20 YEARS IN NEW YORK
Even though my designs have graced the runways, it's been far from glamorous.
THE BEGINNING
Twenty years ago I moved to New York City from rural Iowa. I was 18 years old on a one-way flight with a suitcase. This was in 2005, so the first thing I did was go to K-Mart to buy an air mattress. For months, that mattress and suitcase were my only furniture. The rent for my small room was also more expensive than my parents' mortgage!
The savings from my high school jobs would only cover me for a few months before needing to quit, but I was determined. I walked into all the stores on 5th Avenue on Day 2 to ask for a job, and one hired me on the spot. Only thing is the pay was $8.75 per hour, and I needed $12 to break even on basic living, so it was going to be tight. I lived on cheap food and my dream.
They say in Hollywood that it takes 20 years to become an overnight success. The film and fashion industry overlap in a lot of ways, and this is one of those things for me. It still feels like I'm trying to make it because our sewing center's provision and my personal income is still month-to-month.
My one-way flight was on May 25, 2005. I stood in awe similarly to how a mother observes when her newborn is another month old. That first year, on the 25th of each month, I was happy to make it another month. Today I'm in awe that I made it for 20 years (well, not until this Sunday, but we can round up two days)!
WHY NEW YORK?
At the start of 2005, I was accepted into the Fashion Institute of Technology's fashion design program, the top ranking program for fashion in the country! That year, they accepted only 3% of their applicants. I was chosen.
I share that not to brag. When I saw how much better my classmates were, I realized it wasn't anything I did. It give credit to God who placed me in the program because He called me into the fashion industry for plans I could not yet see.
Choosing to be in New York was not the easy way. I chose a life of struggle over comfort because my dream was so strong. Today Elegantees is that dream, and I continue to choose it even on days of sorrow.
PRESSING ON
Even though Elegantees didn't start officially until 2010, it's been 20+ years in the making. My timing would have preferred this faster, and I did try to take some shortcuts in my earlier years that nearly resulted in my own destruction. The vulnerable situations I was in are the very reason today I am broken-hearted for women being trafficked.
Dramatic much? Someone needs to make a movie about my story so the “overnight success” can come.
Most days are comparable to feeling like I'm leading in the wilderness. With our sisters in Nepal, our volunteers, and our customers, I ask them to put trust in me as a Founder. It's become a rhythm for me to ask for help, approach everything with gratitude, and to be flexible to the current needs at hand.
With that spirit of gratitude, I thank you for staying in this journey to help hundreds of survivors one day. It's still worth it.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” - Matt. 11:28
With Hope,
Katie
