I am very happy to be the person I am today.
I can proudly say that I am able to live my dream. Not everyone can say that. Many haven’t found their place or their passion yet, as there is an overwhelming amount of opportunities layed out in front of your feet. You can only retrospectively know if the path you took was the right one for you and you only know that once you’ve tried multiple things out.
Every person has dreams. And I don’t mean those in which you become a millionaire overnight. I mean the kind of dreams that allow you to grow and develop. Dreams that make you work so hard on yourself that in the end you benefit from them. Dreams that surprise you because you never could have known what they could lead to.
At a very young age I knew that I wanted to do something with fashion because it just felt right to me. Back then when I used to watch rappers like 50 Cent and Lil Wayne on TV, I always thought, “fuck, that’s exactly how I want to walk around”. I wore my cousin’s old baggy jeans, and that’s how the whole game started for me.
The only advice I can give to every creative, and those who are also motivated to realize their dreams, is to give themselves time. To find their own rhythm and to absorb as much as they can of their environment. Life is an endless process of learning and you never stop. Everything you have learned or experienced can be reflected in your art, developed in your personal style. Nowadays it’s immensely necessary to find your own style, especially if you plan to earn money with your passion. Having your own style is a prerequisite to having a unique selling proposition that everyone remembers.
The process of making money with your passion can be very laborious and difficult. Especially if you aren’t patient and don’t have a “trap-hit” stashed away in your home. Many don’t give themselves time nowadays because they think that success is hidden somewhere just waiting to be found. If it were that easy, everybody would do it. For some people, the path may be “easier”, but such a lightning breakthrough is never healthy. Especially not if you don’t know what kind of person you want to be.
I can only speak from experience and predict that there will be times when people will come to you and make it clear that they don’t like what you are doing. Or don’t understand it, or just think you’re shitty because you’re trying to build something on your own.
In those difficult times, you must remain true to yourself; love yourself and never give up. It is normal to feel self-doubt. Especially if you don’t have any supporting pillars to give you stability. These are the times when you learn who your true friends are and when you can rely on them. A shoutout to all my friends who support me every day. And a shoutout to my wife, who encourages me every time I feel helpless. I burst with happiness like a balloon. Thanks for everything!
Photos: Anne Sharselle / Styling: Moubsen / Model: Moubsen / Creative Direction: Anne Sharselle / Assistant: Chiara Alliyah
