of the pieces.

One thing I found hilarous was how fast my fashion merchandising students were looking at the pieces, and how my fashion design students were studying each piece. Everything was beautiful. Afterwards, we saw the Keir Collection of Islamic Art.

After viewing the collection, I can say that a lot of dinnerware was inspired by Islamic Art because a lot of these pieces were on our tables!

Afterwards, I toured some of the other artwork, like the American artwork collections. My favorite was the silver.

Then, I toured the African Art collection (I was excited to tour this collection).

The last collection I toured was the China Art.

I really enjoyed my time at the Dallas Museum of Art. The pieces at Cartier and Islamic Art were impeccable, and I enjoyed seeing how Islamic Art is a big influence on a lot of things. I will definitely visit more exhibits there.

Until Next Time…..

Thank You!!

Hello Everyone,

I just want to thank you all for your views on my site!

I’ve been checking, and most of my views have been from USA, United Kingdom, and Canada. I see that everyone has been reading the #LividLiv post. I still find that post to be hilarious.

Thank you for all of the views and the love. I really appreciate it, and will continue give educational information regarding the fashion industry, as well as show my work.

Until Next Time!

Pay Creative People Their Worth

Hello,

So, I saw something on social media that made my blood boil. It was a post that was shared on Reddit between a tattoo artist (who goes by the name of u/rockpaperpowerfist) and a potential client. This was based in the UK. The potential client sent the tattoo artist a message asking if they were “really” a tattoo artist, and the tattoo artist told the person to check out his FB page. Well, this potential client not only said they were lazy, but also wanted the tattoo artist to “give” them a tattoo. When the tattoo artist said something about cost, the potential client had the TEMERITY to say “you lost me at money!” Not only that, the person said they looked at tattooing as a hobby! (If you want to read the whole exchange, here is the link https://www.boredpanda.com/tattoo-artist-rejects-customer-free-hobby/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic)

First, I read this whole article like

Second, I commend the tattoo artist for entertaining this ridiculous person for this long. If it was me, I would've responded with “K” and they would’ve been blocked, especially after they said, “you lost me at money!”

Third, when I discuss how people play with creatives’ time, THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT!!!!! How dare you inbox someone asking for them to tattoo you for free, and then insult them by saying their career choice is a hobby!!

Sadly, these things happen to creatives all the time! Anyone with a creative background probably has countless stories about people either wanting something for free or pretending like they are going to order something when they want to waste time. Here are a few of the stories:

• A person contacted a patternmaker for a custom garment. After telling everything they wanted on this garment, the patternmaker asked the person what was in their budget, and telling her what she was asking for was going to be expensive, the person said, “why are you asking about money when you are doing this for free?” When the patternmaker said they don’t work for free, the person then said, “Yes you do! You’re a freelancer, which means you do everything for free!”

• A person contacted a pastry chef for a cake for her birthday. Gave the pastry chef a detailed list of everything she wanted on the cake. When the cake was done and the pastry chef contacted her, she wouldn’t answer the phone. The person’s boyfriend told the pastry chef to bring the cake. When the pastry chef brought the cake, the person only had $5 and asked the pastry chef to leave the cake with her, and she would pay her the next day. When the pastry chef told her that was unacceptable, the person had the pastry chef take her to the store to see if any money was on her “Walmart card.” Said Walmart card was a gift card that had no money on it.

• There was a post on FB from a professional hairstylist. A client contacted her because she was in a financial bind. She had $100, but she still had a balance and needed her hair done. She suggested having sex with the hairstylist to pay for the balance, and the hairstylist to not tell the husband about it.

• A person contacted a fashion designer/fashion illustrator for an illustration of her silhouette. She wanted to have it put on a t-shirt. She first contacted the fashion designer/fashion illustrator in 2018 for two sketches at first, but never signed the contract or paid the invoice. The fashion designer/fashion illustrator canceled the invoice. The person called her back explaining her situation. Fashion designer/fashion illustrator tried to work with her. Gave specific dates for the drawing + created another invoice for her to pay (that was in 2019). Years had passed, and after cleaning apps, the fashion illustrator realized the person never paid, so the invoice was canceled again. The person called the fashion designer/fashion illustrator again to explain her situation. This time, the fashion designer/fashion illustrator didn’t even bother to create anything because she knows the person only wants to waste her time.

• A person contacted a fashion designer/fashion illustrator to create a book cover for her. The person gave details of the sketch she wanted for the book cover. Fashion Designer/Fashion Illustrator gave the person a contract and an invoice to pay. The person dared to tell the fashion designer/fashion illustrator that the contract would not be signed and the invoice would not be paid until she sees the work first. Fashion designer/fashion illustrator explained that she doesn’t work like that. After talking to other entrepreneurs, the fashion designer/illustrator decided to take a picture of sketch with a signature all over it. The person loved it at first, but then tried to negotiate the contract and invoice by saying she wanted more renditions. After not signing the contract and not paying the invoice, the fashion designer/fashion illustrator voided everything. The person had the nerve to have an attitude about it.

These are just a few stories of what creatives go through with people. We love what we do, but at the same time, we do not work for free. It is an insult to tell creatives to do the following:

• Give you something for free

• Give you a discount

• Tell us to lower our prices because you can’t afford it

• Play with our time by contacting us for a project, only for you to become ghost when it’s time to pay

For the last time, PAY CREATIVES THEIR WORTH, AND STOP WASTING CREATIVES’ TIME!!!!!!!!

Until Next Time!

Workplace Practices in Creative Fields

Hello Everyone,

I was browsing LinkedIn earlier today while doing household chores. LinkedIn has started to do polls regarding workplace practices, and I’m happy that some of these polls are being created because it is bringing a lot of things to light, especially in creative fields.

Creative Circle made a post on LinkedIn with the following:

‘Sometimes professional creatives are asked to perform assessments, complete assignments, or create deliverables during the interview process.

How do you feel about this practice?

Is it acceptable or is it a scam? We'll meet you in the comments!’

Below is the poll:

Has a potential employer ever asked you to perform an assessment, test, or create deliverables during the interview process?

The author can see how you vote. Learn more

Yes 87%

No 13%

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6943188300631351297/?commentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Acomment%3A(ugcPost%3A6943188299742134272%2C6944515054155313152)&dashCommentUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_comment%3A(6944515054155313152%2Curn%3Ali%3AugcPost%3A6943188299742134272)

This question made me think of a conversation I had with a friend. This friend and I are in the same industry, and we are both fashion professors and freelancers. We were discussing our experiences with interview processes in the fashion industry, and I brought up creating projects during some of my past interviews. My friend looked at me and said, “Ummmm……a project?!” I explained that every fashion position I interviewed for, I had a project to complete, whether it was a fashion flat or a capsule collection. I also explained it’s been like that since I’ve been in Texas. My friend had this confused look on her face like

She then said, “Ummmm……..Ashley…….Uhhhhh…….I’ve been in the fashion industry for a long time, and I’ve NEVER had to do a project for any company during the interview process! If anyone asked me to do that, I would’ve left the interview.” I was dumbfounded! I thought this process was common in the fashion industry. She was like, “No! This is not common at all!” When I saw this post on LinkedIn and the comments on the thread, it showed me that it was definitely not common. From what everyone on the thread stated, companies who had interviewees to do projects didn’t offer them the position, but used their ideas within the company.

Another workplace practice that no one wants to talk about? Companies offering freelance jobs that are not really freelance jobs.

Example of someone working freelance

The true definition of freelance is to work with different companies according to your own schedule! Remote work on your own terms! If you want to work while on vacation, you can do that. If you want to work at home, you can do that. Work while at a coffee shop? You can do that! It’s freelance! I’ve seen companies offer freelance positions, but you have to work on-site (go to the office and work). So, here is why this is a problem. This is not really freelance. This is a way for companies to hire you to work full-time without offering any benefits (no insurance, no 401 K, no retirement, no nothing).

Of course, no one thinks of these things when looking for work (especially if you’re unemployed), but these things shouldn't happen. I’m sharing this because these things really happen in creative fields. I don’t understand why people feel creatives love to create for free and we’re supposed to be okay with it. So, here are some suggestions:

• If a company asks for you to do a project during a job interview, if you are not hired, ask them to pay you a certain amount for the work you did on the project. Your work is not free, and your time is valuable.

• If a position is supposed to be freelance, negotiate with them to do the work off-site. Besides, freelance does not mean to come on-site and work full-time hours with no benefits.

• Explain that even though you love what you do, your work and expertise are not free (I feel this should be another post)

I hope this helps someone.

Until Next Time!