I thought the quarter-life crisis, when you finish your university and have to grow up and get a big-kid job adn stuff like that, will hit me as soon as the day of my thesis defence passes. Actually, nope. I have a feeling of great relief and freedom instead. I've never in my life thought that finishing school will be so stressful. I spent a month writing my thesis, which was incredibly cognitive but boring and tiring at the same time. First off, it was so hard to postpone LIFE, to move my friends, my books, my free time activities, my runs and my yoga and devote all my time to studies. It's in saint how people study in Europe. I've studied so hard for a month and I thought my body and mind will kill me. Can't even imagine studying like that throughout all of these years. But I survived! And thank God my nearest people overcame this awful month with me, even thou my friends, K., my parents were all on the edge of nervous breakdown too - seeing the unhappy Mashaface, hearing the unhappy Mashavoice, day by day, 30 days straight! It's crazy! I am so grateful for all those people who were there for me and stayed calm, no matter what. Now, looking back, it seems like there was no big deal to finish school, you know the feeling, but even a week ago it was so different. Anyways, that's how I spent this time of my life, and I do hope that nothing else in the bright grown-up future will be that freakin stressful;)
tired Mashaface
Taking my thesis for the first check (It was so messy that I tied it with ribbon as if it was a present lol)
Getting relaxed and inspired by food, cars, field flowers and new jewelry
Getting treats for my home-made coffee and enjoying it at my fave place
Having fun in the middle of all stress
Cheering up hehe;)
Awwww.. so worried!
I am proud of everyone! We made it happen! We rock!
I was lucky enough to attend a lecture of Sergey
Surkov, a wonderful stylist and buyer of Sunday up Market (http://www.sundayupmarket.ru/). This is a pretty new place, which
concept is to sell clothes of Russian designers including young and fresh
start-up projects. It’s amazing how open-minded a person can be. He was totally
telling us all the secrets of How-Hard-It-Is-to-Be-a-Russian-Designer story as if
it was ok for us to know that super-pricey dresses by them are sold to each
other only cause they are all friends and will fight otherwise. Start-ups in
Russia are so expensive. I mean they are expensive anywhere and anyways, but literally
nothing is done to break the prejudice that the words Russia and fashion can’t stand
together. Registration costs a lot, transportation and production, wages and
PR. Fabric is actually the least part– may be 7 to 10 per cent of the final
cost. As to everything else – you should spend tons of money, time and effort
to find the cheapest options. A good and reasonable production is hard to find,
a place to put your collections so that they sell – even harder. Another
interesting thing about start-ups that Sergey was telling us about is,
surprisingly, team. For instance, a graphic designer – if he does an amazing
job – will make your new brand successful for years. Look at YSL or Nile
labels. Aren’t they awesome? These brands sell themselves, no matter what the
design concept is. Another option is to use your own name - it works well too. Sergey says there is no way you can set up a brand without a
good manager, an accountant and tons of connections. Fashion world is not that
big (even thou money-wise you wouldn’t say so) and everyone knows each other,
especially people attending fashion events. You should think twice before
starting on your own.
