Celebrating Happiness of Your Craft!

Create Your Happiness

Okay, so you guys want to hear a story right!...

Well, here is one about me, I am not sure if it will be what you expecting or if it will be boring but it is mine and I think you will like it or enjoy it at least. So, here we are... My name is Arquius, I am 22 years old, I am from Washington D.C. and I am a student who is attending Academy of Art University majoring to receive my BFA in fashion design. And now that you know a little bit about me, we are going to do this story differently. I will tell you guys how my story started, how it is going currently, and how it is still being written and hope to never end... let us face it the good ones never do they just come to a pause sometimes! And here is where the story all began, so one day 14-year-old me was sitting in my room after school, I am not sure what sparked me to start drawing... clothes in particular, but as I sit here thinking it might have been the fact that I liked the idea of my parents always keeping me dressed in nice clothes and me always wanting latest shoes that came out, so I guess you can say that is the real reason! Although, when it came to drawing, my skills were not the best but that did not stop me from perfecting my craft. Not long after upon perfecting my skills, I knew that I enjoyed it as the idea of being able to teach myself how to draw grew on me. Over time, I thought to myself like “wow just imagine if I can better these skills to the point where I can possibly start my own brand, maybe even find a mentor to help me out and learn the business of the fashion industry or even get recognized by a brand in the industry.” This is also when I told myself that “oh yeah, designing clothes and learning the industry is something I want to do with my life for sure.” After finishing middle school and going into high school is where I decided to take what I was saying to myself seriously than ever.

Attending high school, I took an elective course called fashion marketing. I figured that since I wanted to know the industry from a business standpoint and I have always wanted to be in business for myself in some sort of way that learning about advertising clothing, understanding trends and customers wants and needs was the best way to get started. Also, the course came with class trips to New York one of the known fashion capitals in the world, plus a trip to New York felt like the perfect opportunity to gain some type of insight into the industry. Throughout high school and as it was ending is when I started college searching. As a guy who likes to think of himself with many talents, I knew I wanted to either attend an HBCU or an art college/university that had majors such as fashion design, acting, and even music just to name a few. Coming across Academy of Art University was just one of many other great options and at the moment it just seemed like the perfect fit for me. Here is when the life of college began... well online college actually... but it still works! [Haha]. Although online, you still feel as nervous as attending in person. You still worry about how you are going to do, you worry about meeting new people and hoping to finish your first semester/year off strong, so just imagine taking courses online... right, well that is me!

Don’t fall asleep on me yet, the story is starting to get better, I promise! [Haha].

Here is the part of the story where I talk about how it is going currently. At this moment in my life right now I took a break from the spring 2021 semester, but I do expect to return for fall. However, during this break, I figured your passion should never stop just because of a break, so I am currently trying to develop the role of becoming a young entrepreneur along with doing some freelance work to invest in starting my brand and business, which I’m looking to drop this summer. Now here is the part of the story where I said it is still being written... not actually being written but I’m sure you get the point! Just trying to keep you entertained here! [Haha]. I think this part may inspire you. If my brand/business was to ever reach public notability I want to inspire others to create as well and what better way to inspire others by showing and creating another business where a group of creative collectives such as fashion designers, graphic designers, textile designers, technical designers, stylists, product developers and creative directors who have experience in the industry or even have their own brand that we can merge into a collaborative project all while creating a safe haven for others to express themselves. And that is just one goal of starting my brand! Another goal of mine, if I were to reach the heights that a lot of brands have in the fashion industry, would be to dedicate a whole collection given to the less fortunate/homeless. With that said, I hope my story was interesting to read or nonetheless inspiring. And remember good stories never end they just come to a pause and mine is currently still being written so stay tuned... Arquius!

Thanks, Vocal and Fiskars for allowing me to share with you guys.