Andy Jones (Andrew McDonald)
Bio
" Designer and fashion entrepreneur Andrew McDonald (also known by his artist name Andy Jones) has been active in the fashion industry since 2005. Andy is known for his fashion forward attitude and his charismatic essence."
Stories (2)
Filter by community
Fashion Designer Andy Jones
When I first started to sew and using scissors I had only previously dabbled use those tools in Home Economics. My creations starting out was to say bluntly “tragic”haha. This was September 2007 when I attended Fashion school at MC College in Edmonton located in Canada. I was an eighteen-year-old boy with platinum blonde in my hair, savings account ready for fashion school, and Madonna’s “Confessions of a Dance Floor” Album as the soundtrack to my life. I remember my first day when I picked up my first pair of professional scissors haha. I was doing all of the “vogue models” poses with them in the mirror. I was being a fashion clown haha because I felt in over my head. Unlike all of my peers at that time my sewing was not to their couture caliber, and their usage of professional sewing scissors and machines had already been developed. But what I had that they did not was a real passion for fashion and creating garments. However, passion aside, my fashion design ambitions would not have their way, because my sewing and usage of scissors was not up to par in 2007. My first skirt design after being thrown into the recycle bin is probably now been recycled into something more useful than what I had made haha. I look back on what my teachers said to me 14 years ago and I completely agree now. They said, “Andrew you need to find your voice as a fashion designer and be honest with yourself!” Despite that, I let this failure be a seed, a driving force, a way to grow, and “find my voice” as a designer and happiness. As fate would have it, my drive to put my nose to the grindstone and cut up and destroy muslin samples would be my discipline to get my skills up to par. By the end of my fashion program, I was standing at the end of the runway ready to show my first collection ready to show in September 2008.
By Andy Jones (Andrew McDonald)5 years ago in Motivation
Fashion Designer Andy Jones
Have you ever lost something or someone? Well, in 2012 I had lost in love, success, and did not know where I would end up after that. To be honest, I felt like a "fashion don't." For a long time (nine years) I was hurt about various situations I had gone through between 2010 and 2012 and how certain situations did not pan out the way that I had wanted them to. I was lied to and made to believe that I was around people who had my best intentions but they did not. In time those institutions, people, and situations would be exposed for what they were and are. And then recently I realized, "Ah! that was not meant for me!" It was not my lesson, and it would have not constituted with my values of today." We wonder why we lose, why we fail, and why we lose the partner/a friend but those things were not meant for you, me, us, and they/them. I am here to tell you that I came to realize that some things and people just aren't meant for you, me, and ext. However, there are things, people, and gifts that are and will always be unique to you. My delusion was that I thought I had to acquire a certain level of success to finally be enough and validated. The fact is you and I are all enough and validated just by being. For example, when I look at the students I am teaching at MC College they all have the unique gifts that are specialized to them. And seeing them all is like an out-of-body experience haha! Because, I am always so blown away by their gifts, talent, and uniqueness. Society likes to pit us against each other together but we need to do the opposite. We need to celebrate our and each other's uniqueness. We also need to on our own time forgive those who have hurt us. Forgiveness is usually marketed as you end upbraiding the person's hair that you forgave. However, forgiveness could be an internal convo. For instance, loving that person, people, or individuals from afar and knowing that it is okay to set your boundaries with them and not always have them in your life. Why I am writing this is because I hope it can speak to you or anyone you know who feels defeated right now. Because there is away out of the woods that way is acceptance of you and your story.
By Andy Jones (Andrew McDonald)5 years ago in Motivation
