“Quality isn’t expensive it’s priceless”
Growing up my mom and aunt took on many ventures, among them were fashion and home renovations. Regarding fashion, I remember brand representatives coming to our home in Colombia to show us the latest designs and finest fabrics. These brand ambassadors would visit us during the evening, on school days, so most of the time my mom would send me to bed. Instead, I would stay up late at night observing as my mom and aunt chose exactly what their clients wanted. That’s where my appreciation for clothes started, and also where I learned the importance of understanding the clientele.
While in college I worked for three different retail stores: Lucky Brand, Solstice Boutique, and Brooks Brothers. I always had a keen eye for suits and blazers, so working for the latter, only accentuated it furthermore. These stores taught me different lessons. First of all, the clientele and interactions were different but the excellent customer service never subsided. The three brands were an extension of art by their own merit. Fashion is an art, and the creative process is the most impressive part. From previewing what is to come, the story behind the theme, to the final result and collection. It really is beautiful. The special thing about Brooks Brothers is that it has an in-house Tailor. So having clients come in to be fitted and tailored was and still is a craftsman’s art.
With respect to house renovations, my mom always made it a point to make the homes where we lived the most beautiful. The aesthetics changed but her impeccable taste never did. Every home was an opportunity to take on the current elements in order to coexist with our needs and create an everlasting warm ambience. From painting walls, changing cabinets, door knobs, plants and gardening, among many, her attention to detail always prevailed. Our environment has a enduring effect on who we are. Beauty has always been present in my life. Beauty not in a shallow way, but the idea of caring enough to create the most beautiful opportunities and spaces from what we already have.
Life starts with small things, so taking our time to enjoy what we do is a must. What we do is part of our personal Craftsmanship. The intention we put behind it always bears fruits. Therefore we should regard our lives as our own personal Craftsmanship and one we get to improve day in and day out. Brooks Brothers and the Green Brothers did not happened overnight. It was the result of a consistent devotion to their art. That’s the difference between excelling and simply passing by, taking pride on what we do. Dedication to our craftsmanship is what differentiates us from the rest. Our time and effort, the theme to our daily lives and our resulting life collection. Do you know your craftsmanship? Are you intentional with it?
More about suits, craftsmanship, and expression tomorrow…
Today's Thoughts 