I AM PHOEBE. BEFORE YOU ASK, NO, I WAS NOT NAMED AFTER PHOEBE FROM FRIENDS AND NO, I HAVE NOT WATCHED FRIENDS. PERHAPS OUT OF SPITE OR PERHAPS BECAUSE OF MY DISTASTE FOR MOST SITCOMS…STILL TO BE DETERMINED.

SINCE THE AGE OF SIX, WHEN I STARTED STEALING MY MOTHER’S HEELS AND WEARING THEM AROUND THE HOUSE, I HAVE KNOWN WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT I WOULD GO INTO FASHION. ONLY AFTER INTERNING WITH A FASHION CONSULTANT IN HIGH SCHOOL DID I KNOW THAT I WANTED TO BE ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF FASHION. LAST YEAR, AFTER GRADUATING FROM A LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY, MY JOB WITH A PREMIER LUXURY FASHION RETAILER FELL THROUGH. SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BREAK BACK INTO THE INDUSTRY WHICH IS PROVING TO BE DIFFICULT. SO, IN THE MIDST OF THIS CHALLENGING PATCH IN MY LIFE, ONE WHERE IT SOMETIMES FEELS AS IF ALL MY DREAMS ARE CRASHING AND BURNING AROUND ME, I WAS ENCOURAGED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO DO OR MAKE SOMETHING WHERE I COULD EXPRESS MYSELF CREATIVELY. THUS, I PRESENT TO YOU: