As we all know I’ve been busy as hell trying to get my toosh into order for a very hectic time of year in a “ fashion student world ”. So I finally Present to you the entries of this time as I couldn’t blog them right away.

Monday – the 14th of November – first week back into it fully –

All I have are my patterns, myself and my fabrics. Some things need tweaking, others need redesigning and reworking or just simply need to be sewn. Status about getting finished right now is “totes not going to get there”

Tuesday – the 15th of November

8 more days – all I get done is the bustier shell – Freaking out process starts to kick in, in the later hours of the night.

Friday – the 18th of November

By Friday all I had done was a bustier shell, separate front and back pieces for my ladies pants, and a very small no seams Ponte dress silhouette and that’s about it. So many problems begun to arise and soon enough I had all these negative thoughts up in my head about not being able to finish on time ! By the late afternoon the pants were ready to go with something as stress-less as a hook and bar to be sewn onto the waistband. Something in my paranoid little head made me want to put it on someone with a model like figure to really make me believe that another garment could be almost finished. Luckily there were fit models next door – unfortunately, as i had anticipated, her foot couldn’t make it through the tight jodhpur leg (the zips I added just weren’t long enough) ! yes – you guessed it – that meant NOT a finished garment, but one that had to be unpicked as well as new longer zippers being bought ! A disastrous cigarette leg that not even an anorexic leg could fit into What a great way to end the college week – some more disappointments, greater stress to calm level. Not one complete look and menswear hadn’t even begun !

I’d been working long hours, every day AND night – was the slightest bit of progress too much to ask for ? Seriously, Haven’t I been through enough ?

The weekend

So the weekend arrived, I had to suck it up even more and work even harder as I was the only one far, far behind ! It was very hard  – not recovered well, hardly eating or resting – it was painful and yes I whinged and cried and threw little tantrums ( tantrums that  I personally felt I was entitled too !) I tried to do my best with my men’s looks as the dying and bleaching had to be done on the weekend or else it would never dry in time ! Slight success with the colours, but I was still a little “iffy”.

Monday – Week that its due – 21st of November

And again all I have completed is a bustier and now a men’s top that I used as a replacement ( there was no way that I could have my men’s jacket done in time – no leather left, no money, no time)

It was all about reworking and trying to stay on task, as hard as it was – I was able to do it.

I tried my hardest to sew the shell of my jacket with the help of a very lovely family friend who assisted me along the way ! ( for that, I greatly appreciate her time and efforts )

At this stage, the men’s pants needed to be sewn as they had now been treated and were at drying, the ladies jacket and ladies dress both needed to be worked and that was all left for the only machine time before the marking on Wednesday afternoon !

Wednesday 23rd November – a Day before the marking

Time : 9.40 pm

Status: just got off the train, super tired – body about to shutdown.

I had my final booking with my machinist “ Connie” on Wednesday  (Connie – who it would have been impossible without – I thank her a million times over !)

I had been working very late every night last week and this week as well, trying to get the collection done. Aiming to bring to life a collection within a tight period of one and a half to two weeks was not easy. The weather was dull and Rhaya Ratavosi was definitely not going home – no way – not until all of this had been done ! I had been working too hard now and had put my body through so much pain to just quit now and not have anything done ( AND BESIDES  its totally NOT MY STYLE – to not finish something I Begun, that’s a big fat FAIL for me ). After a long day working my heart away, i was relieved to see the collar on the dress being sewn and buttonholes being marked. That meant the last thing that would complete my collection was almost done.

So i finally get home and the buttons and buttonholes get done – they weren’t perfect like I would usually have them but a home job here and there I can live with.

Overall, I’m quite proud of myself. I hope they are proud of my efforts and accomplishments too ! That would really make my year !

Here’s to a  very short but well-earned 4 and a half hours of sleep before I have to be up again.

Thursday – Marking Day

8.50am – my first model arrives. Just seeing the process, from my own eyes and knowing what I went through, witnessing the first look on a live model, was just divine ! It felt so good – like everything Id been putting my  health up for was finally up in my face complementing me back. Marking went great, with only a few minor changes here and there, they were proud of me and I was very pleased with the outcome. Looks like all the hard work paid off. Now only a little bit more stress to go until it’s really all over.

❤

Let me be an example – an example for those people who think they  cant achieve what they want to achieve. Let this be an example to  give courage, faith and belief to people, to have it in themselves , that they are capable of doing  impossible things. Let it inspire those who at times burn out and need guidance. You’re not alone – I used to think I was – but we’re not. Do what you have to do, go for what you want to go for – don’t let others chose that for you.Plenty of people go through life changing things, misfortunes, and challenges on a daily basis – it all  depends on how you chose to conquer it. Will you sit back and state the obvious that you’re a fragile being that cant do anything or will you  suck it up and pull through it because u are still the same person deep down – a dam fighter ?

I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t easy. It never is ! It’s not easy to be motivating yourself at all ! In fact, I didn’t think Id make it but there I was Thursday morning coming home from marking sitting on a train and thinking to myself F*#k I did it – its done. OMG ! I’m a bloody legend. ha-ha !

Last night having something as little as buttons and buttonholes to do – yes it took long for it too finish and yes it was quite late into the night and sleep was a minimum but after all I’ve sacrificed I’m sure that part was the easiest. The feeling that a big weight ha been lifted off your shoulders is the most rewarding relief ever. To be able to look back and see how Quickly I was able to turn over the pieces was amazing !

After all – by tomorrow this event will be part of the past… see…

Well it’s time for the ‘dnm’ to be over – I took some quick shots of my collection. Hope you enjoy them.

 

 

before I end this post I’d love to thank everyone who was part of this, from dealing with my stresses to helping me bring the collection to life ! I love you all.

xxxx much love, Yours Truly

RHYversusWORLD